ENG4U U9 "Newspaper" Media Collection

COVER PAGE ANALYSIS THE HAMLET SUN 2 The cover page of this up for herself. She becomes murdering his brother. collection displays a variety worn out from after merely of symbols related to the being treated as simply a Ophelia also offers Claudius various themes of Hamlet. To “male counterpart.” At the understand the plethora of end of the play, Gertrude a daisy, representing symbols and themes in the begins to drink from the play, a deep analysis is poisonous goblet. Claudius unhappy love; describing the required. demands her to stop, however, Gertrude finally broken relationship between Good Hamlet, cast thy decides for herself; nighted color off, unknowingly drinking the him and Hamlet, as well as And let thine eye look like a poison and succumbing to its friend on Denmark. physical effects. Afterward, Gertrude’s own unhappiness. Do not forever with thy Claudius is forced to drink vailèd lids the poison by Hamlet and Pansies are for thoughts, Seek for thy noble father in also dies. Overall, the chalice the dust. is a symbol for the sexism while violets are flowers for - Gertrude to Hamlet (i.ii.68- that led to the death of 71) Gertrude and the poison that faithfulness–to which killed Denmark’s royalty. To start, the dark Ophelia believes “withered” background colour of the There’s fennel for you, and poster represents the theme columbines.—There’s rue for all when her father died. of dark clothes. In the play, you, and here’s some for me. Hamlet wears black clothes We may call it “herb of Each has a crumpled paper as he mourns the loss of his grace” o' Sundays.—Oh, you father. When Hamlet first must wear your rue with a effect, symbolizing Ophelia’s enters the play, Gertrude difference.—There’s a daisy. tells him to take his nighted I would give you some broken mental state. Her outfit off, as she believes violets, but they withered all that Hamlet should not when my father died. deterioration results from spend his life seeking his - Ophelia to Gertrude and dead father. Claudius (iv.v.152-155) both the death of her father and the unfair treatment she has received from each character, especially Hamlet. I will, my lord. I pray you, Finally, the flowers pardon me. (drinks) symbolize Ophelia and the - Gertrude (v.ii.287) many factors that contribute to the tragedy of Hamlet. In addition, the chalice and Fennel (inside the chalice on its red shadow depict the the left side) represents death and bloodshed of the adultery and is given to royal family, with sexism Gertrude, due to her being an underlying cause. remarriage. Rue (inside the As the play progresses, chalice on the right side) Gertrude is shown to stands for repentance and is constantly tolerate orders handed to Claudius; implying from the king, Claudius, that he must repent for without standing murdering his brother.



EDITORIALS THE HAMLET SUN 4 OPINION: FINDING SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HAMLET In May 2014, Elliot Rodger 'Day of Retribution'. . .’on myself a supreme gentleman. the society’ that had ‘denied’ . .I was angry that they killed five and injured 14 in him sex and love.” He would give their love and explained that the Alpha Phi attention to obnoxious an attack that was targeted sorority, the “society” he brutes.” would attack, had “the kind the Alpha Phi sorority–a of girls [he’s] always desired but was never able to have.” group known for its Revenge was his first thought; opening fire and confident women–in Isla stabbing multiple members of the Californian sorority. Vista, California. Almost four years later, Alek Minassian drove a van through Yonge Street in Toronto, killing 11, including nine women. The two attacks have similar fuel to the fire; misogyny. People may believe that these misogynistic onslaughts are Alek Minassian (Photo by CBC) new and dangerous to The murderer’s sexist way of thinking was inspired by current society. However, Rodger’s 2014 attack. Before Minassian stepped into the this mindset has been van, he posted a message to Facebook, stating that “The present in the world for Incel Rebellion has already begun. . . All hail the centuries; specifically Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!” Motivated by spanning back to 17th- Rodger’s resentment for women, Minassian executed century literature. Elliot Rodger (Photo by BBC) his own “retribution.” Shakespeare’s Hamlet In addition, he posted a encapsulates the hatred men document that described his can have toward women, as feelings of resentment well as how those feelings towards women; fueled by can spark violent acts of his virginity. The release of revenge. Comparing texts of Rodger’s autobiography the past with events of the sprouted a community called present stresses the the incels–“involuntarily relevance of misogyny today celibate”–comprised of and the urgency of reducing furious men that blame their its overwhelming presence. sexual frustrations on In a YouTube video that he women. posted prior to the sorority The Toronto van attack of attack, Elliot Rodger 2018 was also motivated by a complained about his sexual radicalized mindset. frustrations. In his lens, Minassian turned to incel Site of the Toronto Van Attack (Photo by CBC) women did not want to have culture in 2013, where his Despite its recent surfacing sex with him. As a result, efforts to talk to girls at a in current world issues, the Rodger’s hatred for women Halloween party resulted in involuntarily celibate progressively grew until it humiliation. In an interview mindset has been present for reached its boiling point. with Detective Rob Thomas, centuries. Hamlet presents a Rodger “planned his Minassian stated: “I felt very protagonist whose hatred murderous rampage as a angry because I considered sparks an act of revenge–an

EDITORIALS THE HAMLET SUN 5 AND THE MISOGYNISTIC MINDSET THAT HAS TAKEN SOCIETY BY STORM incident that ends in the at his demise. On the verge warned society of the signs of death, Hamlet calls, of trouble. Acknowledging death of the entire royal exclaiming that “I am dead, the presence of misogyny in Horatio–Wretched queen, the past and recognizing its family. Hamlet’s adieu” (v.ii.328). Hamlet’s inhuman nature serves as final words imply that he an example of what to misogynistic mindset succeeded in his retribution; avoid; consequently creating attaining his long-awaited a future that leaves incel emerged from his mother’s revenge by killing the royal culture behind. family. incestuous relationship. As Hamlet reflects on Gertrude and Claudius’ situation, he realizes that his mother is deceitful, believing that “a beast that wants discourse of reason / Would have mourned longer!–married with my uncle” (i.ii.150-151). Hamlet begins to resent his mother’s actions–believing that she is a lustful, shameful wretch–eventually losing trust in women and society as a whole. Consequently, Hamlet’s hatred brushes off on his P interactions with Ophelia. When watching the play, Hamlet tells Ophelia to “get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder / of sinners? I am myself Painted depiction of Hamlet attempting to murder Claudius (Illustration via Inquiries indifferent honest, but yet I Journal) could accuse me / of such Generally speaking, Hamlet things that it were better my is an early representation of mother had not borne me” incel culture. The hatred (iii.i.121-123). Hamlet Hamlet directs towards expresses to Ophelia that she women–beginning with should get a brothel, Gertrude’s remarriage–and questioning why she would his revenge at the end of the “breed more sinners.” The play demonstrates that the prince’s vocabulary presence of misogyny has disrespects Ophelia’s spanned centuries. Similarly, sexuality–voicing that she Elliot Rodger and Alek belongs in a brothel–and Minassian’s motive for their clearly draws attention to his respective attacks were their belief that women are the misogynistic mindsets–their cause of sin. anger towards their sexual failures. Fiction and reality Hamlet’s vendetta climaxes alike have informed and

EDITORIALS THE HAMLET SUN 6 OPINION: HOW SEXISM AND GENDER STEREOTYPES Shakespeare’s Hamlet is an death, Laertes cries tears, a result, Claudius’ nagging iconic play that highlights backfires in the end, as when the extremely sexist and yet states that “When these he pleads with Gertrude to sexualized views society had refrain from drinking the towards women at the time. are gone, / The woman will poisonous cup, she responds Hamlet emphasized how, in with “I will, my lord. I pray the late 1500s, women had be out” (Shakespeare, you, pardon me (drinks)” limited opportunities through (v.ii.287) and drinks from the the text’s use of stereotypes iv.vii.185-186). Laertes cup. The one occasion where and sexism. Despite its Gertrude finally decides to release being in 1603, the exhibits a sexist mindset by stand up for herself issues underlined in the play ultimately leads to her are still present in today’s saying that, once his tears demise. social climate; specifically sexism in the workplace and are gone, he will stop acting pop culture. Connecting real- world events with historical like a woman–associating texts only emphasizes the fact that sexism and gender women with weakness and stereotypes have continued to plague communities since sensitivity. the 17th-century; fueling the need for action in modern On another note, Hamlet Painted depiction of Hamlet's revenge society. treats Ophelia as a sexual (Illustration by George Browne via Alamy) object. While watching Hamlet and Ophelia (Ophelia, 2018) Hamlet’s organized play, Unfortunately, the views Hamlet speaks to Ophelia in Hamlet portrays women as an extremely sexual way, men in the 17th-century had weak, voiceless, and gullible treating her as if she were an people through how men object. He says several of women continue to subtly treat and perceive them. suggestive statements, the Hamlet and many other men most severe being, “it would present themselves today. in the play believe that cost you a groaning to take women are weak and sexual off mine edge” (iii.ii.234). In Acts of social activism such objects. After Ophelia’s the previous line, Ophelia calls Hamlet keen and sharp. as the Me Too Movement Hamlet then responds, telling Ophelia to take the have exposed the repugnant “edge” off of him, though it will make her moan. The actions of certain men in sexual joke makes Ophelia respond uncomfortably, as today’s society. One example expected. of the countless acts of Additionally, Hamlet depicts sexism that many women women as reliant upon men for their decisions; another face today is the situation of aspect of gender stereotypes. Throughout the play, Christine Laperriere, a Claudius continuously tells Gertrude what to do and not Toronto engineer. to do; she simply submits herself and follows the king’s Throughout her tenure, her orders. Gertrude is merely treated as a male boss sexually harassed her counterpart and grows tired of this type of treatment. As daily. She had had enough when, as Laperriere stated: “I leaned over the table to speak into the phone, and I heard my boss giggling behind me. I turned around and gave him a dirty look, and then leaned back over

EDITORIALS THE HAMLET SUN 7 PRESENTED IN HAMLET ARE STILL PRESENT TODAY the table–and he swatted me leads whose situations only world only highlights the on the butt with a folder, giggling.” Laperriere’s boss improve with the need for change in modern wrongfully sexualized her– parallel to Hamlet’s sexual introduction of a “Prince communities. Uniting comment barrage during the play scene. Charming.” Disney’s Wreck- together and learning from it-Ralph even satirically mistakes in both fiction and addresses their own reality makes a huge stereotype, with the princess difference in society's Rapunzel asking the main treatment of women. Another incident lies in heroine, Venellope, if Karlyn Percil’s story. As a “people assume all your bank’s senior project problems got solved because manager, Percil faced a big strong man showed constant sexism in the up.” Reliance on male figures workpalce stating that plays a prominent part in “some of the men I worked traditional Disney films. This with ignored me when I reliant mindset present in spoke up or sent an email, or Disney films is similar to made direct comments like, that of Hamlet, where ‘Are you sure she can do the Ophelia and Gertrude's work?’ or ‘Look at her, look decisions and mindsets are at how she’s built.’” Men in controlled by men. Hamlet treated women as weak and powerless. The men in Percil’s bank viewed her in a similar way. Karlyn Percil (Photo by Geneviève Caron via Snow White in Snow White and the Seven The Globe and Mail) Dwarves (1937) (Photo by IMDb) Sexism and its relation to Overall, the general Hamlet is also present in pop consensus is that sexism and culture, specifically in Disney gender stereotypes have been movies. Old Disney princess present throughout history. films such as Snow White Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a and the Seven Dwarves and literary foundation that Cinderella present female manifests the sexist ideals within men and society alike. Movies such as Cinderella, or heart-wrenching stories such as Christine Laperriere’s demonstrate a variation of the stereotypes or views found in Hamlet. Studying the actions portrayed in works such as Hamlet and relating them to the real

WORKS CITED THE HAMLET SUN 8 WORKS CITED