Delvin Suriel
English April 12, 2016
Smith, Rebecca. “Gertrude: Scheming Adulteress or Loving Mother?” Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Green haven Press, 1999. Print.
Topic: Was Gertrude guilty of betraying King Hamlet
Smith Rebecca article examines the The Ghost’s obsession with Gertrude, on if Gertrude is guilty of betraying King Hamlet. Gertrude Is the mother of Prince Hamlet and the the new wife of Claudius the king of Denmark and the brother of King hamlet who he had murdered. Gertrude then married Claudius surprisingly quick which also made Hamlet mad and having a hatred against woman because of his mother Gertrude. In the articles Gertrude can be either guilty or not guilty.
Gertrude can be strongly seen as guilty because according to the book she tells Claudius about her encounter with Hamlet. She says that he is as mad as the sea during a violent storm; she also tells Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius. Now a mother will not just give away her own son like that also when Laertes commanded where’s his father, Claudius tells him dead and instantly Gertrude responds and says “but not by him”. This clearly shows how Gertrude is defending Claudius over her own son and she just basically threw Hamlet under the bus now. All in all, Gertrude is not a mother who actually cares about her son, and the actions she had made just gives more of a stronger reason on how she is guilty. Also another good example is Gertrude’s speech to Claudius that cements the king’s secret plan to have Hamlet executed in England. Therefore, she wants her son dead and many can believe she wanted king Hamlet dead also. To sum it up I could use this article to support that Gertrude is guilty.
Edwards, Philip. “The Ghost: Messenger From a Higher Court of Values?” Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Green haven Press, 1999. Print.
Topic: Was Gertrude guilty of betraying King Hamlet
Philip Edwards article Examines...