XXXX 1 XXXXX Professor Miller ENC 1102-20463 April 19, 2012 Delirious from Exploitation Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare, and The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story by Charlotte Gilman. Both of these stories contain women which are exploited to the point of going delirious. The women in both stories are used, abused, subservient, and driven to insanity because oppressions. These oppressors are male; however, not all oppress the women

Comment [G1]: Missing word?

for the same reason or intent. These women are Ophelia, Gertrude, and Gilman’s narrator. Ophelia and Gertrude take part in the play Hamlet, while Gilman’s narrator is in The Yellow Wallpaper. Both authors have implemented real-life encounters into their stories. Gilman’s story is believed to be more of an autobiography because the story resembles much of what

Comment [G2]: Short stories are within quotations. Only books, plays, newspapers, magazines, and databases are within italics.

happened to her in her life. The “bookish young Shakespeare” based Hamlet on the “legendary Amleth” (Bloom 389). Also, Ophelia in Hamlet is believed to be inspired by a “young woman named Kate Hamlet who drowned herself...because she was disappointed in love” (Bloom 389). These women are driven to insanity when the major male figures in their lives exploit them. The women in Hamlet are treated unfairly in comparison to men. “It is frequently argued that the [female] characters in Hamlet are drawn in fainter lines than their male counterparts” (Portraits of Ophelia). Ophelia and Gertrude are frequently insulted throughout the play. The male characters are rarely insulted and are treated with much more respect. Shakespeare uses Claudius to describe grief as “impious stubbornness…unmanly grief” which is also “a will most incorrect to heaven” (Shakespeare 1.2.94-95). Claudius tells Hamlet that it is unmanly to

Comment [G3]: This title is in italics, but the same title on your Works Cited page is within quotes. Your end citations need to match in both areas.

XXXX 2 grieve the loss of his recently deceased father and that it is sinful. If Claudius states it is unmanly to grieve, then that implies it is womanly. Since Claudius is stating this to Hamlet, who is a male, then that line is an insult to women. Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was born in a time

Comment [G4]: I’m not sure I follow the thinking here.

which women were not treated with the same level of respect as men. This level of un-equal respect was normal during Shakespeare’s time. Women were thought to be inferior to men and were supposed to serve and bear the children of men during the time Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. Shakespeare does not seem to be anti-feminine, but wants to portray a message to his audience that women are inferior compared to men. Shakespeare has Hamlet state “Frailty, thy name is Woman” meaning women are fragile and unable to do what man does (Shakespeare 1.2.146). Also, Shakespeare uses the ghost of the former king to state “Step between her and her fighting soul! Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works” (Shakespeare 3.4.116-117). Shakespeare states with this quote that Gertrude, who is female, will lose her self-worth because she is weak. Hamlet has already gone mad at that point in the play. Shakespeare does not have the ghost of the former king say anything about Hamlet going mad. Shakespeare uses his male characters to speak his mind about women for him in Hamlet. Shakespeare’s men in Hamlet both use and abuse Ophelia and Gertrude. Polonius and Claudius exploit Ophelia’s beauty and charm to attract Hamlet. Claudius wants to find out what is causing Hamlet’s madness, so, he asks Polonius to help him. “Hamlet hither that he, as ‘twere by accident, may here affront Ophelia” (Shakespeare 3.1.30-31). Polonius, knowing Hamlet fancies Ophelia, places her in a room to bait Hamlet as he passes by. Like a hunter using a trap with irresistible bait to catch its prey, Polonius was able to have Hamlet encounter Ophelia. Ophelia being subservient had little ability to refuse her father’s demand to seduce Hamlet. Once again, because Hamlet was written during Shakespeare’s time,

Comment [G5]: This is a silly statement because Shakespeare is the one who supposedly wrote the tragedy so OF COURSE it was written during his time.

XXXX 3 it was the norm for a man’s daughter to follow and execute his demands with little refutation. Ophelia does not realize she is being used by her father; however, she knows that she does not take pleasure in or benefit from following his orders. Gertrude is exploited not only by Claudius, but by other dominant men. Claudius uses Gertrude to gain the title and rank as King of Denmark. Claudius killed his brother with envy and greed as motivation. After killing his brother, he quickly married Gertrude to claim the throne and title of Denmark. After claiming his throne by marriage to Gertrude, he used her to fulfill his incestuous lust. “Ay, that incestuous [and] adulterous beast…won to his shameful lust” (Shakespeare 1.5.43-46). The ghost of Hamlet’s father, whom was killed by Claudius, tells Hamlet about the incestuous act Claudius committed with Gertrude by using her. Hamlet’s mental condition goes astray at this point. Learning that his mother is being used by his uncle and committing incestuous acts confuses him. Hamlet is infused with rage and leads to him abusing others by expelling this rage upon them. Ophelia and Gertrude are abused throughout the play, mainly by Hamlet and his fury induced rants. Hamlet abuses Ophelia the most. Hamlet’s abuse ranges from physical to mental abuse which is portrayed visually in the plays and movies. According to Portraits of Ophelia, Hamlet in fact loves Ophelia throughout the entire play. In Act five, scene one, Hamlet states “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum”; however, the abuse Hamlet uses on Ophelia is to protect her (Potraits of Ophelia). With orders like “get thee to a nunnery” Hamlet mentally abuses Ophelia with the tactic of scaring her away by betraying their love (Shakespeare 3.1. 119). Hamlet wants to keep Ophelia away from him when he decides to kill his uncle and avenge his murdered father. Hamlet also wants to have Ophelia get as far away from the demonized castle as she can go. However, even with the intent

Comment [G6]: Wrong word, should be “who”

XXXX 4 of protecting Ophelia, Hamlet unfairly expels his rage on her. Hamlet’s mental abuse towards Ophelia is too much for her to handle. Unknowingly, Hamlet sets in motion the emotional and mental manipulation of Ophelia. Hamlet also abuses Gertrude with physical and mental abuse. Hamlet is extremely

Comment [G7]: Better choice: “physically and mentally.”

displeased with his mother’s choice to hastily marry his uncle after his father’s recent death. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he ponders his mother’s quick re-marriage and insults her name by saying she is “a beast, that wants to discourse of reason” and that a mindless beast “would have mourned longer” (Shakespeare 1.2.150-151). Gertrude lacks the emotion Hamlet possesses after his father’s death. He believes, since Gertrude was married to his father, that she had an immense love for him. His view of Gertrude’s love to his father is altered by her lack of mourning and compassion after his father’s death. He is also not pleased that Gertrude is showing lack of care for his emotions. “Although her love for Claudius is wrong by moral standards” (Introduction to Gertrude). This quick marriage was an incestual deed during the time Shakespeare created Hamlet. With much rage created by Gertrude’s lack of emotion, this causes Hamlet to abuse her and “Hamlet lashes out at her with all the rage he can muster” (Introduction to Gertrude). Hamlet, during a play which he creates, quickly responds to one of Ophelia’s remarks about a prologue which she believes is “brief”. Hamlet’s response is “As woman’s love” (Shakespeare 3.2.125-126). Hamlet replies to Ophelia’s statement but directs it’s meaning to Gertrude. This quick, verbal, and malicious remark is mental abuse which Hamlet trades with Gertrude. Hamlet is referring to Gertrude’s extremely quick marriage to his uncle and the lack of mourning she gave to her recently deceased husband. The marriage took place two months after the former king’s death, Hamlet’s father. Hamlet first physically abuses his mother when they are in her bedroom after a quick dispersion from Hamlet’s play. “Though wilt

Comment [G8]: Use the author’s last name here.

XXXX 5 not murder me” (Shakespeare 3.4.24). This quote refers to Gertrude who utters these words in fear of her life. Hamlet in the play and movies is commonly seen shaking Gertrude violently on her bed. Hamlet is infuriated because he believes that his mother was also involved in his father’s murder. Hamlet was also infuriated by the fact that she committed incest by marrying his uncle. Ophelia and Gertrude are physically and mentally abused because they are subservient. Gilman’s narrator is also subservient, but the man which abuses her does it with different intent and action than the men in Hamlet. Gilman’s narrator is a young female which appears to have recently given birth. Taking

Comment [G9]: Having a smooth transition here would help with the flow of your essay.

every precaution to keep her healthy, John, her husband, keeps her isolated under medical watch in their house. With a “schedule[d] prescription” she stays at home and is isolated from any social activity (Gilman 437). John believes that Gilman’s narrator is suffering from a “temporary nervous depression” and believes that social activities would hinder her healing process. Gilman’s narrator is internally conflicted with John’s beliefs. She “disagrees with their ideas” and wants to socialize with “excitement and change” (437). However, she does not want to displease her husband, John. Again, the time at which Gilman was born plays a role in the female and male parts. Gilman (1860 - 1935) was also born in a time when females were believed to be inferior to men. However, the female role had developed much more than the subservient female role during Shakespeare’s time. Gilman’s narrator has more independence and self-thought unlike Gertrude and Ophelia who have little self-control and thought. However, men still played the dominant role. John oppresses Gilman’s narrator by isolating her in their house. With the intent of doing well and protecting her, John actually abuses her. Isolation and seclusion from other humans is not healthy; however, this was not known during Gilman’s time. Isolation and the “rest cure” were believed to be the way to cure depression. Hamlet was the

Comment [G10]: Since author has been established, there is no need to include her name in the end citations.

XXXX 6 main person to abuse both Ophelia and Gertrude mentally and physically. Ophelia and Gertrude receive some of their abuse because they are too subservient. They do not stand up for themselves and allow the men to be dominant, which in their case, led to abuse. Gilman’s narrator also received abuse, but it was not direct, it was omitted by John in the medical belief that he was doing right. If Gilman’s narrator was slightly less subservient, she would have had the ability to rebel against John’s medical beliefs; however, her will to rebel was affected by the time she was born in. Ophelia, Gertrude, and Gilman’s narrator are especially subservient. For Ophelia and Gertrude, this trait causes some of their abuse. For example, Ophelia tries to defend her love for Hamlet but gives in after a long argument with her father, Polonius. She tells her father “I shall obey, my lord” and this leads to her being exploited by Polonius as bait for Hamlet (Shakespeare 1.3.137). Ophelia being subservient to her father led to her being exploited by him, then to receive the abuse from Hamlet. Gertrude is subservient to Claudius and to Hamlet. She follows and executes every command that Claudius gives her. Claudius treats her like a pet, “Madam, come…O Gertrude come away” with simple commands (Shakespeare 4.2.28). Hamlet easily overpowers Gertrude physically because she is subservient. Gilman’s narrator is subservient to her husband and relatives. However, Gilman’s narrator is more independent than Ophelia and Gertrude, but still wants to please and follows her husband’s will with little refutation. Ophelia, being a daughter during Shakespeare’s time, is born into servitude with her father. “As long as she's unmarried, she must live by her father's rules” (Ophelia in Hamlet). This was normal during Shakespeare’s time because women were thought to be inferior to men. Laertes, Ophelia’s brother and Polonius’s son, even has control over Ophelia. Ophelia speaks to Laertes about Hamlet showing affection towards her. Laertes being a male dominant figure does

Comment [G11]: Quotes needed here.

XXXX 7 not want any of this with her sister. Also under the belief he is helping her, Laertes tells Ophelia to “Fear it, Ophelia…and keep you in the rear of your affection. [Stay away from sexual pleasure by controlling your affections]” (Shakespeare 1.3.33-35). Laertes wants to keep Ophelia away from Hamlet and his affection to her. He believes that Hamlet has not reached a respectable level of maturity to marry Ophelia. Ophelia wants to love and be with Hamlet and tries to provide a rebuttal “Do not as some ungracious pastors do, show me the steep and thorny way to heaven [while you sin yourself]”; however, Laertes disregards Ophelia’s rebuttal (Shakespeare 1.2.46-48). Ophelia does not want to be treated unfairly and calls Laertes out on his personal idiosyncrasy, which is being a hypocrite and headstrong. After Laertes departs, Polonius enters and wants to know what Ophelia spoke to Laertes about. Ophelia feeling independence tells her father very vaguely what she talked about, wanting to keep it between her and her brother. Polonius starts to verbally overpower Ophelia in his questioning about her recent talk with her brother. She tells her father “I do not know, my lord, what I should think” (Shakespeare 1.3.104). Ophelia’s swift sensation of independence is crushed by her dominant father after she submits to his will. Ophelia is the most subservient of the three women in these stories. Gertrude is mainly subservient to the will of Claudius and his verbal commands. To Hamlet, Gertrude is more physically subservient. Claudius is able to coerce and marry Gertrude soon after her husband’s death. She is comfortable with being subservient and having a male dominant figure controlling her. She hastily remarries so that she can fulfill her needs of being told what to do. She is physically moved around by Claudius and frequently told what to do. Hamlet also sees how subservient and weak willed Gertrude is when he confronts her after his play. “You go not till I set you up a glass…” Hamlet has placed Gertrude on her bed violently

Comment [G12]: What reason do you offer to support this idea that Ophelia is the “most subservient” of the three women?

XXXX 8 after a series of harsh verbal remarks, and then Gertrude, petrified by Hamlet, says “O Hamlet, thou has cleft my heart in twain” (Shakespeare 3.4.164). Gertrude has allowed Hamlet to overpower her mentally and physically at this point. The ghost of the former king interrupts Hamlet and tells him “Step between her and her fighting soul! Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works” (Shakespeare 3.4.116-117). This quote from the former king also states that Gertrude is weak willed, reminding Hamlet that he should be easy on her and to keep her from going mad. Ophelia is the most subservient because of her social rank and age; however, she knows that she does not take pleasure in following orders from male dominant figures. Gertrude, on the other hand, because of her age and social rank does not receive as many commands as Ophelia. However, Gertrude does take pleasure in following orders and leaves herself to be exploited. Gilman’s narrator is subservient and abused like Ophelia and Gertrude, but possesses much more will and independence. Gilman’s narrator is subservient to her husband, John. She wishes to follow his commands and keep him happy. She does not wish to be a burden to John in any way shape or form. This determination to keep John pleased conflicts with her will, however. “There comes John, and I must put this away—he hates to have me write a word” (Gilman 438). Gilman’s narrator is trying to write to relieve her pain and depression. John believes that if she writes, she will become more ill. Being subservient and wanting to please John, she stops writing; however, during the hours she is alone, she writes in “spite” of him. She confesses that it makes her “feel bad” but does not want John to discover her writing. John prevents her from “work” and does not let her “stir without special direction” (Gilman 437). She listens to John and follows his commands but continuously wants to disobey. There is an independent woman which is trying to break free from her. This is something Ophelia and Gertrude lacked. Being subservient and

Comment [G13]: Good connection.

XXXX 9 following the command of their oppressors causes Ophelia, Gertrude, and Gilman’s narrator much sorrow and abuse. For Ophelia and Gilman’s narrator, the oppressors cause them to enter states of madness. The dominant male figures oppress Ophelia and Gilman’s narrator to a point of mental madness. Gertrude nears this fine-line of submission to madness; however, the ghost of the former king intervenes and stops Hamlet from continuing. This intervention allows Gertrude to stay as a submissive pet to Claudius. The internal confliction of Gilman’s narrator causes her to enter her state of madness. Her confliction is deciding to be subservient and follow John’s command; however, an internal force makes her disobey his commands while she is alone. After much isolation and oppression from John, Gilman’s narrator finally yields to madness. “I wonder if they all come out of that wallpaper as I did” (Gilman 446). Gilman’s narrator is referring to the yellow wallpaper. She believes that she came from the wallpaper, which is impossible, because a wallpaper is an inanimate object which cannot spawn human beings. This state of madness is also reached Ophelia. Ophelia was doomed to madness from the beginning of Hamlet. She is first seen being lectured by her hypocritical brother, and then interrogated by her father. She is then exploited by her father and abused by her one and only love. The turning point for Ophelia’s madness; however, was when Hamlet betrayed their love for the sake of protecting her. Hamlet soon after kills Polonius, Ophelia’s father. The death of her father is what causes her to enter her state of madness, delirious from exploitation. Franco Zeffirelli portrays Ophelia’s progress through madness visually by showing her hair becoming more unkempt. This idea of the dominant male figure trying to protect their submissive female companions by oppression is common between Hamlet and John. The difference is that Hamlet intentionally abuses Ophelia for protection while John, without intention, abuses Gilman’s

Comment [G14]: Do you think your reader really did not already know that??

XXXX 10 narrator. Another common theme between Ophelia’s madness and Gilman’s narrator is that both vocally emit a harmonic tone. Ophelia sings “He is dead and gone” having dual meaning. First, her father was killed by Hamlet. Secondly, Hamlet also killed their love relationship. Ophelia was under the influence that Hamlet “promised me to wed” (Shakespeare 4.5.29-63). Gilman’s narrator “very gently and slowly” says to her husband, “The key is down by the front door under a plantain leaf” (Gilman 447). John is trying to break through a door with Gilman’s narrator has locked. At this point, Gilman’s narrator has entered an irreversible state of deliriousness. Both Ophelia and Gilman’s narrator were driven to insanity because of exploitations and oppressions by their dominant male figure. Hamlet, a play by William Shakespeare, and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman, both contain tragic stories of women being exploited and oppressed to a point of going delirious. These two stories share a common theme which subservient women want to please their dominant male figures. However, the dominant male figures exploit their submissive traits and cause the women to go delirious. Ophelia, Gertrude, and Gilman’s narrator were created during a time in which females were believed to be inferior to men and to execute the will of men. Portraying the social realism that was present during the authors’ time, these women were subservient to their male figures.

XXXX 11 Works Cited Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. Canada: Riverhead Books, 1998. Print. Durband, Alan. Shakespeare Made Easy: Hamlet. Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, 1986. Print. Gilman, Charlotte. “The Yellow Wallpaper” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 11th ed. New York: Longman, 2011. 436453. Print. Hamlet. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Gibson, Mel. Warner Brothers, 1990. VHS. Warner Home Video, 1990. “Hamlet’s Thoughts About Women.” Shakespeare Navigators. N.p. n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. Mabillard, Amanda. “Introduction to Gertrude.” Shakespeare Online.. N.p. 20 Aug. 2000. 14 Apr. 2012. “Ophelia in Hamlet.” Shmoop. N.p. n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. “Portraits of Ophelia.” Frailty, Thy Name is Woman. N.p. n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 11th ed. New York: Longman, 2011. 1355-1464. Print. You took on a very ambitious topic which you handled very thoroughly. Kudos for that. Your writing still contains issues, as they say, but keep polishing and revising your work and that should work itself out with additional help and support. I enjoyed having you in class and appreciate the effort and participation you showed very frequently in class. C/O=18 TOTAL=86B

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