Hamlet
Hamlet Timed Writing
In Hamlet, Gertrude is portrayed to be not as loyal to Hamlet as a mother should be.
Hamlet is a scholar and a philosopher, searching for life's most elusive answers. Gertrude is shallow, and thinks only about her body and external pleasures. Like a child she wants to be delighted. Gertrude is also a very sexual being, and it is her sexuality that turns Hamlet so violently against her. The Ghost gives Hamlet, who is already disgusted with his mother for marrying his uncle such a short time after his father's death, even more disturbing news about Hamlets mother, Gertrude, saying ”Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, -- O wicked wit, and gifts that have the power So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust
The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. (1.5.42-5). The line "adulterate beast" provides evidence that Gertrude had been the lover of Claudius even before Hamlet's father had died. Adulterate means to change to a worse state by mixing; to contaminate with base matter. And Claudius did just that, according to the Ghost, but this does not necessarily mean that Claudius did so before Hamlet's father died. Furthermore, if it were true, it most surely would be the most important thing on Hamlet's mind, but when Hamlet confronts Gertrude in her closet and announces all her crimes, he does not once even imply that she has committed adultery. "Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatch'd" (1.5.75), is echoed by Claudius's "My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen", (3.3.55) which may be taken to indicate the affair occurred after her husband death.
Gertrude’s loyalty to other characters is questionable along with the loyalty to herself. She lies to herself about the consequences of her actions, and she lies to those around her. But she lies to protect her and the others involved, knowing if anyone finds out, blood will be shed and she doesn’t want that. She lies because she feels she
In Hamlet, Gertrude is portrayed to be not as loyal to Hamlet as a mother should be.
Hamlet is a scholar and a philosopher, searching for life's most elusive answers. Gertrude is shallow, and thinks only about her body and external pleasures. Like a child she wants to be delighted. Gertrude is also a very sexual being, and it is her sexuality that turns Hamlet so violently against her. The Ghost gives Hamlet, who is already disgusted with his mother for marrying his uncle such a short time after his father's death, even more disturbing news about Hamlets mother, Gertrude, saying ”Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, -- O wicked wit, and gifts that have the power So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust
The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. (1.5.42-5). The line "adulterate beast" provides evidence that Gertrude had been the lover of Claudius even before Hamlet's father had died. Adulterate means to change to a worse state by mixing; to contaminate with base matter. And Claudius did just that, according to the Ghost, but this does not necessarily mean that Claudius did so before Hamlet's father died. Furthermore, if it were true, it most surely would be the most important thing on Hamlet's mind, but when Hamlet confronts Gertrude in her closet and announces all her crimes, he does not once even imply that she has committed adultery. "Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatch'd" (1.5.75), is echoed by Claudius's "My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen", (3.3.55) which may be taken to indicate the affair occurred after her husband death.
Gertrude’s loyalty to other characters is questionable along with the loyalty to herself. She lies to herself about the consequences of her actions, and she lies to those around her. But she lies to protect her and the others involved, knowing if anyone finds out, blood will be shed and she doesn’t want that. She lies because she feels she