Additionally, despite her many shortcomings, Queen Gertrude displays repeatedly her motherly affection for her son Prince Hamlet. Moreover, we see this from the very beginning of the play in scene II of the first act where Queen Gertrude attempts to comfort Hamlet in his grief and where she tells him to avoid prolonging his …show more content…
Moreover, in the fourth scene of the third act, Hamlet confronts his mother and hurls piercing insults and painful remarks at her; however, this action does not deter her from protecting her son only moments later before the king, where, referring to Hamlet’s murder of Polonius, she states, “he weeps for what is done.” In doing so, Gertrude hopes to lessen Hamlet’s punishment by referring to his remorse. Furthermore, In the fifth act, Gertrude once again defends Hamlet, this time against Laertes’ wrath after the death of his sister. In addition, Laertes and Hamlet engage in combat at Ophelia’s grave as Hamlet leaps into her grave and blurts out his love for Ophelia as well as babble other crazy declarations. Gertrude quickly steps in and asserts that Hamlet’s behavior is due to his insanity and that his sayings should not be taken to heart. Finally, in the final act, moments before her death, Gertrude only has Hamlet in mind, crying out “No, no! the drink, the drink! -- O my dear Hamlet!,” effectively warning him of the poisoned drink and the treachery against him before breathing her