Gertrude's Role In Hamlet Essay
In the times of hamlet women were viewed as being better seen than heard. Men were dominant over them and it was their job to obey. The character of Gertrude in William Shakespeare's play “Hamlet” is a prime example of this role that women played in society.
In the opening of Act 1 Scene 2 we learn of King Hamlet’s death and his widowed wife, Gertrude's, hasty remarriage to his brother, the new King Claudius. This rash act is a symbol of her weakness and how she can’t live without the control of a man. It is also a symbol of another weakness that she possesses, lust. this shows that despite her old age she will even marry her deceased husband’s brother just to maintain a sex life. She also shows no sympathy for her son’s sadness over his …show more content…
This proves that Gertrude’s need for men exceeds her need to mourn for her loss of a husband. Hamlet recognizes this weakness in his mother and describes her by saying: (Let me not think on’t; frailty, thy name is woman!) ...
O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason
Would have mourned longer!, married with my uncle, …
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (Shakespeare I. ii.149-162)
Though this Hamlet expresses how he believes all women are weak and lustful like his mother. Hamlet see Claudius as being inferior to his father, King Hamlet, and is disgusted with her for it. One might interpret this as Gertrudes hasty marriage is a sign that she is weak enough to be manipulated into marrying her brother-in-law. Though, one could also believe that Gertrude’s willingness to marry Claudius could have been because the two of them had been together before the king was even killed. Hamlet constructs a plan to perform a play to test Claudius and see how he reacts when his murderous act against his brother is reenacted on stage. Thur this play he also ridicules his mother and her hasty remarriage. During the play the Play Queen declares her devotion to her husband by …show more content…
A second time I kill my husband dead When second husband kisses me in bed. ... If, once a widow, ever I be a wife.
And never come mischance between us twain.” (Shakespeare III. ii. 205-252) Rarely does Gertrude speak on her own accord during the play. However, when Hamlet asks her how she likes the play her response is simply “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”(Shakespeare
. III. ii. 224) In saying this Gertrude discloses how she can't fathom a women not remarrying because she herself was to weak to resist it. Thus, showing once again her reliance on men.
After the play Gertrude calls Hamlet into her bedroom to scold him for upsetting Claudius. However, Hamlet takes this time to confront her with the truth about Claudius and his father. He scolds her for choosing a man who is:
A murderer and a villain,
A slave that is not twentieth part the [tithe]
Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings,
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
That from a shelf the precious diadem stole,
And put it in his pocket! (Shakespeare III. iv.
In the opening of Act 1 Scene 2 we learn of King Hamlet’s death and his widowed wife, Gertrude's, hasty remarriage to his brother, the new King Claudius. This rash act is a symbol of her weakness and how she can’t live without the control of a man. It is also a symbol of another weakness that she possesses, lust. this shows that despite her old age she will even marry her deceased husband’s brother just to maintain a sex life. She also shows no sympathy for her son’s sadness over his …show more content…
This proves that Gertrude’s need for men exceeds her need to mourn for her loss of a husband. Hamlet recognizes this weakness in his mother and describes her by saying: (Let me not think on’t; frailty, thy name is woman!) ...
O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason
Would have mourned longer!, married with my uncle, …
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (Shakespeare I. ii.149-162)
Though this Hamlet expresses how he believes all women are weak and lustful like his mother. Hamlet see Claudius as being inferior to his father, King Hamlet, and is disgusted with her for it. One might interpret this as Gertrudes hasty marriage is a sign that she is weak enough to be manipulated into marrying her brother-in-law. Though, one could also believe that Gertrude’s willingness to marry Claudius could have been because the two of them had been together before the king was even killed. Hamlet constructs a plan to perform a play to test Claudius and see how he reacts when his murderous act against his brother is reenacted on stage. Thur this play he also ridicules his mother and her hasty remarriage. During the play the Play Queen declares her devotion to her husband by …show more content…
A second time I kill my husband dead When second husband kisses me in bed. ... If, once a widow, ever I be a wife.
And never come mischance between us twain.” (Shakespeare III. ii. 205-252) Rarely does Gertrude speak on her own accord during the play. However, when Hamlet asks her how she likes the play her response is simply “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”(Shakespeare
. III. ii. 224) In saying this Gertrude discloses how she can't fathom a women not remarrying because she herself was to weak to resist it. Thus, showing once again her reliance on men.
After the play Gertrude calls Hamlet into her bedroom to scold him for upsetting Claudius. However, Hamlet takes this time to confront her with the truth about Claudius and his father. He scolds her for choosing a man who is:
A murderer and a villain,
A slave that is not twentieth part the [tithe]
Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings,
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
That from a shelf the precious diadem stole,
And put it in his pocket! (Shakespeare III. iv.