Masculinity and Motherhood in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Coriolanus

• Název práce v češtině: Maskulinita a mateřství v Shakespearově Hamletovi a Coriolanovi
• Název v anglickém jazyce: Masculinity and Motherhood in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Coriolanus
• Klíčová slova: Shakespeare|renesanční drama|maskulinita|mateřství|matka|gender|Hamlet|Coriolanus
• Klíčová slova anglicky: Shakespeare|Renaissance drama|masculinity|motherhood|mother|gender|Hamlet|Coriolanus
• Akademický rok vypsání: 2019/2020
• Typ práce: bakalářská práce
• Jazyk práce: angličtina
• Ústav: Ústav anglofonních literatur a kultur (21-UALK)
• Vedoucí / školitel: PhDr. Soňa Nováková, CSc.
• Řešitel: skrytý - zadáno a potvrzeno stud. odd.
• Datum přihlášení: 07.04.2020
• Datum zadání: 08.04.2020
• Schválení administrátorem: zatím neschvalováno
• Datum potvrzení stud. oddělením: 28.05.2020
• Datum a čas obhajoby: 08.02.2022 00:00
• Odevzdaná/finalizovaná: ne
• Oponenti: Mgr. Miroslava Horová, Ph.D.

Zásady pro vypracování

This thesis will explore the masculinity of the titular characters in William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus and Hamlet and the effect of the mother figure on the son’s/titular character’s masculinity. While there is a notable lack of powerful mother figures in Shakespeare’s earlier plays, we see an emergence of them in his later plays. Hamlet and Coriolanus, both considered Shakespeare’s later plays, share not only strong, self-determined male titular characters but also a presence of powerful mothers. The presence and actions of Volumnia and Gertrude seem to have a significant influence on their respective sons in terms of their personal development and masculinity, and ultimately lead to the heroes’ death.
In Hamlet, Gertrude is seen by her son as an active agent in the death of Hamlet’s father. Hamlet’s revenge plot is therefore aimed equally on his mother and his uncle, now king. In terms of gender identity, Hamlet is seen as more feminine, mainly due to his grief and indecisiveness. He is, however, forced to cast aside this “unmanly grief” (Hamlet 1.2.94), focusing on his revenge and becoming more independent and brutal and therefore more masculine in the eyes of his family. Even though the revenge plot ends up in his death, he dies as a hero, having achieved his goal.
In Coriolanus, the hero’s masculinity is tied with his brutality and physicality as a celebrated valiant warrior. While his mother Volumnia plays a formative role in Coriolanus becoming the warrior he is, she also serves as his advisor, pushing Coriolanus into politics. Pursuing his mother’s wishes but being unable to give up his pride, Coriolanus ends up in banishment, joining forces with his enemy. Volumnia then once again takes action, convincing her son to betray his enemy-turned-ally which further undermines his power and ultimately leads to Coriolanus’ death, leaving him to die as a coward and a traitor.
The aim of this thesis is to draw parallels between the two plays by means of textual evidence and close reading, illustrating the similarities and differences in Hamlet’s and Coriolanus’ journeys and the effect their mothers have on them. It also aims to draw attention to the importance of mothers and their relationships with their sons in Shakespeare’s plays, because the focus usually tends to be on the father-son relationships.

Seznam odborné literatury

Bibliography
Primary sources:
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Coriolanus. Edited by R. B. Parker, Oxford University Press, 2008.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 2007, pp. 670-713.
Secondary sources:
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