3.3.1

Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude

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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”.
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1

Introduction

1.1

Introduction & Background to Hamlet

1.1.1Introduction to Hamlet1.1.2The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story1.1.3Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet1.1.4Introduction to Social Issues Raised
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Act 1: Key Events & Ideas

2.1.1Act 1, Scene 12.1.2Act 1, Scene 22.1.3Act 1, Scene 32.1.4Act 1, Scenes 4-5
2.2

Act 2: Key Events & Ideas

2.2.1Act 2, Scene 12.2.2Act 2, Scene 2
2.3

Act 3: Key Events & Ideas

2.3.1Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events2.3.2Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas2.3.3Act 3, Scene 22.3.4Act 3, Scene 32.3.5Act 3, Scene 4
2.4

Act 4: Key Events & Ideas

2.4.1Act 4, Scene 12.4.2Act 4, Scenes 2-32.4.3Act 4, Scene 42.4.4Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events2.4.5Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas2.4.6Act 4, Scene 62.4.7Act 4, Scene 7
2.5

Act 5: Key Events & Ideas

2.5.1Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events2.5.2Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events2.5.3Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas
3

Character Profiles

3.1

Hamlet

3.1.1Hamlet's Speech & Mind3.1.2Hamlet's Heroic Status3.1.3Hamlet's State of Mind3.1.4Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking
3.2

Claudius

3.2.1Claudius' Crime3.2.2Changing Impressions of Claudius
3.3

Gertrude

3.3.1Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude3.3.2Gertrude's Character3.3.3Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet
3.4

Ophelia

3.4.1Ophelia
3.5

Polonius

3.5.1Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia3.5.2Polonius' Spying & Death
3.6

Laertes

3.6.1Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia3.6.2Laertes' Character Traits
4

Key Themes

4.1

Regicide in Hamlet

4.1.1Regicide in Hamlet
4.2

Madness in Hamlet

4.2.1Madness in Hamlet
4.3

Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet

4.3.1Guilt in Hamlet4.3.2Punishment in Hamlet
4.4

Settings in Hamlet

4.4.1Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure of Hamlet5.1.2'Play Within a Play' Structure5.1.3Play-Acting Motif
5.2

Form

5.2.1Soliloquy5.2.2Comedy
5.3

Imagery

5.3.1Imagery of Corruption & Decay5.3.2Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume
5.4

Language

5.4.1Word Usage & Hendiadys5.4.2Questions & Classical Allusions
6

Context

6.1

Social & Historical Context

6.1.1Elizabeth I & Succession6.1.2Cosmic & Social Hierarchy6.1.3Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism6.1.4Regicide6.1.5The Reformation
6.2

Literary Context

6.2.1Seneca Tragedy6.2.2The Revenge Tragedy
6.3

Performance & Textual History

6.3.1Performance History of Hamlet6.3.2Textual History of Hamlet
7

Critical Debates

7.1

18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.1.1Introduction to Critical Debates7.1.218th Century Commentary on Hamlet7.1.3Romantic Commentary on Hamlet
7.2

20th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.2.1Freudian Response to Hamlet7.2.2Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.3

Feminist Readings of Hamlet

7.3.1Introduction to Feminist Criticism7.3.2Feminist Readings of Hamlet7.3.3Presentation of Ophelia
7.4

Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet

7.4.1Introduction to Marxist Criticisms7.4.2Marxist Readings of Hamlet

Practice questions on Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude

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  1. 1
    What quotation seems to show Gertude's innocence about old Hamlet's untimely death?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What are the possible reasons for Gertrude's hasty remarriage?Fill in the list
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Changing Impressions of Claudius

Gertrude's Character