Sunday 7 September 2014

How do you think Gertrude sees herself and her relationships with Hamlet and Claudius after her encounter with Hamlet?

You didn’t specifically mention the encounter about which you would like some more information, but I assume you are referring to the confrontation in Act III, Scene IV. At this point, Gertrude already has some serious concerns about Hamlet’s sanity, so although what Hamlet says may be the truth, she is unlikely to believe him. They begin the conversation with Hamlet carrying on as if he is mad. Gertrude tells Hamlet he’s “much offended” his father, to which Hamlet replies, “Mother, you have my father much offended.” Gertrude replies, “you answer with an idle tongue” and Hamlet replies, “you question with a wicked tongue.” It is reminiscent of a misbehaving child doing the opposite of whatever their parents tell them to do. Don’t forget that Hamlet is visited by the ghost whom his mother cannot see, and she states: “Alas, he’s mad.” Not to mention he had just killed Polonius and drags him away at the end!

Hamlet says:



“Come, come, and sit you down. You shall not budge.


You go not till I set you up a glass


Where you may see the inmost part of you.” 



Hamlet then tears her apart with insults, telling her exactly what he thinks of her marriage, to which Gertrude replies:



“Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul,


And there I see such black and grainèd spots


As will not leave their tinct.”



So, obviously, Gertrude probably sees herself in a negative light, having been shown the depths of her soul which bears a stain that cannot be removed. Just because she thinks Hamlet is mad doesn’t mean she can’t think what she did was wrong.


In terms of how she sees Claudius, that is a bit less clear, because Hamlet’s words are not 100% trusted by Gertrude.  However, some of their conversation stung her, and she likely would be questioning what kind of a man Claudius is, since he married his brother’s widow so soon after his death.


Make sure you utilize the resources available to help you understand this play!

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