Men are expected to live up to certain ideals in society. Men must act in a way that honors their families, which is often done through revenge, to be seen as masculine. In society, men feel insecure because they expect violence and revenge. Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Hamlet experiences an internal conflict over masculinity due to his desire to take revenge and honor his father. However, he doubts if he has enough strength to act. The ideals of masculinity can create a cycle that is based on violence, as men feel they must act to be masculine.
Hamlet must decide whether to kill his Uncle or his Father after his father dies. Hamlet’s ghostly father tells Hamlet about the murder of his father and urges him to seek vengeance. Hamlet Sr. replies, “If thee didst love thy dearest father… revenge on his foulest and unnatural death”. Hamlet holds his father in such high regard and believes that his memory is not enough. He will therefore follow any advice his father gives. Hamlet puts Hamlet under more pressure by calling the revenge task a “love” act. Hamlet wants to demonstrate his masculinity through this act of honor.
Hamlet, however, is insecure as this pressure makes him feel like he has to prove himself by retaliating and acting masculine. Hamlet’s insecurity is often the reason he undermines his own strength when he contemplates revenge. Hamlet says that as he plans the play for his Uncle, he feels “like John-a-dreams” and is not able to speak. Shakespeare uses a comparison to Hamlet, comparing him to “John a-dreams”, a person who dreams but never acts. Hamlet’s insecurity is shown by his lack of action. In addition, Hamlet asks himself if is is a liar, as he doubts whether or not he has enough strength in him to kill the uncle. Hamlet further analyzes his Uncle’s character, saying “My Father’s Brother,… No more like My Father / Than I am to Hercules.” Hamlet considers his uncle to be a total disgrace and foil to his father. Hamlet demonstrates how Hamlet is the opposite of a man who represents strength, masculinity, or power. Shakespeare uses similes in order to let Hamlet refer to his feelings of insecurity and not confront them directly. This allows him to appear masculine without revealing any weaknesses. Hamlet’s insecurity is so strong that he tries to disguise it with subtly using similes.
Laertes & Hamlet may both have lost their fathers & seek revenge but the ultimate action they take demonstrates how their masculinity is reflected in their actions. Laertes says, “I’ll do it” after losing both his brother and father (4.7.159). It is clear from his simple, but highly motivated response that he wants revenge. Claudius pressures him into acting, but he is motivated by his desire to honour his relatives. Laertes also has a strong masculine relationship, since he does his best to serve others, and does not see his actions as an expression of his own worth. Hamlet is passive, making excuses for not killing his Uncle. Hamlet writes in Act 4.4.2 that he does not know “why I am still alive to say” / “This thing is to do.” He is really creating excuses because he fears. Hamlet has a hesitant attitude to action, while Laertes is more driven. Hamlet creates a vicious cycle in which he battles masculinity. He wants action but is afraid of his strength. As a result, he delays taking action and feels more unmasculine. Hamlet is also under pressure to kill his Uncle by his father. Although this motivation serves, Hamlet ultimately acts on his own, forcing him to associate the actions he takes with masculinity. Hamlet’s father would not have allowed him to kill Claudius if it wasn’t for the honor of his father. His thoughts are “three part coward” and he wonders if he will have the courage to act. He wants revenge so that he can feel like a man, but he’s not honoring his family, unlike Laertes. Hamlet finally becomes motivated by Fortinbras. Fortinbras wants to get back the land his father stole from him as a tribute to his father. He also seeks revenge. Hamlet says of Fortinbras: “To the shame of my soul, I watch / twenty thousand soldiers / die imminently for a falsehood and trick, fighting for an idea / on which the numbers are not enough to test, and a continent that isn’t big enough to cover the slain” (4.4.62-68). Fortinbras is a strong and masculine man, and Hamlet sees him as such. Fortinbras, his father’s hero, will make him act. He must be willing to do the same if he sees so many others willingly sacrifice themselves. Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s Act 4.4.2 soliloquy to show Hamlet accepting his responsibility to avenge himself. Hamlet’s desire to be more masculine is a result of Fortinbras. Because all three men struggle with fatherlessness, they each respond in a way that reflects their own masculinity.
Men are often driven to violence by their masculinity, as they seek to satisfy their insecurity. This can lead to actions that do little to help their cause. Hamlet tells Horatio he killed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: “Oh, man, these two did love this job.” They are far from my conscience. Hamlet does not feel remorse because Shakespeare used irony by killing Claudius and Hamlet’s childhood friends. He is on a mission to get revenge and yet spends his time plotting to kill others who were there to help him. Hamlet acts out because he feels unmasculin. The act of Hamlet, which fulfills masculinity through action, does not help him achieve his goal. He acts unnecessarily aggressively because of his insecurity and fear, which prevents him from taking the necessary action towards his goal.
Masculinity Standards create Violence against Women Hamlet attributes inaction as being unmasculine. He explains that if he does not avenge his father, he will be “like a woman” (2.2.614). Women are not allowed to do anything in society because patriarchal societies restrict their freedom. Women are equated with inaction even though they don’t have the option to choose. Hamlet is consistently inferior to women in his interactions. This is partly due to misogyny in the period but also to his own lack of confidence. Hamlet says, “Frailty is the name of woman” in a speech about his mother. In a soliloquy about his mother, Hamlet says “Frailty, thy name is woman!”. He dislikes women to distance his self from women’s characteristics. He is often seen as unmasculine because he doesn’t act. Insecurity and the desire to appear more masculine are at the root of his treatment towards women. As a result, masculinity is viewed as a virtue that creates conflict between women and men.
