In the Shakespearian tragedy, "Hamlet", Hamlet treats women poorly and has a negative attitude towards them in the play. His ideas suggest that his mindset is skewed towards women's rights and morals. This is most likely due to the time period in which the play is set, where women did not have many rights in society. Hamlet's attitude towards women also stems from his childhood experiences and his life dilemmas. His prejudice helps clarify the issue of women's rights and how they are viewed throughout the play.
Hamlet shows disapproval towards his mother's actions in Act 1 when he refers to his mother marrying his uncle shortly after his father was murdered. Hamlet condemns his mother's decision by making a connection to all women. He says "frailty, thy name is woman!" (1.2.150). Hamlet is making a condescending statement by saying that women are weak, and he uses his mother as an example of how women make weak and immature decisions. Hamlet's mother's actions shock him because they are ill-advised, although they do not surprise him because she is a female.
Hamlet shows his hate towards women more in Act 3 when he is addressing Ophelia and makes the statement "Or if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them" (3.1.149-50). He is denouncing her as though she is just like all women and is personally responsible for the way women trap men with their flirtatious tricks. Hamlet is saying basically that only a man with little intelligence would marry a deceiving woman, so she might as well marry a fool. This berates women's personalities and gave off a common misconception of who women really were at the time. Hamlet does this by accusing Ophelia and all of womankind of being deceitful and unfaithful.
Hamlet also questions Women's morality during the play. Logically, being in a Religious society, Hamlet makes a biblical reference when he talks about how when men marry women the two become one flesh.
