Queen Gertrude is the Queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother, the widow of Old Hamlet and the wife of Claudius, brother of her dead husband. Gertrude is ignorant and a woman who means no harm but because of her actions it contributes greatly to the terrible events that occur throughout the play. In this play there’s many conflicts, one of the first conflicts was when Gertrude married King Claudius two months after Old Hamlet’s death. Gertrude is ignorant because she’s not aware of anything happening. For example she’s not aware that King Hamlet’s murder was by his own brother Claudius, even though they were some hints out there to show that it was King Claudius who killed Old Hamlet.
Hamlet is not justified by treating Gertrude the way he did. Gertrude said that Hamlet has offended his new stepfather by the play that he put on (to find out if Claudius actually did kill the king). After Hamlet hears that his mother is not proud by the way he has been acting Hamlet just goes off on her. Hamlet then says that his mother has offended his real father (King Hamlet) and completely intimidates her. Then Hamlet accuses Gertrude of lustfulness and his mother starts crying and begs him to go.
Hamlet and the Ghost both discussed the deception of Claudius and how Claudius persuaded Gertrude to aid him in the murder of her own spouse. The Ghost told Hamlet, “With his cleaver words and fancy gifts, he seduced my seemingly virtuous queen, persuading her to give in to his lust” ( Act I Scene 5, 42). Gertrude opened herself to being tricked into falling for Claudius by accepting his many gifts and compliments. Hamlet berated his mother, Gertrude, “A murderer and a villain, a low-life who's not worth a twentieth of a tenth of your first husband” (Act III Scene 4, 97).
His girlfriend, Ophelia, betrays his trust by allowing Polonius to spy on their private conversation, Hamlet figures this out and begins to treat her by using extremely sexual and rude language with her. Next, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spy on Hamlet and attempt to deliver a letter ordering his death. Hamlet notices there deceptive behaviour and ends up having them executed by pirates. Additionally, Hamlet’s mother married his uncle Claudius for the sole purpose of remaining queen, she also gets past the sudden death of her husband very quickly, this angers Hamlet, he feels as if she betrayed the family. Hamlet beings to treat Gertrude very poorly, explain his emotion while being very rude and hurtful toward her.
Queen Gertrude makes it seem like the king meant nothing to her when she states that, “She disrespects the king by saying that it is common for everyone to die, instead of having an apathetic tone in her voice, as a normal widow would, she causes more conflict between her and Hamlet. This causes conflict because she is acting unconcerned, proving that she has moved on so easily and she proves this by marrying so soon after her husband’s death. Hamlet sees this as an act of betrayal, considering that Gertrude seemed unphased of his father’s death, and she traded a rich pure love for one that is poor and weak. The Ghost tells Hamlet, “ O Hamlet, what a falling off was there! [f]rom me, whose love was that of dignity that it went hand in hand even with vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline [u]pon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor [t]o those of mine.”
Even though Hamlet is passionate about his mother, there is never a direct act from the prince that shows his sudden love and protection for her. Gertrude shows him an act of love by rising for his accomplishments during the fencing match and toasting a drink of wine to him. Unfortunately, that wine is intended for Hamlet’s consumption, and is filled with poison. Gertrude then shows an act of protection when she screams out to warn Prince Hamlet that the wine is indeed poisoned, saying “No, no, the drink, the drink!—O my dear Hamlet! The drink, the drink!
Both Gertrude and Polonius are conspiring against Hamlet together. Gertrude is behind her own mask as Polonius is spying behind the curtain; Hamlet cannot get behind these barriers resulting in his frustration. This frustation is what plays a major role
Her dilemma of having to choose one man over the other is driving her to insanity because she can’t pick just one of them. Certainly she loves both of them or at least that’s what she thought, but Hamlet’s father is her true love while Claudius is the brother of her husband that just so happened to become king after his brother died. In short, she doesn’t know her true feelings for either person. Gertrude feels confused and overwhelmed by everything that just unfolded in front of her. It causes her an undesirable grief that she shouldn’t have had to deal
His world's perspective is being influenced by the confusion he has with his mother's behaviour. The queen, Gertrude, once "... Followed [Hamlet's] father's body, like Niobe, all tears ... would have mourned longer - married with [Hamlet's] uncle" (I.ii.150). Hamlet compares her mother to Niobe who cried for a very long time for her children's death that she turned into stone. Gertrude does a similar act towards her husband's death but only for a short period of time. She finds her happiness from the love King Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, gives her two months after which seems to be unbelievable to Hamlet.
After Hamlet questions Gertrude’s purity and virtue as a wife, she claims that his words have “cleft” her “heart in twain” (3.4.177). Hamlet says to her, ”Good night. But go not to my uncle’s bed” (3.4.179-180). These words displays that the amount of respect Hamlet has for his mother is little to none. He thinks that by marrying Claudius, Gertrude has betrayed his father and is no longer virtuous.
In conclusion, the character of Gertrude in the play Hamlet is complicated and can be viewed in several different ways. Throughout the play, readers attempt to interpret her motives and the actions that she takes. Whether or not she knows Claudius is a criminal and whether or not she loves Hamlet are two questions that are asked about Gertrude’s character. Shakespeare leaves room for the reader
Hamlet’s views on women is adulterous which pertains to the misogynistic tendencies in the play; thus, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, sparks up his misogynistic approaches. Hamlet is repulsed with Gertrude since she was quick to re-wed immediately following Old Hamlet’s death and cries: “She married. O, most wicked speed, to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (1.2.156-157). Hamlet is shocked that his mother remarries to Claudius, Old Hamlet’s brother, before letting the tears on her cheek to dry.
Throughout the conversation and various parts of the play, Hamlet expresses his disgust for his mother 's actions. He insults her by comparing his father to Hyperion and Claudius to a satyr. He tells Gertrude not to sin by sleeping with him and tells her she is nothing but lustful for marrying a man like Claudius when he says, “That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,/ Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose/ From the fair forehead of an innocent love/ And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows/
In act one Gertrude marries her dead husband 's brother Claudius, Hamlet is not very happy that his mother did this. Hamlet feels very betrayed by his own mother because she remarried so quickly. He feels as if this is an unforgivable
However, Hamlet soon discovers that Claudius has been lying to him, and Claudius’ real motive is to kill Hamlet in order to exterminate all possible threats to his reign. Claudius’ role play affects the entire country of Denmark, and he convinces the people that he is the rightful king, when he is not, and has murdered his brother for the throne. Gertrude, too, takes on a role; throughout the play, she seems oblivious to her wrongdoings. She claims that she loves Claudius, and did not just marry him for political reasons.
