french feminism
- french feminism is the most abstract of the 3 theories, and challenges linguistic “phallocentrism” or the use of masculine language without sufficient room for the feminine form
- the linguistic realm is the first instance in which a baby (who relies on its mother wordlessly for physical, emotional, and psychological security) strays from its mother and into the world through language. With this, we are conditioned to see the world from a man’s point of view with the exclusive use of masculine language, as alternatives for feminine language are ostracized
Masculine language is characterized as direct, straightforward, and logical, with sentences blunt and to the point. It’s assertive language and because of this men primarily use it and also women who use it to appeal to men ex. rights of woman
american feminism
critics examine women characters and literary works by women specifically to distinguish it from the patriarchal literary realm (as it was dominated by men) not only were women discouraged from writing as creative writing was seen as unfeminine, but when they did women authors were encouraged to write with androgynous language and leave messier, more adventurous story telling to men. gynocriticism is another form of american feminism in which critics analyze rare works of women’s literature outside of the patriarchal literary realm. there are 3 forms- feminine, feminist, female
british feminism
british feminism emphasizes that critics ENGAGE with the historical context surrounding the literary works written. It’s vital to understand the political and cultural scene to accurately interpret the work because it is so heavily influenced by its times. for example, if you wanted to analyze branagh’s movie, you would do so in the context in which it was encouraged for women to be bolder and act more sexually liberated which is reflected in his version of ophelia. anyways, this form of criticism also looked for the specific nuances within different time periods that make literary work so different, such as the various complexities that divided the women during that time.
against french because it has a very strong emphasis on the sexual differences (ex. french word for orgasm)
against american because they want a more well rounded analysis rather than isolating specific works
setting (movies) for gertrude
gertrude’s language is strong and direct to fulfill her duty as queen and made sure she is heard properly especially given this is one of her first appearances as a remarried woman so it is especially important to use dominant language to assert her authority. however she separates her language intentionally from claudius’ when she speaks to hamlet as she’s a bit softer in the way she goes about it she is firm but somehwat kind, which plays back into her role as a mother.
in zefferelli’s version, gertrude is directly confronted with her greatest sin in one of the most intimate places and with the only individual who is her true family and is quite literally of her blood. her expression and tone heavily dictates her language as well as the idea that she’s turned away from hamlet as if the confession she makes is to herself, demonstrating the reflective and emotional nature of feminine language
polonius impact on ophelia + laertes
- polonius and laertes both imply that ophelia is by nature a fool because she is a woman, leaving her afraid of the world and its corruption whereas they feel confident to face it
- polonius demeans ophelia for being a fool when accepting hamlet’s affections (ironic) tying the worth of their family name to her virginity. his treatment of her is especially callous as he uses her as a prop to act superior in front of the king when in reality he thrusts her in front of danger.
- this also reveals the double standard in which he treats his children, as he not only embraces laertes for his journey but doesn’t mind spreading a rumor that he’s promiscuous just to satisfy himself, he can do this comfortably because men are not bound by their virginity
laertes impact on ophelia
laertes has misogynistic implict bias, comparing his tears to femininity and weakness, his warning to ophelia is focused (again) on the price of her virginity if it is bought out by hamlet and the consequences she will almost certainly suffer
- being her brother this is also an opportunity (the only one) in which ophelia can stand in equal ground to him on a personal level and rebut his claim, this is the only instance in which she can criticize the society she lives in which discriminates so obviously against women
power imbalance with hamlet
Hamlet’s resentment for women stemming from his feelings about gertrude dictate his conversation with ophelia and poisons her.
- social imbalance- following laertes’ warning ophelia is already faced with doubts that she will always be disregarded because the needs of denmark come first
- hamlet insults womankind to spite ophelia by contrasting the influence on beauty and purity on women, ultimately reducing them to their chastity =, reenforcing the idea that she is nothing more than a sex object
- then he humiliates her by manipulating her into believing he never loved her despite clear offerings in the past of his affections. he renders her so vulnerable because not only has he convinced her that she cannot trust men but that she also cannot trust herself.
-his constant references to a nunnery again creates sudden distance between ophelia and her lover, emphasizing that he now only sees her for her virginity, and depending on the interpretation she ought to either preserve it in a convent or destroy it in a brothel (to save herself or not from corruption, diminishing her worth down to merely a breeder of sin)
story of 0
- read off slides, but ophelia is a character who is LACKING and thought to have the most importance by what she can tell us about hamlet and other male characters
insanity movies
- emphasize the setting, facial expressions and gestures they make when moving
- nature reclaims them in their natural state- their shifts in masculine/feminine power are only temporary (it also wouldn’t be ladylike for ophelia to avenge her father like laertes so she must suffer a death that reverts her back to her original self)
medical
**Augustine
- women expected to express their madness under ophelia’s example or be ignored
- perpetuated sterotype that women must be ladylike even when insane
- alongside them being photographed to look like ophelia, some facilities forced women to reenact shakespeare plays with scripts to memorize, furthering women’s oppression based on a idealized version of insanity
