Gertrude of Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay

Hamlet's rant to persuade her that Claudius is a bad man and the murderer of his father depicts his disrespect to his mother. For instance, he tells her, "You go not till I set you up a glass / Where you may see the inmost part of you." (III.iv.20-21) He is threatening his own mother! Later, he addresses her as "thou wretched, rash, intruding fool" (III.iv.32) Even though Gertrude's lust for Claudius aggravates him, Hamlet fails to show even the most fundamental respect to his superior. The relationship is full of disloyalty and distrust from Gertrude's part. First, she appeases, "Be thou assured... I have no life to breathe what thou hast said to me." (III.iv.201-203) It is assumed that she will listen to Hamlet and stay away from Claudius. However, in the next act, she displays her true loyalty to her husband, telling him that Hamlet is "in this brainish apprehension kills / The unseen good old man." (IV.I.12-13) This is partially contributed by her observations of her son talking to a ghost that she doesn't see. Polonius' death causes her to think Hamlet is dangerous, further driving the two apart. Her distrust to her son harms him by further solidifying Claudius' plan to execute him in England because the king sees him as a threat to the throne who is capable of killing. In the end, Hamlet and Gertrude's relationship take a bittersweet ending.

The nature of Shakespeare’s plays, with its notable lack of stage directions, gives way to multiple different interpretations of the characters, plot, and even of the purpose of the play itself. The character of Gertrude is no exception. Gertrude’s character and motives, being left ambiguous, have been interpreted in many different ways in various productions of Hamlet. Was she implicit in the death of King Hamlet, or was she merely a clueless bystander? Did she drink the poison as an act of motherly self-sacrifice, or was it an accidental tragedy? Zefferelli’s Hamlet (1990) and Almereyda’s Hamlet (2000) provide two different interpretations on Gertrude’s characterization. In particular, there exist substantial differences in their renditions of Gertrude’s death—while Almereyda portrays her death as a noble suicide, Zefferelli paints her death as a by-product of her unceasing lust for pleasure. Furthermore, in that scene, we also notice a difference in Hamlet’s attitude towards Gertrude. By analyzing these points along with other scenes within the context of the entire film, we manage to develop an understanding of Almereyda’s and Zefferelli’s view on Gertrude and how use that to develop the tragic conclusion of the final scene.

   Concerning the Ophelia of Shakespeare’s tragic drama Hamlet, is she an innocent type or not? Is she a victim or not? This essay will explore these and other questions related to this character.

After meeting the ghost of his late father, the former king, Hamlet resolves to avenge his murder, committed by his uncle, the current king. In order to investigate and find evidence of his uncle’s treachery,

Throughout history, womankind has been forced to endure misogyny in many forms; and, innumerable examples of inequality in society’s treatment of men and women can be found in the world’s past and present. From foot-binding to slut-shaming, from harems where women were treated like property to jobs where women receive lower salaries than their male counterparts, and from the women’s suffrage movement to the fight for women’s right to make their own choices about their reproductive health, the “fairer sex” has often been treated unfairly. This theme of oppresion has been explored in many works of literature, both contempory and classical, and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, written at the turn of the 16th century, is no exception. In Hamlet,

Between Ophelia and Gertrude exists a subtle but profound parallelism presenting Ophelia as perhaps a younger version of Gertrude and emphasizing the effects of Hamlet’s portrayal of women. Ophelia follows in remarkably similar footsteps of Gertrude’s actions and development as a female character. Both women are manipulated by men, controlled by love, and exit the play as characters bearing a strong trait of submission to men. Gertrude’s sudden marriage with King Claudius arouses many speculations and questions regarding the possibility of joint plot, or possible suspicions or knowledge regarding the murder of her ex-husband (Greenblatt). But Act 3, Scene 3 of Hamlet suggests otherwise.

Gertrude remarries nearly a week since her husband’s death; this causes Hamlet much concern about the loyalty and fidelity of females as he questions, “O, most wicked speed to post/ With such dexterity to incestuous sheets” (1.2.161-162). However, Gertrude does not see her as actions as iniquitous; she pleads Hamlet to “let eye look like a friend on Denmark,” (1.2.69) she wants Hamlet to discard his loathing of Claudius. Following the murder of his father, Hamlet’s relationship with Gertrude is portrayed as odious; Hamlet presumes Gertrude to be a true felon in the death of his father. Communicating with the his father’s ghost, Hamlet says, “O most pernicious woman!/ O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!” (1.5.112-113). Hamlet accuses Gertrude of “kill a king and marry with his brother;” (3.4.35) Hamlet associates Gertrude with the murder of his father and through this, he exemplifies his true disdain for Gertrude. Hamlet’s assertion that Gertrude had a role in the killing of his father sets a portrayal of Gertrude throughout the course of he play. Consequently, Gertrude’s complex representation renders her indecipherable; the reader only understands Gertrude’s character through Hamlet’s depiction of

Similarly, Hamlet’s emotions cloud his perception of Gertrude. Although Hamlet knows that Claudius took the “life, crown, [and] queen” from old Hamlet, Hamlet blames Gertrude for giving his opportunity to reign Denmark to Claudius. However, perhaps Gertrude strategically marries Claudius to give Denmark stability. After losing old Hamlet and becoming vulnerable while at war with Norway, Gertrude’s union with Claudius distracts the people of Denmark from disheartening issues within the country. Instead of punishing Hamlet, perhaps Gertrude fulfills her duty as queen by putting the needs of Denmark before the wants of her son.

William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is perhaps one of his most intriguing and scandalous pieces of work. One character who is liable for much of this excitement and outrage is Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude. To some readers and critics, Gertrude is conceived as an erratic, superficial and sensual woman. Others discern the Queen as an earnest, intellectual and sagacious woman whose tragic fault is her yearning for sexual satisfaction. Throughout the text, there are several legitimate arguments for both sides, but in the end, Hamlet seems to sum up the Queen’s true persona with the words “Frailty, thy name is woman”. Evidence of Gertrude’s true nature can be found in many instances through out the play such

Thesis: In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Ophelia’s role would be interpreted as a plot device by a modern English woman and as a victim by an Elizabethan woman. This would occur because of their understanding of the symbolism of Ophelia’s actions in madness, the context surrounding Hamlet’s view of her, and their characterization of Ophelia.

Although superficially, the women in Hamlet both represent nothing more than the ideals for women of their respective ages, both Gertrude and Ophelia’s distinct relationships with Hamlet and their moments of privacy reveal ways in which the two characters are dynamic and more wholesome.

Whilst Ophelia is rarely present throughout the play, only appearing in 5 out of 20 scenes, her tragic story has a profound impact on readers. Ophelia’s character has the potential to be a heroine of the play however she crumbles into her insanity and the

However, Shakespeare never expressed to the audience Gertrude’s feelings on marrying King Claudius. Showing the reader that a woman’s opinion is less significant than the men’s, all while Hamlet is being subjective towards his mother’s feelings. Another instance when Gertrude is treated by Hamlet in a way where her feelings didn’t matter, was in act three, scene four. “Good night—but go not to mine uncle’s bed / Assume a virtue if you have it not” (107). Hamlet is controlling his mother by telling her not to have sex with her own husband.

A couple were by insulting her and being cruel, admitting his love, and In William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the title character's love for Ophelia comes into question. Throughout the play, Hamlet's emotions and feelings for Ophelia are never publicly made known, which led many to question if he is merely using her or loves her. However, there is evidence that demonstrates that he truly cares and loves Ophelia in the way he behaves around her when they are alone. In this essay I will demonstrate that Hamlet's feelings for Ophelia are true and he loves her. Throughout the play there are key passages and actions that demonstrate Hamlet's affinity for Ophelia.

In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, it is clear that Hamlet’s character is truly a puzzled one. It is no secret that Hamlet is displeased with his life and the relationships around him. William Shakespeare in evaluating Hamlet’s relationship with his mother Gertrude and lover Ophelia creates an interesting love-hate relationship. Gertrude and Ophelia both deeply care for Hamlet but he does not seem to recognize that love and is instead blinded by his father’s revenge. Throughout the play, Hamlet suffers a lot never truly searching for happiness and this sadness is combined also with the relationships he has with women. Hamlet’s distrust for women starts early in the play when he finds out that his mother Gertrude has remarried and to his father’s brother Claudius. He immediately becomes distrustful towards her and suspects her loyalty to his father. He interacts differently with the two women in his life and never is able to see neither Ophelia’s nor Gertrude’s love as he thinks that they are too weak and dependent on men. In this essay, I will further examine and analyze Hamlet’s relationship with his mother and lover in order to show the relationship they have.