Gertrude Hamlet Character Analysis

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Recommended: Representation of women in Shakespeare

William Shakespeare has represented women in a wide range of characterizations and notions. The female characters play a significant or trivial roles in his plays, but nonetheless their actions affect the main characters throughout the play. In his most famous and memorable play Hamlet the character Gertrude played an impact on Hamlet by her acts of selfishness depicted throughout the play. However, in some cases she did mean well for her son, but her actions only resulted in a rage. Gertrude’s poor judgments of betrayal and selfishness result in the tragic conflicts with her son Hamlet. We first realize Gertrude’s poor judgments are her major flaw in the beginning of the play. As the mother of a grieving son, Gertrude should have been more considerate to the situation Hamlet is faced with. Instead, less than two months after King Hamlet 's death, Gertrude …show more content…

When Gertrude tries to protect Hamlet from Claudius in act IV, scene 1, when describing to Claudius about Hamlet 's killing of Polonius, Gertrude covers up Hamlets indifferent attitude by saying that he cried afterwards: “ Shows itself pure. He weeps for what is done” (IV.I.27). She knows that Hamlet did not show sorrow, but as a mother, she wants to describe him in a way that will make things easier for him. However, this does not change the conflict towards Gertrude and Hamlet. Hamlet is still enraged with vengeance and Gertrude’s nurturing act does not help the situation: “The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a thing—Of nothing: Bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after” (IV.II.22-23, 25). Gertrude’s acts does not stop Hamlet from seeking revenge. She does not have the insight to distinguish between sincerity and deception in people. She seems to be more concerned with being caught in the middle of the two men in her life than with the possibility she has done something

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