Preview

How Old Is Hamlet's Obsession With Gertrude

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
55 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Old Is Hamlet's Obsession With Gertrude
The Ghost isn't too happy about Gertrude's "damned incest," but he tells Hamlet to keep her out of things anyway. Surprise! Hamlet can't seem to keep this promise, either. In fact, his obsession with Gertrude is so problematic that the Ghost returns in Act III, scene iv, to tell Hamlet to lay off his

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Hamlet is cursed by the ghost of his father coming back and haunt him by dictating Hamlet to avenge his horrible murder. Since he is naturally both a thinker and a reasoner, Hamlet questions whether the ghost is really his father. The self-examination causes a delay in Hamlet’s avenge-seeking plans. Moreover, Hamlet displays signs of depression since his mother did not mourn her husband’s death for very long before remarrying, ironically to her husband’s murderer. The ethical concerns of Hamlet are obvious when the queen tells Hamlet: "If it be, why seems it so particular with thee?" (Hamlet 1.2. 76) Hamlet disputes Gertrude’s charge that he is being hypocritical, "Seems, madam? Nay, it is, I know not ‘seems’…"…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Ghost of Hamlet's father is a foil for Hamlet. The ghost is featured in the play for two large reasons: establishing the conflict, showing a supernatural improbability to Hamlet's character, and giving Hamlet someone to speak with. The ghost gives the information of how he died and who committed the murder. While Hamlet is talking with the ghost, he becomes very angry with his mother and uncle. He decides he wants revenge from Claudius for the murder of his father. Both Hamlet and the ghost believe Claudius should pay for what he has done, although neither do anything about it. Among others, one similarity between the ghost and Hamlet is that they remain in the same social class.…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet is torn by this revelation, and responds with justified drama. Thus far Hamlet had a few reasons to hate Claudius; the ghost’s message emboldened everything he had suspected and even added to it. Previously in Act One, Hamlet had criticized Claudius for a few major grievances: for being opportunist upon the death of his father by marrying his newly widowed mother in order to seize the throne instead of Hamlet, for not properly mourning the king by waiting just a month to take his wife, and for acting like an animal by behaving in an incestuous and lustful manner. By playing on many of the same metaphors as Hamlet and bringing forth new claims too, the ghost- whose word the reader takes as truth- bolsters Hamlet’s claims.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet’s initial response is to question the ghost’s nature as being either good or evil. The fight between good and evil is a central theme of this play. Hamlet calls the ghost by his proper titles and questions as to why the ghost has come back. Hamlet is unsure whether the ghost is actually that of his father, yet he follows because he cares not for his life. He is not afraid and promises to make a ghost of Horatio and Marcellus if they prevent him from following the ghost. Horatio fears that the ghost is evil and is luring him to his death. The line that states Hamlet’s true feelings is “I do not set my life at a pin’s fee/ And for my soul, what can it do to that/ Being a thing as immortal as itself?” The line reiterates Hamlet’s desire to commit suicide out of despair earlier in Act I (pgs. 29,…

    • 1341 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    By telling Hamlet, “Taint not thy mind, not let thy soul contrive/Against thy mother aught,” he is begging him to not be upset with his mother, to not hate her on the inside for what she has done(I iv 85). Soon after explaining, “Leave her to Heaven/And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge/To prick her and sting her”(I iv 86-88). The Ghost reinforces that God has a plan for all sinners and until his plan goes into action, her guilt will eat her alive. This plays a huge role throughout the play in such a way to consistently remind Hamlet who’s fault it really is for the death of his father; that although what his mother did was wrong, she isn’t the one responsible for his death. In fact, the reminder of who’s at fault saves Gertrude, the Queen, in act three scene when Hamlet’s, ‘words like daggers’ almost turn into…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He tells Hamlet to keep his mother from being overwhelmed. Gertrude thinks Hamlet has gone mad, and has no idea who he is talking to. Hamlet is the only one who sees the ghost. She tells him that it is his imagination that he is seeing things. That they mind can hallucinate, when you have gone mad.…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This was not written into the play. It could have been interpreted as aggressive in the book, but the stage directions made no implication of him actually pushing her around as the movie portrayed. Hamlet had loved his mom a lot, and to be physically aggressive showed that Hamlet was not in a great state of mind. He had promised to only be intimidating by his voice, not physically. The movie included the detail that Gertrude did could not see the Ghost when he entered Gertrude’s chambers. Gertrude did not hear or see the Ghost (Act 3. Sc 4. Ln 153) while Hamlet spoke to him. This detail causes the audience to wonder if Hamlet ever did see the Ghost or if all of this was made…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    After Polonius death, Claudius and Gertrude send Hamlet to another country because they were afraid. Ironically, Ophelia became crazy, she sang a un proper song around the castle while Ophelia’s brother, Leathes, wanted to make a revenge to Hamlet. Hamlet was send by ship to England, but he was so clever; he could rush from the security. Hamlet heard a bad news that Ophelia was died, but the death was mystery. Finally, Leathes invited Hamlet to war in the…

    • 80 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Betrayal in Hamlet

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hamlets mother Gertrude betrays her first husband, the first king of Denmark. This betrayal comes in the form of a hasty marriage to the king’s brother Claudius, who we find out later murdered his brother in an attempt to acquire the crown. This is an act of betrayal on Gertrude’s part, because she should be in mourning of the her first husband’s death, but she immediately enters another marriage, with the kings brother. This is a betrayal to Hamlet because his father was killed, and his mother soon marries the man who we find out is responsible for it. We find out that Claudius killed his brother and Hamlets father with poison, we find this out when Hamlet is visited by a ghost in which Horatio cannot identify but shows itself to Hamlet as his father, it is at this time that the ghost tells Hamlet how he really died and who was responsible . When Hamlet learns of this news, he is enraged with the news and he begins looking to get revenge on the murderer Claudius. Hamlet throughout the play begins to doubt his sanity and if he should kill his uncle Claudius or himself “To be or not to be…….” (Hamlet), this is an act of betrayal on Hamlets part.…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The ghost in Hamlet is a manipulative figure who serves as a reflection of Hamlet’s perspective of his uncle. Hamlet is too distressed about his mother marrying his uncle and the death of his father for he himself to be considered reliable. As Horatio comments, “He waxes desperate with imagination,” portraying Hamlet’s desire to find something that may not even exist. Hamlet does speak to this “ghost” and confirms his own suspicions, as if this ghost simply existed to give Hamlet confirmation of what he already believed. This ghost also refuses to speak or be heard by anyone except Hamlet, putting into question its own existence. The ghost being part of Hamlet’s imagination is supported by Hamlet stating to Horatio, “My Father – methinks I…

    • 169 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hesitant Hamlet

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Unfortunately for Hamlet, in this play he does not have all the time in the world to get revenge towards Claudius. Early on in the play Hamlet sees the ghost of his father's spirit and it beckons him to follow if he wishes to speak to it. Hamlet being encouraged not to follow by his comrades says, "It will not speak, then I will follow it" (Shakespeare 1.4). Almost without thinking Hamlet makes the decision to follow the ghost, this will later prove totally uncharacteristic of him. Thinking they can still convince him, his friends, Horatio and Marcellus, try once again to stop him only to hear, "Hold off your hands; my fate cries out; by heaven I'll make a ghost of him that let's me" (Shakespeare 1.4). Hamlet lets it be known here that he has made his mind up and anyone who tries to stop him, he will make a ghost out of, heaven willing. Hamlet does not show any signs of hesitancy here, but will soon allow it to get in his way for at the wrong time.…

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Do you know how Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s character in relation to Claudius, Polonius, and Gertrude? In Hamlet’s 3rd soliloquy Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s character in relation to Claudius, Polonius, and Gertrude.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through certain symbols, Shakespeare expresses Gertrude’s overall innocence. For instance, Ophelia gives Gertrude a daisy, the symbol of innocence MORE. In addition, the time it takes for each character to die reflects their innocence or guilt. Claudius dies almost immediately, but it takes 56 lines for Hamlet to die. Shakespeare uses the times it takes for each character to die in order to arouse sympathy for them. Gertrude appears to be fine for several minutes after she drinks from the poisoned cup and lives long after she collapses to warn Hamlet that the “the drink . . . was poisoned” (V, ii, 293-294). Claudius and Polonius die immediately, but Gertrude dies nineteen lines after she ingests poison. Through the symbolism of the daisy…

    • 139 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The play Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, was a poor representation of believability, likeable characters and a plot that makes readers want to continue reading. It is a story that represents honor and revenge. The emotion of the novel is over-exaggerated, therefor lowering the relatable factor. The ghost appears to Hamlet and tells Hamlet to seek revenge for his fathers’ murder. Although the ghost shows personal traits it is not believable that Hamlet would simply be convinced to commit himself to overtly violent actions from a character that he just met. With all the quick assumptions and lack of thought before killing, it makes the story unrealistic. The main characters Hamlet, Claudius and Gertrude show traits of a hero, villain and everything in between. The likability is lacking in all of these characters because it is impossible to go along and back up their outlandish decisions. They behave rashly and impulsively to a point where connecting…

    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gertrude sits highly on her throne as Queen of Denmark, but however royal she may be, she lacks the qualities of a good mother and loyal wife. She provides little to no care towards Hamlet despite her obvious acknowledgement of his sudden change in his personality and attitude. She quickly remarries two months after her husband's death, to her own brother-in-law, disregarding that her son is furious and grief-stricken. ____ How does Queen Gertrude's shallow personality, poor parenting, and turbulent relationship with Hamlet further drive the intensity of the play?…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays