William Shakespeare’s Tragic Play ‘Hamlet’ is one of his acclaimed masterpieces that holds a strong position in the literary world because of its engaging plot. This play generally focuses on Hamlet’s ultimate revenge for his father’s murder by his uncle, Claudius, the present King of Denmark. Yet, Hamlet's proceeded actions as a protagonist are in contrast to the audience's expectations of him and the play as a whole.
Considerably, Hamlet in Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most complex and uncertain character who has driven the whole story with his masculine traits merged with his feminine nature. We can perceive his emotional reliance during the entire period when he is uncertain about the ghost and the justness of his revenge as he tries to find answers to his questions before taking any action. So, let's analyze this most frequently debated topic of whether Hamlet lacks masculine traits or is just his internal emotional conflict in actuality.
Historically, at the time of the publication, people had absolute realizations related to a specific gender, and these expectations evolved extensively over time. They had believed men to be brave, sturdy, active, and determined to act promptly whenever necessary. On the other hand, women had to stay passive and dormant. So, if men proved themselves to be submissive or failed to attempt any heroic feat, they were considered cowards and attributed to having feminine characters. Likewise, Hamlet also regarded living on the feminine traits as he remained only engaged in thinking and acted less, which consequently contributed to the terrible events he faced in the end. That's what made the critics question Hamlet's masculinity. It is greatly evident in the situations like the ghost's appearance after his father's death and the murderous consequences of revenge.
At the very beginning of the play, one piece of evidence that challenges Hamlet’s Masculinity is apparent, marking Claudius’s address to Hamlet. A few weeks after the death of Hamlet’s father, Claudius approaches Hamlet to encounter his long grievance over his father’s death. Ironically, he imposed that mourning or even thinking about the dead for long indicates the feminine aspect and is thus weak and unmanly. Claudius blames him for being unmanly by saying that “T'is unmanly grief, It shows a will most incorrect to heaven, A heart unfortified, a mind impatient, An understanding simple and unschool’d:” (Hamlet 1. 2. 92-97)
Deep within the story, this accusation can be metaphorically considered opposite to himself because this accident hasn’t affected Claudius in any way. He immediately marries the former queen to enthrone the crown. He has initially compared his actions with Hamlet’s convictions in the lines: “Have we, as 'twere, with a defeated joy, With one auspicious, and one dropping eye, With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage” (1.2.). This statement contrast Claudius with Hamlet because Claudius's grief hasn’t prevented him from anything. He hasn't cowardly mourned over the death of his brother like Hamlet. However, it proves to be wrong by the end as we observe that even this feminine trait of grieving over death hasn’t stopped Hamlet to be courageous as he thoughtfully acts against the murder. Yet, he first decided to think about and gain proper knowledge regarding the incident.
Following this, the ghost's appearance in scene iv of Act 1 for the very first time also frightens Hamlet.
However, it wasn’t the words that made Hamlet afraid but the appearance that seemingly thumped him with terror, as noted in the dialogues of Hamlet:
What may this mean,
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel
Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,
Making night hideous, and we fool of nature,
So horridly to shake our disposition?
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?
(Hamlet 1. 4. 51-57)
This fear is another strong evidence of contrasting gender roles. Although Hamlet handled the situation differently, he remained passive and confused, waiting for his fate to decide for his future. Yet again, even though the ghost has terrified hamlet, he keeps asking him about the crucial revelations he desires to make to Hamlet only. It states that Hamlet would have vigorously taken revenge if he wasn’t confused about the words of the ghosts and assured about his justifications.
Moreover, in the course of the play, it is quite clear that Hamlet is confused about his subsequent actions. He exclusively remains uncertain of the consequences he can face while venturing into any action. For instance, before the beginning of the planned theatre, he is viewed as bewildered about whether it is justified to prove the assurance of the Ghost's words. “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;”. (3.1) However, as a man, Hamlet is expected to take immediate action after getting the acknowledgment against the present King, whom the former King has accused of his murder. "And my imaginations are as foul / As Vulcan's stithy." (3.2) Hamlet, on the other hand, is confused about his decision of trapping the victims through the theatre. So, this effort of Hamlet to restrict himself can be perceived as his weakness in taking action. (3.1)
Furthermore, at the end of the play, regardless of his unconscious feeling, he accepts the bid from Laertes to fight a battle. He ignores this thought by stating that “It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of gain giving/ as would perhaps trouble a woman”. (5.2.211-12) It may imply that Hamlet started believing that being cowardly and thoughtful only suits a woman, and as he ignores his instinct due to being feminine, it might "trouble a woman". Note that it is only one situation when Hamlet refuses his inner impulse and becomes more active and considerate in achieving his revenge goal against the King. And, this refusal of his passiveness caused him trouble eventually, and the repression of his thoughts drove him to his demise.
These consequent shreds of evidence describe that Hamlet holds masculine traits and bravery as he is ready to avenge his father’s murder. Yet his resistance to taking the needed steps has provoked the readers to contemplate if it is his internal conflict or a mere weakness of taking action within the play. Evidently, in one place, he asserts the most crucial statement of "to be or not to be: that is the question:" (3.1) in Act 3. It clarifies that his attempts to take vengeance on Claudius get overhauled by his confusion about inducting the revenge without having any certain knowledge.
In short, Hamlet's passive and considerably unmanly nature has no doubt challenged his masculinity. Yet it has also importantly led him to adequate decision-making before moving to any solicitous actions. So, in this way, the absence of masculinity has proven itself as a plus point for Hamlet as it has changed the protagonist's behavior as a whole. But it is opposite to the era when manliness has been crucial to people.
So, in my opinion, Hamlet's Patriarchal struggle leads him to a tragic end, highlighting the significance of Earnest's saying, "Before you react, think".
Do you think the same? Let me know what's your stance on it.
Will love to read your responses.
Totally agree with your stance 👍🏻
Well written.