Ophellia
OphelliaThe treatment of Ophelia in the nunnery scene and the treatment of Gertrude in the bedroom scene gives us insight into Hamlets character. In the nunnery scene the treatment of Ophelia shows the character trait of hate and cruelty in Hamlet. “Get thee to a nunnery . . . ” shows the hate he has for Ophelia by comparing her to a prostitute. He also shows cruelty by verbally abusing her through criticism. ” I have heard of your paintings well enough; God hath given you one face, and you make yourself another: you jig, you amble, and you lisp . . . ” reveals his criticism of not only Ophelia but of all women. His cruelty is shown as he misogamisticly lashes out at women’s strives to cover themselves up by the use of makeup. Not only is the trait of hate shown in Hamlet by the way he treats Ophelia but also the way he treats Gertrude in the bedroom scene. Hamlet shows hate and cruelty toward his mother by ridiculing her marriage to her uncle. ” Such an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty . . . ” clearly shows the hatred Hamlet feels by inferring to incest and adultery in saying that their marriage was a blush of modesty. Although Hamlet is blinded by his emotions and feelings and may have just cause for his actions, the traits of hatred and cruelty are still prevalent. Another trait exhibited by Hamlet through the nunnery scene and the bedroom scene is monogamy. Hamlet’s hatred of women can be seen when he tells Ophelia “that if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty.” This infers that Ophelia uses her beauty as bait. In a sense her using her beauty as a tool corrupts her in the eyes of Hamlet. Hamlet’s hatred of all women can also be seen when he tells Ophelia “Or if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, for wise men no well enough what monsters you make of them.” Hamlet states that women make monsters out of men and only a fool would marry one showing his hatred of women. Similarly Gertrude is treated in the same way. Gertrude is the cause of Hamlet’s misanthropy to women, so many of the comments directed at her are comments directed at all women. “From the fair forehead of an innocent love, and gets a blister there, makes marriage vows as false as dicers oaths . . . ” implies that women are not to be trusted and are dishonorable. Hamlet thinks women are back stabbing and will break their commitments because of what his mother did. This abhorrence of women was also seen when he was talking to Ophelia. Thus, character traits of Hamlet can be seen through Hamlet’s outbreak at Ophelia and Gertrude.