Hamlet- changing things up

The tragedy of Hamlet surprised me in many ways, after reading different aspects of Shakespeare's work, Hamlet portrayed a different type of feel to me. After reading the first Act of Hamlet, you can instantly get a feel of how the play is going to turn out. Unlike Shakespeare's other works of tragedy this particular play screams tragedy at the audience right away. You enter into a realm of depression, especially that of Hamlet who is mourning his father's death, even in Othello and Richard III you don't that sense of sadness and tragedy until reading a little more into the play, in Hamlet you see what the characters are going through at face value.

Another element I found interesting in Hamlet is the role of women and how it differs in this play compared to the others. We have constantly discussed the role of women in class and discussed Shakepeare's use of unruly women in his plays, however in Hamlet there doesn't seem to be one unruly woman. Ophelia listens to the advice of her father, Polonuius and brother, Laertes and severs ties with Hamlet, despite her feelings. she is willing to cut ties with him per the request of her family. Another woman, Hamlet's mother, Gertrude agrees to marry Cladius, showing no remorse or guilt over Hamlet's father. These two women make me wonder why Shakespeare created such weak female characters in this play, even Desdemona and Anne (who were both part of tragedies) put up some type of a fight for what they believed in. I almost feel as if thus far this play was a let down for women, after reading his other works I feel as if we're missing a big main character who was the female that caused some type of ruckus. Doesnt the saying go something like "well behaved women rarely make history?"

One common theme I did notice was Shakepeare once again used words as means of power. Language is a constant manipulation tool to attack ones mind and spirit and make them full of doubt. P0lonius exhibits this trait when talking to Ophelia to get her to obey him.

Hamlet seems to be different in any other play of Shakespeare's we've read taking some substantial elements out, but I suppose I have to read further on to understand why...