Essay: Explore Misogyny and Asexuality in Hamlet: Analyzing the Prince of Denmark’s Disdain

In Shakespeares Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Hamlet is repulsed by women and sexuality. Sexuality and misogyny are large themes in Hamlet, in the play he is vocal about his disdain for women and his disinterest in sexuality and it is a frequent topic of conversation throughout the play. Hamlet can be perceived as asexual and misogynistic because he has developed an aversion to sex from his mothers indecency, he has contempt and disgust for women and Hamlet is disgusted by sexual relationships.
Hamlets sexuality is the way it is as a result of his mothers perceived indecency. Hamlets mother remarried to Hamlets uncle not a month after his father was murdered, leaves Hamlet with new ideas about sexuality and women. Hamlet begins to view women as lying temptresses and while not perfectly fitting the modern description of asexuality, he develops an aversion to sex. Hamlet is repulsed by an insinuation of sexuality with Ophelia, telling her to “get thee to a nunn’ry” (III.i.139-140) when their relationship is brought up. Hamlets disregard to the sexual aspect of his relationship with Ophelia after he finds contempt for his mother and sexuality lead to the conclusion that he may be sexually indifferent. Another insight into Hamlets sexuality and views is during a conversation with Rosencrantz “Man delights not me—no, nor women neither,” (II.ii.289-290) Hamlet describes how man is close in apprehension to an angel or a god and despite this, he has no interest in them whatsoever. Hamlet is again displaying an aversion to the thought of a relationship, in this world where everyone is betraying him in some way, Hamlet has no interest in sexual behaviors and especially not with women.
Hamlets disgust for sexuality means women who display it become an outlet for his frustrations. Of the two women in the play, Hamlets hatred stems from his mother however, Ophelia bears the brunt of Hamlets verbal abuses. Hamlet blames his madness on women and goes on a tirade against Ophelia where he says “I have heard of your paintings well enough. God hath given you one face and you made yourselves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname God’s creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance. Go to, I’ll no more on ’t. It hath made me mad.” (III.i.141-146) During this rant, Hamlet claims his affliction is the cause of women. Hamlet has an obvious contempt for women and how they present, and yet he’s seemingly obsessed with female sexuality. and while his affliction is never divulged, Hamlets feelings about women have a part in his madness. The role of women in Hamlet is inherently misogynistic and cruel. Hamlets hatred of his mother stems from his views on societal norms and her deviation from them. Everyone strives to conform to societal norms of masculinity and femininity except for Gertrude. When Gertrude is viewed by Hamlet as not properly mourning the death of her husband, Betraying her husbands memory by re-marrying very soon after. Hamlet feels betrayed by his mother for being incestuous and cold-hearted and he makes no effort to conceal this contempt during a soliloquy where he says “Frailty, thy name is Woman” (I.ii.146) he extends his hatred for his mother to all women. Hamlet sees women as frail because his mother succumbing to sexual temptation and engaging in incest. Hamlet holds a contempt and disgust for all women as a result of his mother and Ophelia betraying him and his trust.
An asexual is someone who experiences no sex drive or no physical attraction, with many harboring some dislike of anything sexual. Hamlets character is portrayed as sexually indifferent or asexual, the term did not exist in Shakespeare’s time however the way hamlet acts is inline with the description. When Hamlet said “we will have no more marriages. Those that are married already, all but one, shall live. The rest shall keep as they are.” (III.i.155-158) it could be seen as merely his disgust with his mothers marriage however it seems he has a much more general disgust for the concept of marriage. While marriage is a sincere joining of lovers, there is a very sexual aspect where man and wife become one and after being so thoroughly disgusted by his mother and uncles example he now believes people should not be married and humans shouldn’t reproduce. Hamlet refers to Claudius as “mother” and he explains that since he’s married to his mother they have become one, showing his repugnance towards their sexual relations and how low his opinion of Claudius is just as low as his opinion of his mother. Hamlet finds sexual relations, especially on the side of women, to be repellant. Hamlet has a very strong distaste for any mention of something sexual. The “if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them.” (III.i.140-143) line shows he resents the idea of Ophelia getting married and having children, he resents the idea of making more people like Claudius, Polonius, his mother and all his friends who have been sent to spy on him. The people around him, especially his mother, has made Hamlet disgusted by human sexuality.