How would you characterize Gertrude and Claudius's relationship in Hamlet?
The relationship is something of a strange one. Based on the way Hamlet describes it and the way his father's ghosts relates his betrayal, it appears that this is a passionate and lustful relationship, and yet this is not exactly supported by the characters' actions. The couple gets married shortly after the death of Hamlet's father. This is certainly strange behavior and a sign of disrespect to Hamlet's father. Some might suggest that the two had even been engaging in a sexual relationship before the death of Hamlet's father. This could possibly be one of several motivations for the king's murder.
This does not appear to be the case, however. The play shows several signs (such as Hamlet's play, and Gertrude 's own actions) that Gertrude was unaware of the plot against her former husband. While this does not mean a relationship did not occur, it at least removes...
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the possibility that the two planned the treachery together. It seems more likely that Gertrude's role in the play is somewhat passive. She naively closes her eyes to the crimes of her new husband and tries to pacify her son to hold everything together. She remarries quickly, not because she is so in love withClaudius, but because of a desire to keep things in order.
After a lifetime of obeying her royal husband she appears simply to allow Claudius to fill the vacant role in her life. She trusts him to help her discover why her son is acting so strangely, and she hopes that Hamlet will view him as a father figure. There is little sign of any lustful passion on her part, and she even attempts to save Hamlet at the end of the play. For this reason, it seems that while Claudius might view marrying Gertrude as a part of his treachery, Gertrude is merely passively trying to continue life as it was before. She wants things to remain as they were and for Claudius to continue in the role her husband left behind.
Shakespeare portrays a troubled relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet. As the play opens, Hamlet is deeply distressed that his mother so quickly remarried her brother-in-law after her husband's death. He can hardly believe Gertrude was willing to settle for someone who, in Hamlet's opinion, was so much lesser than his late father. Hamlet calls his father a Hyperion or sun god, while he calls Claudius a satyr, a lustful half human, half animal figure.
The mother and son, however, love each other. Gertrude has a great deal of concern over her son's behavior, which makes no sense to her. Claudius knows he has to tread carefully around the subject of Hamlet, a person he would simply like to get rid of, because Gertrude cares about him so much. Gertrude would like to see Hamlet settle down and marry Ophelia.
Hamlet, however, is angry and disillusioned about women in general because of what he considers Gertrude's betrayal in marrying Claudius. When he finally confronts her, she admits they married for convenience. At the same time, she is terrified that Hamlet, in his frenzied state, might kill her.
Hamlet's love for his mother shows, however, at the end of the play. He has been indecisive all along about killing Claudius, but when he realizes Claudius has allowed Gertrude to drink from the poisoned cup, he kills his uncle.