https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1 by: Lauren, Ayana, Taylor en-us 2020-11-19 14:27:15 UTC 2025-10-10 18:02:53 UTC hello@padlet.com ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941702901 Definitions:
1) the quality or state of being frail/the condition of being weak and delicate
2) a fault due to weakness especially of moral character/weakness in character or morals
3) a clinically recognizable state of increased vulnerability resulting from aging-associated decline in reserve and function across multiple physiologic systems such that the ability to cope with everyday or acute stressors is comprised

Connotations:
-Negative connotation, implies weakness and vulnerability]]> 2020-11-19 15:12:10 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941702901 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941729761 1602 - Elizabethan Times
Throughout Hamlet, both women in the text, Ophelia and Queen Gertrude, have been suppressed by the males in their lives. Women's inferiority is prominent as men persistently attempt to dictate their sexuality. Women in this society were cherished for their youth, beauty, and purity. Women were praised upon their femininity, which Hamlet criticized of his mother. He believed Gertrude, with her "matron's bones" (3.4.84), was incapable of love at her age and should no longer be acting on her "compulsive ardor" (3.4.87). Without pure sexuality, Gertrude is rendered futile and shall keep to her matronly duties. Ophelia and Gertrude had little to no power or individuality within the social, legal, and sexual boundaries they were  restrained to.
Contrast to women in Hamlet, Queen Elizabeth of England was a strong leader of a major European power. It was at the same time that Hamlet was first staged that Queen Elizabeth's rule was declining. Both of the aging queens regarded the misogyny in distinctly different ways. Queen Gertrude immediately remarried after her husband's passing and was primarily seen throughout the play by Claudius's side, somewhat supporting the male rule. Contrastingly, Queen Elizabeth embraced her femininity. She utilized her sexual female image to maintain her political power, acting as a "mother" to her country. By not marrying, she maintained her authority and the security of England. Queen Elizabeth challenged the widespread mentality of fragility of women by embodying the masculine ruler's intelligence and resilience while strategizing her femininity to get her way.

]]> 2020-11-19 15:16:41 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941729761 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941733216 Throughout Hamlet, flower/nature imagery is typically used towards Ophelia, emphasizing her youth and blossoming sexuality, as well as the misogyny she experiences.]]> 2020-11-19 15:17:18 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941733216 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941733832 In Hamlet's first soliloquy (1.2.27-29), he shares his thoughts and frustration with the audience. For his feeling of contempt, Hamlet ultimately blames his mother. Upset by his mother's weakness and wishing she "Would have mourned longer - married with my uncle" (1.2.151-152),  Hamlet declares, "frailty, thy name is woman!" (1.2.146). Full of rage by his mother's ignorance, he broadens his contempt to all woman. Whether unknowingly or not, as a patriarch, his disdain for women could be contagious throughout Denmark. Women currently had very limited legal rights and through his pronounced opinion, Hamlet could very well make the situation for women in his country worse. Even if not done through laws, the societal aspect could be harmful. As other men seeking power see that the royal Prince Hamlet openly discriminates against women, there could be a domino effect throughout society. ]]> 2020-11-19 15:17:23 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941733832 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941734612 The theme of belittling women is distinguished throughout Hamlet, effectuated by the men in the play. 
Women are sexually objectified and loathed by Hamlet as he projects his madness and anger onto them.]]> 2020-11-19 15:17:31 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/941734612 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/945327908 Throughout the play, Hamlet expresses his frustration towards women through harmful statements directed at them and personal thoughts of disgust.]]> 2020-11-20 14:19:41 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/945327908 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950811506 The device illustrates Shakespeare's representation of women in society during the time period in which he lived. Culture was dominantly-masculine, and Shakespeare's utilization of this motif reflects the common belief that women were fragile. This presented in the form of Hamlet's anger with the actions of his mother, which he projects on all women, including Ophelia. Hamlet believes Gertrude's frailty stems from a weakness in her moral character. He is ultimately offended by Gertrude's vulnerability to lust through her incestuous relationship with Claudius. In the text, it's evident she is deemed weak as she has a tendency to let her temptation blind her judgement.]]> 2020-11-23 02:38:50 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950811506 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950830335 The motif of women frailty and weakness is common in Shakespearean literature. In another well-known play of his, Julius Caesar, women are portrayed as insignificant and unvalued. Characters Portia and Calpurnia exist to serve their husbands, and have no individual purpose or plot value in the play. Furthermore, their actions are disregarded by men and deemed unimportant. Specifically, Calpurnia warns her husband Caesar of the atrocities set to come after having a nightmare. She attempts to protect him, and while he takes her advice at first, he quickly shifts his train of thought after being persuaded by another man. Brutus undermines the legitimacy of Calpurnia's vision, allowing for Caesar to completely ignore her cries. Women in the play, as in Hamlet, are illustrated as weak, frail, and unimportant. ]]> 2020-11-23 02:52:59 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950830335 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950848684 In his soliloquy, Hamlet criticizes his mother for her sexual "appetite" and quick remarriage following the passing of his father. As madness takes over him, Hamlet's anger that stems from his resentment towards Claudius for his father's murder is projected onto his mother for her not knowing the real story. His inability to take action and kill Claudius causes more frustration. By his inability to act against Claudius, his anger is directed towards Gertrude, whom he blames for her blindness of Claudius's corruption.]]> 2020-11-23 03:06:51 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950848684 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950850364 Hamlet telling Ophelia to "get thee to a nunnery" is exemplary of him sexually objectifying Ophelia. He wants to punish Ophelia to a life without a husband or sex, indicating that sexuality might be the only beneficial trait of a woman. As he intends to strip her of it, he truly believes that would be the worst punishment he could give her. Ordering Ophelia to a "nunnery" has a second meaning, referring to a brothel. This would be an ultimate punishment in his eyes, surrounded by women, for he refers to them as "monsters" (3.1.140). Hamlet generalizes women, assuming all are terrible, evil, cheating creatures. This is evident in his advice to Ophelia, in which he sarcastically remarks that if she is ever to marry, that she "marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them" (3.1.139-140). ]]> 2020-11-23 03:08:13 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950850364 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950864789 2020-11-23 03:18:42 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950864789 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950870233 Explanation: During act I scene II, we see Hamlet express disgust and anger with his mother in the form of a soliloquy. Thinking of his mother's choice to remarry Claudius after the death of his father sparks thoughts of rage. He sees Gertrude as weak for being tempted so quickly into a relationship with the brother of her dead husband. Furthermore, he views the marriage as incestuous and wrong, leading him to blame Gertrude for her being so vulnerable and weak.

Significance: Hamlet's discontent with Gertrude seeps into his other female relationships, as he projects these feelings of disgust onto all women. The quote illustrates how Hamlet views women to be the embodiment of frailty, which dictates his actions and interactions with other women in the play. His feelings progress throughout the play and ultimately help reveal his obsession with women sexuality.]]> 2020-11-23 03:22:55 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950870233 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950892499 Explanation: In act III scene IIII, Hamlet confronts his mother and takes his rage out on her. He is in her bedroom, intensely yelling at Gertrude for what she's done with Claudius and informing her of Claudius' murderous actions. Hamlet uses words "rank" "corruption" and "nasty" to demonstrate his utter distaste for her new, lustful relationship with Claudius.

Significance: This quote ultimately demonstrates Hamlet's obsession with the sexuality of women in the play, showing how their lustful tendencies make them weak. He is angry at Gertrude for "honeying and making love" with Claudius, as it's incestuous and wrong considering what Claudius has done. Once again, Hamlet projects his concerns onto other women like Ophelia, strengthening his belief that all women are frail.]]> 2020-11-23 03:39:54 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950892499 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950893021 During a conversation between Ophelia and Laertes, Laertes advises Ophelia on her love life. This conversation epitomizes the Shakespearean relationships between men and women, embodying women's inferiority and their role to obey the words of the men in their lives. Laertes refers to "cankers", or worms, as her lustful desire to be with Hamlet that will eventually ruin her youth and pure sexuality, symbolized as the "infants of spring". Men found an "unblossomed" and youthful woman to be desirable. Even as Laertes comes across as simply another controlling male figure, he is protecting Ophelia from Hamlet, who he believes to be a corrupt player craving a quick fling.]]> 2020-11-23 03:40:18 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950893021 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950927012 2020-11-23 04:04:49 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950927012 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950928896 Explanation: Hamlet throws a temper tantrum during a heated argument with Ophelia and insults her femininity. He releases all his pent-up anger from his mother on her, despite his alleged feelings for her.

Significance: By telling Ophelia to get to a "nunnery", he attacks her sexuality in two different ways. The nunnery, referring to a convent, can imply that Hamlet thinks she needs to purify herself and subject to a life of virginity. The term can also refer to a brothel, which is slang for a whorehouse. This interpretation can further demonstrate Hamlet's idea that Ophelia is sexually impure and corrupt. He projected his issues with Gertrude's sexuality onto her, making it evident that he blames women's vulnerability to love and temptation for their weakness and frailty.]]> 2020-11-23 04:06:10 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950928896 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950935941 As Ophelia spirals into delusion,  she hands out flowers from her garland. Specifically, Ophelia hands fennel and columbine to Claudius. Fennel symbolizes flattery, constituting to Claudius's quick marriage to Gertrude roused by his ill-natured want for the throne. Columbine, with highly poisonous to seeds and roots, is an implication towards  Claudius's murder of the king. Although Ophelia is not aware of his crime, it would be dramatic irony among the audience. Ophelia's statement within giving Claudius these particular flowers was a precarious statement, as inferiority of women and their voicelessness in society made insults towards the patriarch a fairly bold remark. ]]> 2020-11-23 04:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950935941 ayanadiaz2 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950970134 2020-11-23 04:32:12 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/950970134 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951023730 2020-11-23 05:05:38 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951023730 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951033509 2020-11-23 05:11:35 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951033509 laurennoble6 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951045471 2020-11-23 05:19:25 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951045471 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951252758 2020-11-23 07:09:12 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/951252758 22005016_4 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/955292080 The decent into madness of Ophelia is a result of patriarchal limitations. These limitations presented challenges for all women during these times since society revolved around men's lives first. At the times, women were expected to uphold certain gender based roles. The patriarchal system caused Ophelia's life and role through the Tragedy to be based around the men in her life, namely her love interest Hamlet and father Polonius. After the loss of her farther and the betrayal of Hamlet, Ophelia is left without purpose in life. Coupled with this, her heartbreak for both men leaves her resentful, melancholy, and hopeless. Another example of this is Queen Gertrude, who is assumed to have remarried in order to not only maintain her previous lifestyle but also satisfy societal standards : that women should be wed and have children. The lives of these women solely surrounding the actions of the men within their lives provides an unstable foundation. Without a part of their lives that is based on their own actions, minor and major changes heavily impact the mind and soul, as well as their day to day lives. In Ophelia's case, she does not recover and soon suffers from hysteria and hopelessness, leading to her suicide. Women who react like Ophelia, with passionate and unladylike emotions to the severe changes to their livelihood are considered weak, as if they had been mentally unstable from the beginning. In reality, the men in this period created this patriarchal system that forced females to depend only on them and is then hypocritical in expecting no outbursts or displays of darker emotions. The idea that these women are fragile is a direct result of the gender roles and privileges set in place to keep women in a place of subservience to men. ]]> 2020-11-24 08:11:18 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/955292080 22005016_4 https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/955316915 2020-11-24 08:21:07 UTC https://padlet.com/laurennoble6/yehlo6u0nmyp9xc1/wish/955316915