Feeding the Narrative: A Look into Motherhood and More in Hamnet

Hamnet is a historical drama film directed by Chloe Zhao. It focuses on the life of Agnes Hathaway with William Shakespeare and their children during the 16th century.

The thing that makes this movie stand out is its characterization of Agnes who is often remembered only as Shakespeare’s wife. Instead of making Agnes a supporting character, Hamnet chooses to focus its story around her grief and struggles. Her agency in this film challenges the role of women in most historical dramas.

Agnes and her relationship with her children shows the amount of agency she is given in the story. Agnes is portrayed as a devoted mother with an instinctual connection with all her children. However, her identity as a mother does not completely define her. Instead, it uplifts her character and creates complexity in the film.

Her relationship with Hamnet, her deceased son, is one of her main struggles in the film. It shows the weight of being a mother that usually is not addressed in films. Rather than using her grief to develop other characters, Hamnet expands on her character. This grief also creates conlict between William and Agnes.

Agnes and her complex relationship with William is something that is built throughout the movie. When William leaves the house to pursue his work, Agnes is home with her responsibilities of the household and children. The difference between their lives reflects the different gender expectations of their time. The film marks that Agnes encouraged William to go pursue his work. However, when William becomes more and more distant, Agnes feels a sense of hurt. Despite these feelings, she tries to not hold him back and continues to encourage him with his work.

After Hamnet’s death, Agnes and William grow further apart as they struggle with their grief. Agnes feels the loss deeply since she was the one who cared for Hamnet when William was away. This creates deep resentment towards William. This conflict creates a complicated relationship between the two.

The complexity of Agnes is what makes her truly feminist. The film does not portray her as a perfect woman who always knows what she wants, nor does it make her a victim who suffers continuously. Agnes can be independent while still wanting a family. She can be encouraging of William and hateful towards him at the same time. She is deeply devoted towards her children without allowing motherhood to completely define her identity. Her numerous contradictions make her feel like a real person. That is what makes Hamnet’s feminism so meaningful.