If you have read the play Hamlet,
you will notice that the women around Hamlet become tragic figures. For
instance, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, and Hamlet’s lover, Ophelia, all face
tragic deaths. Therefore, I am here to analyze if Hamlet symbolizes a parasite
to women. I will first focus on Gertrude who is considered to be one of the
most significant people in Hamlet’s life. Gertrude is described my Hamlet as a
“beast” who “post[ed] / with such dexterity to incestuous sheets” (11). Hamlet
plays a moral judge who criticizes his mother with extreme words. His sharp and
caustic thoughts toward women made me ponder if Hamlet served as a parasite to
his mother. For instance, he verbally attacks his mother by saying “you
question with a wicked tongue” which conveys his antagonistic feelings for her
(72). His harsh words hurt her emotional state so much that she exclaims “O,
speak to me no more./ These words like daggers enter in my ears” (75). Hamlet
almost seems to be psychologically killing his mother through these painful
words. Yet, one must argue that Gertrude’s death is the strongest evidence to
support that Hamlet is a parasite to women. Gertrude dies after drinking the
poisoned drink that was intended for Hamlet during the bloody fight. She states
to Hamlet before sipping the poisoned drink, “Here’s to thy health” (118). The
fact that the drink was intended for Hamlet indicates the harmful effect he has
on his closed ones specifically women. Moreover, it is thought-provoking that
the queen is killed by drinking poison. When she consumed the poison, the
inside of her body started to degrade and destroy itself. Another individual
deeply impacted by Hamlet’s parasitical nature is Ophelia. Ophelia is the lover
of Hamlet who is spurned and abandoned by him. Hamlet says hateful and painful
words to her during their break-up scene. For instance, he says “I loved you
not” and calls her a “jig”, “amble”, and “lisp” (55). As a result of Hamlet’s
cruel speech, Ophelia dejectedly declares “O, woe is me” (56). She is further
tortured and wounded by Hamlet when she learns that he has killed her father,
Polonius. Therefore, she goes mad. During her mad state, she sings several songs
on how Hamlet betrayed her. For instance, she sings “Before you tumbled me,/
You promised me to wed” which refers to Hamlet’s lie that he would marry her
(88). Also, Ophelia constantly carries flowers which are symbolic of her mental
state. She carries daisies and violets which respectively represent unhappy
love and faithfulness. Obviously, these particular flowers connect to Hamlet
reiterating the point that he has destroyed her life. Like Gertrude, Ophelia faces
a tragic end when she drowns. It is uncertain whether she kills herself or had
an accident near the “glassy stream” (100). Nevertheless, Ophelia loses her
life which was full of innocence, purity, and love. It can be said that Hamlet
took away her precious life supporting the point that he is a parasite to
women. Even though I’m basically criticizing Hamlet here, I do know that he is
extremely guilty about it. His parasitical nature might just be his fate.
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