Question

What excerpt from Act III of Hamlet supports the conclusion that Hamlet is critical of women?

Answer 1

Answer:

The excerpt from Act III of Hamlet that best portrays the demeaning way in which Hamlet looks at women, comes in scene I, "I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God has given you one face and you make yourselves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp. You nickname God´s creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance" (Hamlet, Act III, scene I).

Explanation:

"Hamlet" is a play written by William Shakespeare that was published around 1599, or 1602. It narrates the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, and the events that take place after his father, the King, is murdered and his uncle, Claudius, takes over the throne and marries his mother, Queen Gertrude. Among the many topics that are portrayed by this play, one of the most famous by the English author, is Hamlet´s distinct dislike for the deviousness of women, the way that they cover themselves through disguises (makeup) and protect their true inner selves by pretending to be innocent. This very clear picture of women is displayed in the dialogue that takes place between Hamlet and Ophelia, in Act III, scene 1.

Answer 2

Answer:

This scene from Act III scene i shows just how critical Hamlet is of women.

"I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God has given you one face and you make yourselves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname God’s creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance."

Explanation:

William Shakespeare's tragedy play "Hamlet" is about the revenge of the senior Hamlet by the young prince. The murder of the previous king by his own brother led the ghost of the dead king to incite his son to avenge his death. This theme mainly constitute the whole plot of the play.

In Act III scene i of the play, we see Hamlet criticizing Ophelia, and women in general. He comments on how women tend to put make-up on their faces but then did another layer to it and so on, saying "God has given you one face and you make yourselves another". He criticizes how women hide themselves with their make-up, using it as a disguise to hide their real face and nature. This is not just directed to Ophelia but also an indirect reference to his own mother's actions of marrying her husband's murderer. He cannot understand how she can be okay with the marriage and not mourn for her dead husband. By the reference to the make-up as disguises, he is also giving a reference to his own mother Queen Gertrude, the now wife of King Claudius. This excerpt shows his critique of women as a whole.

"I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God has given you one face and you make yourselves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname God’s creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance."