Role of Gertrude in Hamlet by Shakespeare

Role of Gertrude in Hamlet by Shakespeare

Keywords: Marriage, Ignorance, State

Hamlet’s mother, queen of Denmark, Gertrude marries to Claudius soon after King Hamlet’s death.  It was need of time to convince Hamlet that his mother was with him in grief. It was critical time for Hamlet and he needs his mother’s attention more than any person in world. There are several aspects which Gertrude seems to ignore completely.

First, Hamlet is thirty years old, a mature person. It is not sufficient justification that marriage was very important to see the state matters and face enemies. If queen would marry after reasonable time still she should give clarifications to Hamlet on getting re-marriage.

Second, parents and children have strong relation between them. She doesn’t get it necessary to talk or share with him personally. She seems Claudius’s wife rather than late King’s wife or prince Hamlet’s mother.

Third, Gertrude could think about Hamlet’s marriage with Ophelia. It would be far better than her own marriage. The conversation between them doesn’t seem as they are mother and son. It seems formal talk like artificial feelings. She could talk him in his privacy where they could talk in better way.

Forth, females of royal family have been playing their specific roles which they know well. They are moral support behind their males. They are guard of their feelings and passions but are alert about their responsibilities; particularly mothers are responsible about males and their training and education. They are not ignorant about their obligations.

Fifth, masses are very fond of their king and about the royal family members. She feels her responsibility towards new relation with Claudius more than her relation with late king, prince Hamlet or her responsibility towards masses who have great attachment with late king, queen and prince Hamlet.

Usually queen has her responsibilities towards royal family and state as well. After her king’s death her first obligation was to care of her son who is also the successor. Her son should be her priority which she seems to ignore. Claudius was brother of late King he could see the state matters without making marriage. To make marriage seems not as necessary as it is argued in the play.

Gertrude loves Hamlet deeply, but she is a shallow, weak woman who seeks affection and status more urgently than moral rectitude or truth. It is criticized as, “Gertrude reveals no guilt in her marriage with Claudius after the recent murder of her husband.”