Dec 18, 2009

Hamlet | Gertrude

In the first of two excerpts on Gertrude, Carolyn Heilbrun contends that, contrary to the predominant critical opinion, Gertrude is not a weak character who lacks "depth and vigorous intelligence." Baldwin Maxwell takes exception to such a reading of Gertrude, and provides a scene-by-scene analysis of the queen to prove that she is highly dependent on, and manipulated by, Claudius.

Carolyn Heilbrun

[Hellbrun contends that, contrary to the predominant critical opinion, Gertrude is not a weak character who lacks "depth and vigorous intelligence." The critic then evaluates Gertrude's lines in Hamlet to demonstrate that while the queen is not "profound," she is certainly never "silly." The character's actions in fact reveal her to be clear-headed and courageous, especially during the closet scene in Act III, scene iv when, after Hamlet accuses her of lust, she accepts his judgment and admits her sin. Heilbrun also provides an Elizabethan...