The Downfall of Women in Hamlet and Oedipus

1269 Words6 Pages
Monday, November 12,2012 The Downfall of Women in Hamlet and Oedipus There are three women altogether in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare and in the play Oedipus rex by Sophocles, each of these women meets their deaths by the end of the play. Their tragic deaths is the result of the actions of the male character, the action specifically done by the male characters that lead to the deaths or downfall of the women is the action of neglect toward the women of the plays. The women are also obedient toward the men in each play which also lead them to their downfall. The actions of the male characters as well as the obedience toward the male characters by the female characters in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus Rex by Sophocles result in the downfall of the women in both these plays. The women are often ignored and are not really being listened to by the male characters. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare Claudius often neglects Gertrude and dismisses her “Gertrude, leave us too” (III.i.28). Claudius is asking Gertrude to leave as he and Polonius are about to listen in on Hamlet and Ophelia. Gertrude is not asked to stay because she is a women and her opinion will have no value to Claudius anyway, in a way she is being neglected by Claudius. This neglect that Claudius shows her will bring Gertrude to her downfall. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Jocasta is neglected by Oedipus. When Creon and Oedipus are fighting Jocasta enters and begs Oedipus to believe Creon’s story “For the love of God, believe it, Oedipus!” (Sophocles, 43). Jocasta Begs to be heard but Oedipus ignores her and does not listen. The action of Oedipus ignoring Jocasta later leads to jocasta’s death because Jocasta is begging for Oedipus to believe her brother by him ignoring her plea he adds to her emotional breakdown in the end when she realizes the truth and the fact that Oedipus

More about The Downfall of Women in Hamlet and Oedipus

Open Document