Hamlet, by William Shakespeare is a well-known play that not only tells a tragedy about revenge and philosophical thought, but indirectly emphasizes societies' views towards women. Shakespeare does a fantastic job of depicting the expected behavior and roles of women through his female characters; Ophelia and Gertrude. Gertrude and Ophelia are portrayed as weak and dependent, a common societal belief towards many women of the time. Hamlet was written and published in the late Middle Ages (14th-15th centuries). A time when women were needed, simply because of their ability to procreate. They were to be considered their husband's property, and if they were unfortunate enough to lose their husband, they would most likely follow the orders of the next man, most likely their son. The views of this era are clearly illustrated through the actions and behavior of the women in this play. Shakespeare's play Hamlet captures the stigma that still exists today: women are weak and dependent on their male counterparts. There are two major female characters in Hamlet, the first is Ophelia. Ophelia is Hamlet's love interest and the daughter of Polonius - a loyal servant of King Claudius. Repeatedly, Ophélie is disrespected and controlled by the men in her life. OPhelia's father, Polonius, constantly dictated her life. He repeatedly told her his wishes regarding her relationship with Hamlet. Polonius also managed to convince Ophelia to help him spy and keep an eye on Hamlet. He tells Ophelia to stop spending time with Hamlet after a long discussion about his intentions: "I would not, in plain words, from now on, slander your leisure at any time, to the point of giving words or to speak with Lord Hamlet. Lo...... middle of paper ...... think for themselves and be more independent, their fate may have been different. Even though we have made great strides in the movement toward equality, our society continues to stigmatize women. The idea that women are weak and feeble is still alive and thriving. The fight has not yet been won, and it will continue to be a problem until the stigma is dismantled and destroyed. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. An introduction to literature: fiction, poetry and theater. By Sylvan Barnet, William Burto and William E. Cain. Boston: Longman, 2011. N. pag. Print.Noble, DF “A world without women”. Technological Review (00401692) 95.4 (1992): 52. Academic Search Premier. Internet. November 27, 2013.Roberts, Jeanne Addison. “The Crone in English Renaissance Drama.” Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England 15. (2002): 116-137. Premier Academic Research. Internet. November 27. 2013.