Hamlet And Gertrude's Relationship

The relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude is a very complex one, which has been left open to many interpretations. Though their relationship is filled mostly with emotional turmoil such as anger, betrayal, and disappointment, the mother and son’s relationship transitions to a better understanding of each other as the play progresses. The main plot in the play seems to bring Hamlet and Gertrude’s relationship down, Hamlet looks down upon his mother for her actions and Gertrude is thoroughly blind to the fact that her decisions are what is bringing Hamlet to put on this act of madness. Hamlet indicates that he feels he and Gertrude are spreading apart rather than becoming closer after King Hamlet’s death: "But break, my heart; for I must

He feels this anger because she has done many things that have upset him, such as marrying Hamlet’s uncle so soon after her husband’s death, being sexually active with Claudius, all on top of not giving Hamlet enough time to mourn his father’s death. This then drove him to tell Gertrude all of the feelings he has for her in the bedroom scene. She says the words Hamlet uses “enter her ears like daggers” (Hamlet 3.4.95) which are words that relate to her new marriage and sexual relationship with his uncle, Claudius. This quote shows how Gertrude feels ashamed of herself while Hamlet is speaking of her sins, the shame she holds within herself is turning back on her and bringing her deep feelings of guilt. She shouts back at Hamlet, “no more!” (Hamlet 3.4.103), pleading for him to stop shoving these hurtful words at her, but she accepts that he is right, and the words he speak are true. Gertrude doesn’t want to her her son repeating all of the wrong she has done simply because she cannot handle it, even though she is fully aware that what Hamlet is saying it thoroughly accurate. Hamlet must have at least a morsel of trust in his mother, as he tells her that his madness is false, and that it has been an act all along just so he can find the truth about Claudius murdering his father. In succession, Gertrude feels regret in regard to her actions in this crucial part of the play. Gertrude realizes that her

The Ghost accuses Gertrude of committing adultery, “that incestuous, that adulterous beast” (1.5.49). This quote proves that The Ghost is aware of Gertrude having an affair with Claudius before his murder. Shakespeare suggests that Gertrude did have sexual relations with Claudius before. Knowing that Hamlet is thirty years old during the happenings of the play, Gertrude most likely married around the age of 14, as they married young back in that time. Since she was a young bride and their marriage was supposedly arranged, Gertrude possibly had some type of sexual desire for another man or had sexual wishes that weren’t being filled after the death of her husband. Hamlet believed that Claudius and his mother had a romance before the death of his father, as The Ghost had mentioned this, along with the fact that they jumped into marriage so soon after the death of Old King Hamlet. Despite the fact that Gertrude has hurt Hamlet with her actions they weren’t intentionally done to make her son put on this act of madness. Gertrude has genuine affection for Hamlet, showing she cares for his physical and mental condition. Gertrude always seems to be close to what Hamlet does, including his thoughts and Hamlet appears to be unreasonably obsessed with everything Gertrude does, especially when it comes to her sex life). This hints that Hamlet and Gertrude may have even had