In Hamlet, gender plays a huge role in people's supposed abilities. Queen Gertrude had to remarry instead of ruling the kingdom alone. If she had not remarried, it was likely that her kingdom would have been usurped by a chauvinistic male ruler; who felt that women could not rule a kingdom. The only other woman in the play is Ophelia, and she is not allowed to see Hamlet because her father said so, but her brother Laertes complained until he could go to another country! This illustrates how unfair Polonius is towards women and that he feels that she is his possession because she is a girl. Since she is in his possession, he feels that he has complete control over her. However, in all fairness, it is not just Hamlet and Polonius who are narrow-minded about women's rights; all men are. Claudius gives orders to the queen and without her he would not be king. Hamlet basically tells his mother (Queen Gertrude) to shut up and sit down, and Laertes tells Ophelia that he holds the key to her mind. Since Hamlet is notoriously the worst towards the female sex, we will begin with the assault on his character. Hamlet said “Fragility, thy name is woman,” so Hamlet believes his men are the epitome of stability and strength, right? Not really, but Hamlet's attitude towards women is decidedly sexist and biased, and his hatred seems to emanate from his revulsion at his mother's marriage to Claudius, which he considers "unfaithfulness" to his dead father. His attitude is completely unjustified. “Fragility, your name is woman”, is the summary of feelings towards women for the entire work she is saddened by her late husband; he must find another man to rule the kingdom. That man turns out to be her late husband's brother... by his own actions the men died of their own stupidity and pride. The power that men have over women in the play involves confrontation between the two sexes. Women are portrayed as weak and submissive, so when Hamlet is accused of becoming a "woman", it offends him greatly. As revenge and violence drive the comedy that revolves around men. If women had power over men, the plot would change completely. Gertrude would not even consider marrying Claudius, Hamlet would not seek revenge, and it would be Ophelia who played with Hamlet's mind. Overall, since this is a fictional story, Shakespeare is responsible for this horrible portrayal of women. In reality, women were not as dependent on men as the play claims. They were obedient, but they would not become so mad as to drown themselves if their father died.