Gertrude's Role In Hamlet

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The queen is the most powerful piece in chess. She swiftly cuts across the board, showing no lack in her prowess to capture opponents. In all directions, the queen can easily defend her pawns or pursue the enemy, but sometimes, the queen is not put to use. She idly withdraws to the same little black box in which she started and thus, loses her efficacy. Likewise, a real queen does not necessarily sit upon her throne as the king reigns over the country. She lives her separate life upon the pedestal, with her unique royal duties to care for her country as does Gertrude in Hamlet and Michelle Obama, first lady of the United States. Both women attain the status of a queen, each carrying an influence that surpasses the average woman during her time. …show more content…
Once Hamlet divulges his plan to kill Claudius for murdering the king, Gertrude plays along with Hamlet’s “antic disposition” by saying that Hamlet is “Mad as the sea and wind when both contend/Which is the mightier” (IV.i.6-7). Understanding what violence Claudius is capable of, Gertrude’s motherly instincts activate to protect her son. Gertrude ignores Hamlet’s pursuit for yet another king’s death, an act that can only obstruct the peace of Denmark. She willingly chooses her son’s safety, regardless of what consequential effects on her or on Denmark that may …show more content…
Pre-feminism, there was the belief of, as Hamlet states, “frailty, thy name is woman!” (I.ii.146). Even if Gertrude attains the title as queen, the notion of a powerful woman is an oxymoron in Hamlet. Gertrude has as little of a voice as any commoner might—queenship notwithstanding. Only because of her royal status does Gertrude have any power at all. On the other hand, the first lady has innumerable expectations given its respected role. Not only does the country expect Michelle’s pursuit for social change, but so too gives Michelle the influence and the power to make a

Essay on Hamlet RD

wariness and uncertainty. In his play, Hamlet, Shakespeare surrounds Gertrude’s character with ambiguity to compound her son, Hamlet’s, indecisiveness about his purpose and feelings, create questions regarding the motives of other characters, and keep the audience in a similar state as Hamlet, where no one knows who to trust. Gertrude’s ambiguity develops an issue of trust in Hamlet’s life that forces him to answer a pivotal question while in isolation. Presently, Hamlet has lost his father, and the one…

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Women In Hamlet

literary works written throughout time prove this stereotype wrong. The play “Hamlet” is one such example. “Hamlet” follows the journey of Prince Hamlet of Denmark as he seeks revenge on his uncle, Claudius, who is now king due to marrying his mother, Gertrude. The play concludes with almost everyone in the play dead, including Queen Gertrude, King Claudius, Ophelia (Hamlet’s love interest), and Hamlet himself. In “Hamlet,” Shakespeare creates the independent, intelligent characters Ophelia and Gertrude…

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