The Character and Image of Gertrude in Hamlet - Essay Example

GERTRUDE in HAMLET Stance: Gertrude is a simple-minded woman who means no harm but whose poor judgement contributes greatly to the terrible events that occur in ‘Hamlet’. Queen Gertrude is one of two female characters in ‘Hamlet’, the other being Ophelia. Poor judgment is a major blemish in her character. Decisions made by her, based on her poor judgment ability, eventually become the cause of her own demise as well as contributing to the downfall of others before the end of the play. The first indication of Gertrude’s poor judgment ability appears in Act I, Scene 2. She marries her brother-in-law Claudius just two months after King Hamlet’s death (http:// academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html). By doing so, she reveals her shallow, morally frail nature and craving for affection, physical satisfaction and status more than moral rectitude and truth (http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/); she simply does not consider the implications of her hasty marriage to others. She never realizes that those around her (especially her own son) would be enraged at the implied flout of morality, because in those days a widow’s act of remarrying her husband’s brother was looked upon as incest (http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english /melani/ cs6/critical.html). As it stands, Hamlet is in fact shattered by his mother’s decision to marry Claudius so soon after King Hamlet’s death. Her act, plus his dead father’s ghost telling him about the way Claudius had seduced the “seeming virtuous queen” with “traitorous gifts,” (I.v.42-5) creates a feeling of misogyny in Hamlet. He becomes cynical about women in general and his mother in particular (http://www.sparknotes.com/ shakespeare/hamlet/). He curses the “wicked speed” with which Gertrude thought fit to slide under “incestuous sheets” with Claudius just two months after her first husband’s death {I.ii.156-157}(http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html). His condemnation of women in general is evident in his outburst: “Frailty, thy name is woman!” (II.ii.46) {http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/}. Gertrude never considers that Hamlet would be feeling sad and lonely after the death of his father, and needed his mother to share his sorrow and comfort him during the mourning period. The fact that she meant no harm, and never considered otherwise, is evident when she asks Hamlet that because it is natural for all men to die, why did his father’s death seem “so particular” to him {II.ii.74-75} (http://academic.brooklyn. cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html). She never realizes that she is not talking about just ‘any man,’ but of Hamlet’s own father. This is because she does not judge the character of her son properly, not sensing the deep love he had for his father and his great bereavement at his death. Gertrude tries to calm her son’s anger in Act II, but her words instead make him suspicious that she is hiding something, and she could well be an accomplice with Claudius in King Hamlet’s murder. The fact that Gertrude is innocent of this, and meant no harm with her words, is evident during her private conversation with Claudius about Hamlet’s anger: she theorizes that her son’s anger was undoubtedly only the result of “his father’s death and our o’er hasty marriage,” {II.ii.56-57} (http://academic.brooklyn. cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html); it shows that Gertrude’s conscience was causing her anxiousness only about her hasty marriage, and not about any other sinister matter. It also reveals her poor judgment about Hamlet’s character and feelings, because she never thinks about questioning him as to the source of his anger and thereby face the issue once and for all; this is because she is the type of woman who prefers everything to be reconciled without having to think too deeply (http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu /english/melani/cs6/critical.html). Gertrude’s reaction in this matter reveals she is not competent enough to think analytically about some situations (like the one above) which confront her (http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/). Gertrude does not suspect that King Hamlet died from unnatural causes, and therefore has no inkling that her son knows otherwise. When Hamlet uses the play to try and expose the guilt of Claudius and his suspected guilt of Gertrude as well in a role of an accomplice in King Hamlet’s murder, she is blissfully unaware of any similarity between the role of the Player Queen and herself. Her reaction also shows she does not suspect Claudius of being guilty of his brother’s murder. She is totally nonchalant, remarking: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks” {III.ii.236}(http://academic.brooklyn. cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html), meaning that in actual life, a widow might easily want to get married again. Gertrude uses this assumption to judge that the Player Queen as not an authentic character. Her decision shows her poor judgment: she sees only the Player Queen’s craving to satisfy her physical desires legally, not considering, or refusing to consider, how other people are affected. It also again reveals Gertrude’s poor judgment of Hamlet’s character; it does not cross her mind to question him deeply about the play – had she done so, she would have learnt the truth. Another example of Gertrude’s simple-minded thinking fuelled by her poor judgment occurs in Act III, Scene 1 (http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/ critical.html). She speaks to Ophelia about her belief that Hamlet’s madness was caused by his love for Ophelia. Her poor judgment shuts out the possibility that the real cause of her son’s madness could be his mother’s hasty marriage to Claudius. Act III, Scene 4 contains further evidence of Gertrude’s simple-minded thought process caused by poor judgment. Hamlet compels her to see that he blames her for murder, incest and adultery. His direct accusation stirs her conscience; she admits that his remarks make her look into her “very soul” which she finds besmirched with “black and grained spots” {III.iv.90-92}(http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical. html). However, given her simple-mindedness and poor judgment, her words can only mean that she does blame herself, but only for succumbing to her physical desires by marrying Claudius so soon after King Hamlet’s death. She never considers that the charges of murder may be true, that Claudius may in fact be guilty, and she may be looked upon as an accomplice in the crime by way of association with him. Gertrude’s poor judgment shuts out these sinister possibilities. In Act III, Hamlet chides Gertrude for deviating from morality, urging her to mend her ways: “Go not to my Uncle’s bed. Assume a virtue, if you have it” {III.iv.182} (http:// academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html). Her simple-minded response is: “What shall I do? {III.iv.182}(http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/ english/melani/cs6/critical.html). Again, she is only thinking of her physical desires, wondering how to appease them if she follows her son’s advice; she does not consider Hamlet’s words deeply, never considering asking him directly why she should avoid Claudius. Further evidence of Gertrude’s poor judgment surfaces in Act IV, Scene 1 (http:// academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html). She relates to Claudius how Hamlet killed Polonius and lies that he cried after doing so. To her simple-minded way of thinking, her son should be absolved of any blame in the matter because he showed proper repentance (crying). Her poor judgment takes it for granted that her made-up story would satisfy Claudius; she never considers that her anecdote appears totally banal and untrue. Gertrude’s poor judgment of Claudius’ character is evident throughout the play. She never considers he could be guilty of her first husband’s death, even after Hamlet’s direct accusations in Act III. When Claudius arranges to send Hamlet away, telling Gertrude that he did it for her own safety (in fact was to ensure Claudius’ own safety), it never occurs to her to doubt her husband’s words; had her judgment been better, she would have criticized the idea out of fear for her son’s life. Gertrude’s poor judgment of others’ reactions and feelings is again apparent during Ophelia’s funeral. Instead of displaying feelings of sadness, she is instead regretful of the fact that Hamlet and Ophelia did not marry. She does not realize how superficial her attitude would seem to the mourners at the funeral. Gertrude’s lifelong poor judgment character flaw finally leads to her own downfall. When she drinks the wine and realizes it is poisoned, the stark truth about Claudius’ guilt flashes brightly before her eyes, making her regret that her poor judgment trait had prevented her from realizing the true character of Claudius before it was too late. References used: Melani, Lilia. “Gertrude in ‘Hamlet’.” Brookyln.cuny.edu. N.d. Viewed 2 December 2006 at: Phillips, Brian. “SparkNote on Hamlet.” SparkNotes.com. 3 December 2006. Viewed 3 December 2006 at: Read More