Gertrude Character Analysis in Hamlet Literature Essay Example

Throughout Shakespeare’s lengthy career, he wrote many plays, but the most famous of which is Hamlet. The tragic story follows a young man who, after discovering the death of his father was orchestrated by his uncle and possibly his mother, struggles with the responsibility of exacting revenge. This story deals with many complex characters however, Hamlet’s mother is often overlooked. 

Although Gertrude married the man who killed her former husband, there is more to her character than meets the eye. Shakespeare does not focus on the queen even so there remain three questions that can still be answered: did she assist in the killing of the king, is she devoted to Claudius, and does she love Hamlet? The queen’s participation in the murder of her husband is never directly addressed by Shakespeare. Many claim she was aware of the dastardly plot against the king however, the evidence points to another conclusion. 

One example proving Gertrude was innocent of murder comes from the mouth of the very person she is accused of killing, her late husband. When the ghost meets with Hamlet, he implores his son to enact revenge by killing his brother however, he specifically states to leave his wife unharmed. The ghost of King Hamlet even goes so far as to call her his “most seeming virtuous queen,” and encourages Hamlet to “leave her to Heaven.” 

Later in the play, the ghost implores his son to comfort Gertrude saying, “But look, amazement on thy mother sits.” While these quotes imply a level of guilt, it is highly unlikely that she was involved in the plot to kill the king. Had she known, there is little reason for the ghost to call her a virtuous woman.   

This brings to light a further question: does she love Claudius? If she did not assist in the killing of her late husband it is unlikely that she manipulated Claudius to kill him. Had she truly loved her husband’s brother she would have seen through the mysterious death of the king. Only one other conclusion remains: Gertrude married her brother-in-law to secure her position as a queen. During the period the tragedy is written, women had few options in regards to their survival, therefore, is more than likely the only choice available to her was to marry Claudius. Although it is difficult to say conclusively, the evidence above leads to the assumption Gertrude married her brother-in-law to maintain her royal status and along with that, stability.    

While there is little proving the validity of Gertrude’s love for Claudius, evidence abounds when examining the relationship between the queen and her son. At first glance, it appears that the queen has no consideration for both the feelings and the well-being of her son however, this could not be farther from the truth. When Gertrude believes Hamlet has gone insane, she calls in his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because Hamlet “hath talked of you.” Another case of the queen caring for her son can be found in a conversation with Ophelia, Hamlet’s love interest. During this conversation, she expresses her desire to see the two married, a sentiment that directly contradicts the tradition that her son would be married to a woman of the same rank. In both cases, Gertrude showcases her deep affection for her son proving that she did indeed care for him.  

In the play, Hamlet can be found some of the most complex characters ever created and Gertrude is no exception. Many insist the queen is a bloodthirsty murderess however, even her late husband vouched for her innocence. Appearing as if she loved Claudius, her motives stem from self-preservation rather than true devotion and her attitude towards her son remains motherly even though Hamlet plainly expresses his dislike for her actions. This character, so often overlooked, hold immense value and accurately reflects the inner turmoil any person in a similar situation would be forced to deal with. Although she is branded as a murderess, in reality, Gertrude portrays a concerned mother and a shrewd woman trying to survive after her husband’s tragic death.