3.3.1
Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude
Mysterious Character & Hamlet's View of Gertrude
Mysterious Character & Hamlet's View of Gertrude
For much of the play, Gertrude is a mysterious character . The audience is never entirely sure about her thoughts, feelings or motives. This is partly due to her comparative lack of spoken lines (only 4%).
Mystery of Gertrude's relationships
Mystery of Gertrude's relationships
- We are not sure about how much Gertrude knows about the untimely death of her first husband, although most critics see her shock at Hamlet’s mention of murder (“As kill a king!”) in A3S4 as adequate proof of her innocence.
- However, her relationship with Claudius largely remains a mystery. Did she remarry so quickly out of romantic love for Claudius (and if so, how long had this attraction been going on for?) or did she do so to help stabilise a state under threat from Fortinbras’ army?
Hamlet's response to Gertrude
Hamlet's response to Gertrude
- Hamlet seems to share many of these doubts. He cannot hide his disgust at Gertrude’s remarriage.
- The images of corruption and incest pollute Hamlet’s mind (“To post / with such dexterity to incestuous sheets”).
- Much of the language he directs at women is deeply misogynistic. Gertrude’s remarriage seems to ignite a disgust at women’s sexuality which also poisons his feelings towards Ophelia.
Gertrude's awareness about Hamlet
Gertrude's awareness about Hamlet
- Gertrude has some insight into the causes of Hamlet’s disturbed behaviour, telling Claudius and Polonius that his father’s death and “our hasty” remarriage lie at the root of his “distemper”.
1Introduction
2Plot Summary
2.1Act 1: Key Events & Ideas
2.2Act 2: Key Events & Ideas
2.3Act 3: Key Events & Ideas
2.4Act 4: Key Events & Ideas
2.5Act 5: Key Events & Ideas
3Character Profiles
3.1Hamlet
3.3Gertrude
3.4Ophelia
4Key Themes
4.1Regicide in Hamlet
4.2Madness in Hamlet
4.3Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet
4.4Settings in Hamlet
5Writing Techniques
6Context
6.1Social & Historical Context
6.2Literary Context
6.3Performance & Textual History
7Critical Debates
7.118-19th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.220th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.3Feminist Readings of Hamlet
7.4Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet
Jump to other topics
1Introduction
2Plot Summary
2.1Act 1: Key Events & Ideas
2.2Act 2: Key Events & Ideas
2.3Act 3: Key Events & Ideas
2.4Act 4: Key Events & Ideas
2.5Act 5: Key Events & Ideas
3Character Profiles
3.1Hamlet
3.3Gertrude
3.4Ophelia
4Key Themes
4.1Regicide in Hamlet
4.2Madness in Hamlet
4.3Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet
4.4Settings in Hamlet
5Writing Techniques
6Context
6.1Social & Historical Context
6.2Literary Context
6.3Performance & Textual History
7Critical Debates
7.118-19th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.220th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.3Feminist Readings of Hamlet
7.4Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet
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