How Does Gertrude Present Love In Hamlet
In Hamlet, the characters demonstrate different ways to love somebody.
There is the love between husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend and even
between sister and brother. Some feel real love for the other and others are just
based on deceit and illusion. The relationships that develop the most throughout the
play are Claudius and Gertrude’s, Hamlet and his father’s and Hamlet and
Ophelia’s.
Queen Gertrude and King Claudius have a relationship where there is
love for the other person but also a greater love for something else. Claudius loves
Gertrude but he cares more for himself and his kingdom. In the beginning, Claudius
kills his own brother, Prince Hamlet’s father, so that he could
take possession …show more content…
If she hadn’t married him, she wouldn’t be able to remain Queen of
Denmark. When Claudius confesses that he killed King Hamlet in Act 3 scene
3, he says “my crown, mine own ambition and my queen. May one be pardoned and
retain th’ offense?” (3, ii, 59-60). The way he really feels about Gertrude is revealed
in this one line. When he lists the things that might be taken away from him if he
confesses to the murder, he mentions his crown and his ambition before Gertrude.
This means he would do anything to keep his crown even if this means sacrificing
Gertrude; and this is exactly what he did. In the final scene of the play, Gertrude
picked up the poison cup to make a toast to Hamlet. When she was about to take a
sip, Claudius yelled “Gertrude, do not drink” (5, ii, 317). Instead of taking the cup
from her, he watched her gulp down the poison drink and die. He knew that if he
had taking the cup away from her, everyone would know that something is wrong.
He decided that his position as king was more important than saving his own wife.
Claudius loved his power, he loved his kingdom, but he never loved his
There is the love between husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend and even
between sister and brother. Some feel real love for the other and others are just
based on deceit and illusion. The relationships that develop the most throughout the
play are Claudius and Gertrude’s, Hamlet and his father’s and Hamlet and
Ophelia’s.
Queen Gertrude and King Claudius have a relationship where there is
love for the other person but also a greater love for something else. Claudius loves
Gertrude but he cares more for himself and his kingdom. In the beginning, Claudius
kills his own brother, Prince Hamlet’s father, so that he could
take possession …show more content…
If she hadn’t married him, she wouldn’t be able to remain Queen of
Denmark. When Claudius confesses that he killed King Hamlet in Act 3 scene
3, he says “my crown, mine own ambition and my queen. May one be pardoned and
retain th’ offense?” (3, ii, 59-60). The way he really feels about Gertrude is revealed
in this one line. When he lists the things that might be taken away from him if he
confesses to the murder, he mentions his crown and his ambition before Gertrude.
This means he would do anything to keep his crown even if this means sacrificing
Gertrude; and this is exactly what he did. In the final scene of the play, Gertrude
picked up the poison cup to make a toast to Hamlet. When she was about to take a
sip, Claudius yelled “Gertrude, do not drink” (5, ii, 317). Instead of taking the cup
from her, he watched her gulp down the poison drink and die. He knew that if he
had taking the cup away from her, everyone would know that something is wrong.
He decided that his position as king was more important than saving his own wife.
Claudius loved his power, he loved his kingdom, but he never loved his