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Does Gertrude Love Hamlet Essay

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Does Gertrude love Hamlet, or is she just a co-conspirator for Claudius? This is a question that readers attempt to answer while reading through the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Throughout the play, Gertrude displays actions that can lead readers to believe either side of the question. Overall, Gertrude is a character with little substance which allows readers to interpret her character in many different ways. To start with, Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, is the wife of King Claudius, and the mother of Prince Hamlet. Previously, she was married to King Hamlet, and married Claudius just months after the death of King Hamlet. Hamlet and his mother do not have a strong relationship, partly because he does not believe she mourned the death …show more content…

One piece of evidence supporting the argument that she does love Hamlet is that she has him stay home instead of going back to Wittenberg (“Queen Gertrude”). In the play Gertrude says, “Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet. I pray thee, stay with us. Go not to Wittenberg” (1. 2. 122-123). Another possible way she shows love to Hamlet is by drinking the poisoned wine. It is unknown whether or not Gertrude knew the wine was poisoned, but if she did drink it intentionally it shows love by attempting to save Hamlet’s life. On the other hand, there are several places in the play that lead the reader to believe that Gertrude did not love Hamlet. One example would be that Hamlet informed his mother about Claudius’s behavior, and he proved that there was a problem with the state of Denmark yet Gertrude remains of Claudius’s side rather than her son’s (“Shakespeare’s Gertrude”). This example also adds to the argument that Gertrude was a co-conspirator with Claudius. In conclusion, the character of Gertrude in the play Hamlet is complicated and can be viewed in several different ways. Throughout the play, readers attempt to interpret her motives and the actions that she takes. Whether or not she knows Claudius is a criminal and whether or not she loves Hamlet are two questions that are asked about Gertrude’s character. Shakespeare leaves room for the reader

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