Queen Gertrude's Role in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Throughout the entire plot of Hamlet, the young prince remains angry at his mother, mainly because she married her previous husband's brother. The younger Hamlet gives his mother plenty of grief throughout the play because he feels she was finished grieving over her husband's death far too quickly. King Claudius even calls Hamlet out on this, explaining to him that he cannot afford to grieve too long over his father's death: "...But to persever/In obstinate condolement is a course/Of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief" (I.ii. 92-94). Along with the character Hamlet, many critics of the play find that Gertrude was wrong for marrying again so quickly, especially since the man she married was her recently deceased husband's brother. However, I do not believe that she should be viewed in such a negative light in this play. Through textual evidence, one will find that Queen Gertrude is an oppressed and ignorant character in the play and she cannot be looked down upon for marrying Claudius so quickly.

When asked to describe Gertrude's character in Hamlet, one will most certainly mention her quick re-marriage to Claudius. This is looked down upon by many critics, but there is no reason that it should be. In order to maintain her royal status in society and keep her son as a potential king, she had to marry quickly in order to keep someone else from entering the royal family and challenging for the throne. I am not exactly familiar with the political structure of Denmark at that time, but if history is any indicator, there is always a great possibility for revolt and bloodshed after a king dies and no one is positive who will replace him. One can even argue that Gertrude married Claudius simply to ensure a good future for her son Hamlet. That is her main flaw throughout the play; she is trying to please too many people.