Essay Outline Graphic Organizer
Name: ________________________________ Title of Essay: Hamlet
Opening Sentence (Include title, genre, and author)“Hamlet” is a play adapted from “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1600)” which is written by Shakespeare. The genre of the story is a play made up of several scenes.
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Thesis Statement Through the whole play, women’s power is challenged. Women’s power is questioned as they are depicted as slaves of manhood, victims of their beliefs, and susceptible because of their love for men, which limits their ability in the society subscribing them to cruelty, pain, and unequal life standards. |
| Supporting Point A
Shakespeare depicts women as dependent on men such that they cannot survive without them. | Supporting Point B Victimhood | Supporting Point C
Women are susceptible because of their weakness in loving.
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| Supporting Evidence + Citations | ||
| 1. Due to inadequacies of lack of a man, Gertrude marries Claudius immediately, which exposes her to negative connotations from Hamlet. In Act 3 Scene 4, Hamlet accuses her mother of the lustful act of remarrying so quickly for her desires (Hamlet 3.4. 1157).
| 1. It is evident that Gertrude needs love and approval from Hamlet, which drives her to madness as much as it does her guilty. Gertrude attempts to rationalize Hamlet’s strange character, which maker her unable to confront the realities of her son’s hostility. “I doubt it is no other but the main, / His father’s death and our overhasty marriage” (Hamlet 2.3. 1145-1146). | 1. Ophelia Love case (Hamlet 1.3.591) She is the romantic interest, assumed by all to marry the prince eventually. He defends Hamlet’s conduct with her, but she is also aware of problems with him arising: “I do not know, my lord, what I should think” (Hamlet 1.3.591). Ophelia is elemental in a world where realities are erupting into conflict. Intelligent, she still trusts to love.
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| 2. Shakespeare further depicts women as fragile characters who can not survive without love and approval from others. Many believe that Gertrude is as much a victim of Claudius as was the late king, and this possibility is easily argued as she is unable to cope with what occurs later. In the third Scene, Gertrude is remarkably warned by both Laertes and Polonius against being involved with Hamlet. She defends Hamlet’s conduct with her, but she is also aware of problems with him arising: “I do not know, my lord, what I should think” (Hamlet 1.3.591)
| 2. Gertrude inability to confront what happened to her son (Hamlet 2.3. 1145-1146) Gertrude points to a woman unhappily married and relieved by the freedom to finally love who she wants. What she cannot anticipate is how her son will abuse her for suspected complicity. It is then not only her madness that renders Gertrude a victim but the sheer hatred from her son
| 2. Gertrude love to Hamlet (Hamlet 2.3. 1145-1146)
Shakespeare depicts women’s power as challenged by their natural attributes of being affectionate and loving. The trait is seen with Gertrude, who plays the role of a queen and a mother to hostile Hamlet, who has a growing mania. Gertrude plays the wife’s role and tries to encourage Hamlet: “All that lives must die, / Passing through nature to eternity” (Hamlet 1.3.274-275) |
| 3. Finally, due to the inability to stay independent as a woman, Gertrude becomes a slave to Claudius’ attraction. In the above scenes, Shakespeare challenges women’s power and depicts them as being dependent on man’s affection and approval. (Hamlet 2.3. 1144-1146)
| 3.Unhappy marriage (Hamlet 2.3. 1144-1146) Gertrude is very much a victim of love because that love or longing for Claudius, a vital part of Hamlet’s rage, ultimately sets her destruction in motion.
| 3. Gertrude love to Claudius (Hamlet 4.5. 2904-2905). Further, Gertrude’s affections nature to Claudius puts her into trouble as she meets hostility from Hamlet(Hamlet 4.5. 2904-2905)
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| Restatement of Thesis Statement In conclusion, Women power is questioned as they depicted as slaves of manhood, victims of their beliefs and susceptible because of their love to men which limits there power in the society subscribing them to cruelty, pain and unequal life standards. Shakespeare depicts women as dependent on men, their powers challenged by victimhood and as slaves of their affections and loving nature.
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