This is a photo of the woman who plays Gertrude in the BBC David Tennant Version of the play.
How Gertrude is Obedient and Controlled by Claudius and consumed by the Corruption around her
Gertrude is dependent on men and constantly needing one in her life. This is shown when she remarries Claudius, her deceased husband’s brother. She does not marry Claudius for love; she marries him for the better of the kingdom and for herself. Hamlet tells her, “You cannot call it love; for at your age/ the hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble/ and waits upon the judgement: and what judgement / would step from this to this? Sense, sure, you have/ Else could you not have motion; but sure, that sense” (3. 4. 68-72). In this quote Hamlet is expressing to his mother that he knows she did not marry for love because at her age her lust should no longer be driving her decisions. She should be making logical choice and not the choice she made. Gertrude does not deny Hamlet’s accusation but rather she gets upset and cries, “O, speak to me no more/ these words, like daggers, enter in mine ears/no more, sweet Hamlet” (3. 4. 91-93). Hamlet is telling her the harsh truth of the situation and corruption around her and Gertrude does not want to hear it. Due to the fact that Gertrude needs a man in her life, she does not want to believe the words Hamlet tells her about Claudius, and is obliviously ignoring the corruption around her.
Gertrude is controlled by Claudius. He manipulates her opinion of what is best for Hamlet. This shows Gertrude’s inability to think for herself. For example, Hamlet wants to go back to school in Wittenberg after he discovers the truth about his father’s death. However Claudius wants to keep an eye on Hamlet so no one finds out that he murdered his brother. He tells Gertrude and Hamlet that he cannot go back to school because it is in his best interest to be around family since he is still grieving. Claudius says, “for you intent/ in going back to school in Wittenberg/ it is most retrograde to our desire/ and we beseech you, bend you to remain/ here in the cheer and comfort of our eye” (1. 2. 112-116). This quote demonstrates how Claudius uses his words to manipulate people to get what he wants. Gertrude is obedient to Claudius and this causes her to believe and trust Claudius knows what is best for her son. In another example, Claudius manipulates Gertrude into believing that Hamlet has grieved long enough and he needs to get over his father’s death by now. Gertrude then starts to push Hamlet to get over his father’s death. She says, “seek for thy noble father in the dust/ thou know’st tis common, all that lives must die” (1. 2. 71-72). She is oblivious and insensitive to Hamlet’s distress because she is obedient and controlled by her husband.
Gertrude discovers the murder of her first husband by Claudius. Yet she is too weak to say or do anything about it. Hamlet tells her to “confess yourself to heaven/ repent what’s past, avoid what is to come/ and do not spread the compost on the weeds/ to make them ranker” (3. 4. 149-152). In this quote Hamlet tells her to confess her sins to heaven and do not sleep with Claudius again. Gertrude says nothing to Claudius about the murder. Gertrude has again obliviously ignored the corruption occurring around her due to the fact that she is controlled and obedient to her husband.
Gertrude is controlled by Claudius. He manipulates her opinion of what is best for Hamlet. This shows Gertrude’s inability to think for herself. For example, Hamlet wants to go back to school in Wittenberg after he discovers the truth about his father’s death. However Claudius wants to keep an eye on Hamlet so no one finds out that he murdered his brother. He tells Gertrude and Hamlet that he cannot go back to school because it is in his best interest to be around family since he is still grieving. Claudius says, “for you intent/ in going back to school in Wittenberg/ it is most retrograde to our desire/ and we beseech you, bend you to remain/ here in the cheer and comfort of our eye” (1. 2. 112-116). This quote demonstrates how Claudius uses his words to manipulate people to get what he wants. Gertrude is obedient to Claudius and this causes her to believe and trust Claudius knows what is best for her son. In another example, Claudius manipulates Gertrude into believing that Hamlet has grieved long enough and he needs to get over his father’s death by now. Gertrude then starts to push Hamlet to get over his father’s death. She says, “seek for thy noble father in the dust/ thou know’st tis common, all that lives must die” (1. 2. 71-72). She is oblivious and insensitive to Hamlet’s distress because she is obedient and controlled by her husband.
Gertrude discovers the murder of her first husband by Claudius. Yet she is too weak to say or do anything about it. Hamlet tells her to “confess yourself to heaven/ repent what’s past, avoid what is to come/ and do not spread the compost on the weeds/ to make them ranker” (3. 4. 149-152). In this quote Hamlet tells her to confess her sins to heaven and do not sleep with Claudius again. Gertrude says nothing to Claudius about the murder. Gertrude has again obliviously ignored the corruption occurring around her due to the fact that she is controlled and obedient to her husband.