3.3.3

Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet

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Gertrude's Changing Relationship with Hamlet

Gertrude and her son become closer as the play moves into its final two Acts.

Gertrude's love for Hamlet

Gertrude's love for Hamlet

  • Claudius is well aware of Gertrude’s love for Hamlet. He tells Laertes of how Gertrude “lives almost by his looks”.
  • As a result, Claudius must plan his action against Hamlet very carefully – just like Hamlet, he must not harm Gertrude.
Gertrude's view of Hamlet's madness

Gertrude's view of Hamlet's madness

  • After Gertrude's visit to her chamber and Hamlet’s murder of Polonius, Gertrude tells Claudius that her son is “mad as the sea and wind when both contend”.
  • Some critics interpret this as Gertrude providing a cover story for Hamlet’s true motives.
Gertrude in the final scene

Gertrude in the final scene

  • The final scene shows Gertrude taking great pride in her son’s performance during the fencing match with Laertes.
  • It is her insistence on drinking a toast to her son’s success which ultimately proves fatal. Perhaps in doing so, she defies her husband’s instruction not to drink from the poisoned cup.
Does Gertrude know the plan?

Does Gertrude know the plan?

  • In some productions of the play, it is even suggested that Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup in full knowledge of what she is doing (as in the 1963 Olivier production at London’s Old Vic).
  • In interpretations such as these, it is suggested that Gertrude knows or suspects of Claudius’ plan to kill Hamlet and willingly sacrifices her own life to protect her son.
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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 Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which of these does NOT happen in the final scene of *Hamlet*?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    In which production of *Hamlet* is it suggested that Gertrude knowingly drinks from the poisoned cup?Multiple choice
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Gertrude's Character

Ophelia