In the time of Hamlet, men were the dominant sex. Women of this period were usuallysubject to whatever faults men could place on them instead of themselves. With Shakespeare being a man of this time it is reflected in his plays, Hamlet is an excellent example. Through quotes and plot explanation I will develop this statement.The first incident of a female having some responsibility to a " rotten " situation starts before the play begins. Claudius, the present King of Denmark's brother, murders Old Hamlet because of a drive of ambition and for a love of Old Hamlet's wife, Gertrude. Although unknown to her role in what starts a chain reaction of murder and treachery, Gertrude is a pivotal person or the main conflict of the play with her son Hamlet.At the beginning of the play when we are first introduced to Hamlet, we can initially tell that something is troubling him besides his fathers sudden death. Hamlet's first response to the King's questioning of his mood is replied by "Not so my lord; I am too much i' the sun " ( line 67 ), showing his disposition to Claudius marrying his mother. Gertrude, portraying the dense woman Shakespeare has written her to be does not catch on the a

This depression that Hamlet goes through slows down the action of the play, stifling his resolve to kill Claudius. This is something Ophelia can be blamed for, and the first of many direct mistakes the female characters in this play make to cause unrest in the state of Denmark. Throughout the play we see signs that Claudius is guilt-ridden about the murder of his brother. In a prayer/soliloquy he tells us that if he could only give up his crown and Queen, he would repent and plead guilty :

mbiguity of " sun ". " Seek for thy noble father in the dust " ( line 69 ), is her response referring to his dead father. This unease from Hamlet gives him more reason later on in the play to take revenge upon Claudius. Another key player in the game of deception is the King's advisor, Polonius. A man with power and less conscience than the King. As fate has it, Hamlet is in love with Polonius's

Of those effects for which I did the murder,

To be, or not be: that is the question

daughter, Ophelia. Because of Hamlet's displeasing mood Polonius worries for his daughter and so tells her " be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence; set your entreatments at a higher rate " ( lines121 - 122 ), commanding Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet. Through no fault of her own Ophelia has added to Hamlet's increasing stress, and a

Some common words found in the essay are:
King Denmark's, Ophelia Hamlet's, Denmark Throughout, Hamlet Hamlet, Hamlet Gertrude, Gertrude Claudius, Polonius Ophelia, Hamlet Hamlet's, Claudius Ophelia, Ophelia's Laertes, fault own, claudius ophelia, female characters, gertrude claudius,
Approximate Word count = 892
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)