Gertrude

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Extended Character Analysis

Gertrude is the Queen of Denmark and Hamlet’s mother. Two months after the death of her first husband, King Hamlet, she marries his brother, Claudius. Her marriage is a source of bitterness for Prince Hamlet, who views her actions as morally corrupt and sinful since by Elizabethan standards, marrying one’s brother-in-law was considered incest. Gertrude seems to want what is best for her son, encouraging him to cheer up after his father’s death and trying to understand his apparent madness. However, her relationship with Hamlet is compromised by her marriage to Claudius and by her involvement in Claudius and Polonius’s duplicitous schemes. 

Gertrude is described primarily by the men around her, most notably Hamlet and Claudius. By contrast, she is given very few opportunities to delineate her own thoughts and feelings. However, she does show moments of wit and independent thought, such as when she says, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks," in response to being asked what she thinks of the Player Queen’s performance in act III, scene II. Her sarcastic response indicates her belief that the play’s—and, by extension, Hamlet’s—views of love and marriage are impractical and overly sentimental. She also displays moments of guilt regarding her marriage to Claudius, describing it as “o’erhasty” and begging Hamlet to stop when he confronts her about it in her room. The Ghost tells Hamlet to come between Gertrude and her “fighting soul,” implying that she is a conflicted character. 

The nature of Gertrude’s conflict is one of the enduring critical debates surrounding Hamlet. The question stands as to what role, if any, Gertrude played in the death of her first husband. By one reading, Gertrude is an innocent and guileless woman who either married Claudius out of convenience or was seduced by him after the death of King Hamlet. This interpretation positions Gertrude as a loving wife and mother who is simply making the best of a bad situation. Furthermore, her role as the “imperial jointress” makes her a prime target for an ambitious schemer like Claudius, suggesting that she may have been manipulated into the marriage.

However, Gertrude can also be read as an accomplice to Claudius, complicit in the murder of King Hamlet. King Hamlet’s ghost implies that Gertrude may have been unfaithful even before his death, hinting that the corruption in Denmark did not start with the murder of the king. This introduces the possibility that Gertrude and Claudius were truly in love and that they killed King Hamlet to pave the way for their marriage. By this reading, Gertrude and Claudius used her role as the “imperial jointress” to secure the crown and silence objections to their union. However, if she is truly Claudius’s confidante and accomplice, her decision to drink from the poisoned cup in act V, scene II raises questions. By one reading, Gertrude’s love for Hamlet overcomes her love for Claudius, and she drinks from the cup in an attempt to prevent Hamlet from doing so. By another reading, Claudius knows that Gertrude does not have the heart to kill her son, so he intentionally excludes her from his plans to get rid of Hamlet, with tragic results. 

Gertrude is a complicated figure, rendered even more ambiguously motivated by the lack of definitive details given about her character and her role in King Hamlet’s murder. Is she an innocent and naive woman caught up in Claudius’s ambitions? Is she a master manipulator who orchestrated the death of her husband in order to marry her lover? Or is she the product of a society where women have very little power, forced to make hard choices in order to secure her own future? The precise nature of Gertrude’s involvement in Claudius’s machinations remains a mystery, as does her moral compass, but her love for her son seems unquestionable. 

Expert Q&A

In Hamlet, what explanation does Gertrude give for Polonius' murder?

In "Hamlet," Gertrude explains Polonius' murder by attributing it to Hamlet's madness, describing him as acting "mad as the sea and wind." She tells Claudius that Hamlet, in a "lawless fit," mistook Polonius for a rat and killed him. However, she omits Hamlet's true intentions and his lack of remorse, suggesting instead that he wept over the act. This omission serves to protect Hamlet while portraying him as insane.

What quotes from Hamlet demonstrate Gertrude's obedience?

Quotes from Hamlet demonstrating Gertrude's obedience include, "I shall obey you" (3.1.38-41) and "What shall I do?" (3.4.184), showing her compliance with Claudius and Hamlet. Additionally, when Claudius commands, "O Gertrude, come away" (4.1.2650), she dutifully follows. Ironically, her disobedience in act V, when she drinks the poisoned cup despite Claudius's warning, leads to her death.

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, to what extent is Gertrude complicit in her husband's murder?

Gertrude's complicity in her husband's murder in Hamlet is ambiguous, as the text does not explicitly state her involvement. While the ghost mentions "incest" and "adultery," suggesting possible guilt, it does not directly accuse her of murder. Her quick remarriage to Claudius raises suspicions, but there is no definitive evidence of her involvement in King Hamlet's death. Ultimately, interpretations vary, with no clear conclusion on her guilt.

Explain the dichotomy of Gertrude's power and weakness in Hamlet.

Gertrude in Hamlet embodies a dichotomy of power and weakness through her ambiguous role as queen and her personal decisions. While she holds the title of queen, her power is limited, being subservient to Claudius. Her weakness is evident in her poor judgment and hasty marriage to Claudius, disregarding her son's feelings and possibly failing to see the political manipulation around her. Her attempts to assert herself are overshadowed by her loyalty to Claudius and her neglect of Hamlet's emotional turmoil.

Why does Gertrude urge Hamlet to stay home and not return to school?

Gertrude urges Hamlet to stay home as an expression of motherly love, aligning with Claudius's wishes. Claudius initially asks Hamlet to remain in Denmark, citing Hamlet's position as the next in line to the throne and expressing a fatherly affection. Gertrude supports Claudius's request, which may also reflect her desire for Hamlet's company following her first husband's death. However, it seems primarily to back Claudius's intent to monitor Hamlet as a potential threat.

What had Gertrude hoped for Hamlet and Ophelia?

Gertrude had hoped Ophelia would marry Hamlet, as evidenced by her statement "Sweets to the sweet" at Ophelia's funeral. This reflects her regret over the lost potential for youth and innocence within the Danish court. Her act of throwing flowers on Ophelia's grave symbolizes the burial of her hopes for a decent future through their marriage. Hamlet's realization at the funeral leads to an emotional confrontation with Laertes over their love for Ophelia.

How do the final lines of Gertrude, Claudius, and Laertes reflect their characters in Hamlet?

The final lines of Gertrude, Claudius, and Laertes in "Hamlet" reflect their characters deeply. Gertrude's ironic death by Claudius's poison echoes her tragic ignorance and closeness to his evil. Laertes's apology to Hamlet reveals his realization of being a pawn in Claudius's schemes and his integrity in acknowledging his wrongs. Claudius's self-centered dying words lack nobility, highlighting his failure to atone and his delusional self-pity.

Has Gertrude ever disobeyed Claudius before she drinks from the cup in Act 5?

Gertrude does not openly disobey Claudius before drinking from the cup in Act 5. In Act 3, she follows Polonius's instructions, likely approved by Claudius, to reprimand Hamlet. However, she does so gently and is ultimately swayed by Hamlet's arguments against her marriage to Claudius. This interaction suggests she may harbor doubts about Claudius, potentially influencing her later actions. Her refusal to obey Claudius's order in Act 5 could stem from these doubts or serve as dramatic irony.

What are Gertrude's goals, passions, and worst fears in Hamlet?

Gertrude's goals in "Hamlet" include maintaining her status and ensuring her son, Hamlet, becomes more cheerful. She marries Claudius to preserve her status as queen, reflecting her fear of change. Her passions are torn between her attraction to Claudius and love for Hamlet, but she cannot choose between them. Her greatest fear is change, as seen in her reluctance to act against Claudius, even when aware of her guilt and its potential consequences.

What are Queen Gertrude's positive traits in Hamlet?

In Hamlet, Queen Gertrude's positive character traits are that she loves her son, Hamlet, that she also loved Hamlet's father, that she tries to mediate as best she can between Hamlet and his uncle, Claudius, and that she truly cares for Ophelia and hoped that Hamlet and Ophelia would be married.

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