Sexism in Classic Literature

Categories: Hamlet

Essay, Pages 4 (844 words)

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Classic literature doesn’t ‘only exhibit distinguished style, fine artistry, and keen intellect but creates a whole universe of imagination and thought.’ (Jose, 2013). Little did I know the extent classic literature has on highlighting the continued marginalisation women face throughout history before undertaking Senior English. Since the beginning of time, women were inferior to men. Despite significant gains and developments for women’s status in society, the fight for equality continues today. Classic literature delves into the unfairness we face today while mirroring the oppression women encountered back then.

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Now reflecting on Senior English, these insights were reinforced by various texts and media including Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, F.Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby and Daphne Du Maurier, Rebecca. Firstly, Hamlet one of Shakespeare’s many masterpieces, explores numerous issues, in particular, the victimization of women.

The oppressed Ophelia, who is read as a once charming young woman, experiences an ordeal of heart break, loss and madness in a very short period of time.

Ophelia is a respected female character who is essential to the Royal Elsinore family, but can't do what she desires. In view of the roles of women formed by the patriarchal society of her time, the Royal Family has limited her behaviour, attitude, emotions and thoughts. Hamlet refers Ophelia as “The fair Ophelia – Nymph, in they orisons/Be all my sins remembered.” (Act 3, Scene 1, line 90). By calling Ophelia frail conveys a feminine description and carries a negative connotation. Much like Ophelia, the poem Marrying the Hangman by Margaret Atwood explores similar marginalisation.

Afterwards he goes to the refrigerator and cleans up the leftovers, though he does not wipe up what he accidentally spills. He wants only the simple things: a chair, someone to pull off his shoes, someone to watch him while he talks, with admiration and fear, gratitude if possible, someone in whom to plunge himself for rest and renewal. We can differ from the original meaning of a woman who escapes her death sentence by manipulating a condemned man to become a hangman and marry her to how women are ‘locked in a prison cell’ in this society.

Without mirrors at hand, Atwood discusses the unavoidable events of oppression and violence as soon as the woman gives up her personal identity and respect for herself. As a female living in this corrupt society, Marrying the Hangman explores the need for equality and upon reading, I strive for that same equality. By reading Hamlet, I was able to connect the events that happened in this classic to events today, and created many links to the marginalisation women face. Secondly, women were not equal to men during the era of the 1920’s. Fitzgerald incorporates this in The Great Gatsby through a simplistic, misogynistic and derogatory view of the various types of women during the 1920’s. The centre and most problematic character of the play, Daisy proves her actions to be foolish, stigmatizing women and, while Daisy doesn’t consider herself to be a fool, she unexpectedly expresses that “the best thing a girl can be in this world [is] a beautiful little fool.” (p.17). Yet, Daisy is not a fool; her world is affected by men, money and status. This causes Daisy to be powerless and have no control over her life. To only see women as “beautiful fools” as previously stated.

Just like Daisy and the limited power she has, the poem They Shut Me Up in Prose by Emily Dickinson reflects the dominance men used towards women. They shut me up in Prose – As when a little Girl They put me in the Closet – Because they liked me “still” – Dickinson reflects the patriarchal society she lives in by saying one thing while using her verse to undermine it: “They shut me up in Prose.”

In the 1850’s, “high-brow literature was deemed accessible only to men, whereas women mainly wrote novels, which were dismissed by scholars as easier and less astute than poetry.” (Mep, 2016). So, as a closet would be, she found the nature of the prose to be stifling. In the first stanza, ‘Girl’ is capitalized so that the narrator character in named while also leaving the name open to interpretation, so that anyone can read their own girl in the poem. Rebecca Lastly, Reflecting on Senior English at St Rita’s College, I have learnt various life lessons and to appreciate the old things. Before undertaking Senior English, I wasn’t aware of the extent classic literature had on broadening your mind to many ideologies. I have therefore strengthened my belief in key aspects of life and increased my relationship with others by studying this course. I also appreciate literature more. The tasks I have completed over the past two years have only made me more furious with the injustice we live in. Next year, I will carry all the lessons I learnt through Senior English and strive for a better workplace.