"Frailty thy name is women" (1. In the famous play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, women struggle to find power in the political patriarchal society where men maintain authority. This society takes place in Denmark, where King Claudius the brother of Senior Hamlet rules the land along side Queen Gertrude, the mother of hamlet and ex wife of Senior Hamlet. This immoral remarriage leaves the hurting son, Hamlet in disgust and anger. As a result, it leads Hamlet to make bad decisions as he releases this irritation on all surrounding women, including his one true love Ophelia. Hamlets influence and actions towards his mother and Ophelia throughout the play displays Shakespeare's thoughts towards the role of women. He reveals through the men in the play that women are unimportant as they rely on men, are extremely weak and abuse the power of their sexuality to seduce men. .
Ophelia, the daughter of Polonius and sister of Laertes is an innocent and quiet girl who relies on the men in her life. Her dependence on men develops due to the strict gender role society she lives in. As a result, her freedom to make her own decisions vanishes as the men in her life begin to strongly influence them instead. This is evident during a conversation between Ophelia and her father, "I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, have you so slander any moment leisure, as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to 't, I charge you. Come your ways" (1.3.130). Polonius orders Ophelia to stay clear of Hamlet regardless of the love she has for him. Due to the respect and her obedience, Ophelia makes this personal sacrifice for her father revealing that she fears to go against the strong male figure in her life. However, Ophelia is not the only one who relies on men in her life. Gertrude also displays her dependence on her husband. This is clear due to her inability to remain single following senior Hamlet's death.
