Junior Varsity English (Prep for AP, Humanities, and Big Time University)

This a blog for Mr. James Cook's eleventh grade honors English class at Gloucester (MA) High School. Remember what Northrup Frye writes in _Fearful Symmetry_, "No one can begin to think straight unless [she or] he has a passionate desire to think and an intense joy in thinking."

Friday, April 13, 2007

women--virtue (chastity) and vice (sexuality)

women--virtue (chastity) and vice (sexuality) [mothers, daughters, lovers, strumpets]: 1.2.150, 1.3 (nearly all of Laertes' speech to Ophelia and nearly all of Polonius' speech to Ophelia), 1.5.93-95, 1.5.112
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1 comment:

tuany k said...

1.3.144-16. “Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a baby
That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay,
Which are not sterling, Tender yourself more dearly,

1.5.92-95. “ Taint not they mind, nor let thy soul contrive
Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge
To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once.


In the first quote Polonius is speaking to his daughter, Ophelia. Polonius is giving Ophelia advice concerning the relationship she and Hamlet have. He warns Ophelia to beware of the intentions Hamlet may or may not have for her because they might not be honest and pure. Polonius seems to be strongly convinced that Hamlet’s promises are “words of a broker” and are not true. He believes Hamlet is too young to know real love and he does not want his daughter to be a victim to his naivety. Polonius also accuses Ophelia to be just as naïve for believing Hamlet. The quotation expresses Polonius overconfident attitude in believing he is right about his daughter being inexperience in the matters of the heart an how he is to teach her the truth. The quotation conveys how arrogant Polonius is and how he constantly attempts to enforce his thought upon his daughter. He does not allow her to make her choices, he feels entitled to have control over her life.
The first quote relates to the motif of women’s chastity and sexuality in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Throughout the story women are constantly mentioned in relation of either being pure or vicious. Polonius constantly stresses the importance of Ophelia remaining abstinent and chaste. He also states how Hamlet could be the end of her innocence because he believe Hamlet will pursue sexual advances. William Shakespeare’s use of this motif conveys the fact that women were either viewed as holy and innocent or as sullied and used. Women seemed to have high roles in keeping themselves in good light in the eye of men. The men in the play seem to have ideals they believe women must obey and they are critical in the judgment of women.

In the second quote the Ghost advices Hamlet in forgiving his mother for her incestuous deeds. The Ghost begins to tell Hamlet that he is in fact the spirit of Hamlet’s dead father. He admits that he was poisoned while sleeping in the garden by his brother and how his wife quickly found refuge by his brother’s side. It is also explained that the Ghost has extreme feelings of revenge towards his brother, but simply feels betrayed by his queen whom he though had loved him. In the quote the Ghost reassures Hamlet of his mother’s actions and tells him so not waste time worrying about his mother’s action. He tells Hamlet to leave his mother’s action “to heaven.” He seems to imply that her actions will be weighted in Heaven and before that time comes she must live with the consequences. The Ghost explains how the shame of marrying her husband’s brother will plague her until she is “judged.”
The second quotation shows William Shakespeare’s other take on women. While in the first quotation Ophelia is the model of goodness, the queen plays the exact opposite. After her husband passes she quickly remarries his brother with an extremely short mourning period. Shakespeare also uses the female body to convey this motif of sexuality. The body is used in an awkward, exposing way when describing Gertrude’s actions.

April 24, 2007 at 8:46 PM

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