A mother’s relationship she shares with her son is one of the most important bonds to be created in early childhood and to flourish further on throughout life. Within William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Gertrude's role, either as complicit or innocent in the murder of her husband, is one which prompts great debate, as does the nature of her relationship with Hamlet. Many of the things that she says and does in the play are a matter of interpretation and her relationship with her son is one most commonly miscommunicated and theorized, whether it be a means of sexual desire, frustration regarding her untimely marriage with Claudius or Hamlet’s overall view on women reflective off of the Elizabethan Era. In the early 18th century, psychoanalyst Sigmund
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Within the era of Hamlet, those defined a closet as a private chamber made solely for it’s owner and their lover. A place which she ostensively exercised complete control, her truly privy and private place. CITE HERE This prompts the question concerning why Polonuis was in Gertrude’s room rather than Claudius. Along with rationalizing Hamlet’s decision to stab behind the curtain without glancing behind, only assuming it to be Gertrude’s husband. Furthermore, this situation only demonstrates the political sphere has invaded the private sphere, meaning there is no privacy in Claudius’ reality or realm of Denmark. Throughout the duration of the scene, Hamlet’s actions are driven by his sexual drive and critics would ensue his “repressed sexual desires for his mother.” As several would suggest, …show more content…
With both the quickness of his father’s death and mother’s remarriage, Hamlet quickly becomes enraged. His negative emotions and inner conflicts become noticeable to the audience through his soliloquies, yet he is unable to act on them. Hamlet’s resentment towards Gertrude increases throughout the progression of the play, along with his willingness to murder Claudius. However, his motives were fairly unclear through his inability to take action in regards to his situation. The complexity of this situation becomes aware to the audience in his opening soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 2. “A beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer...” (I.ii.152) Hamlet’s use of both animal imagery and metaphoric structure adds emphasis to his anger concerning his given situation. Through his comparisons, he contrasts Gertrude’s character to that of a creature, unable to feel emotions, mourning longer than she had. Thus, insinuating she never loved him much in the beginning. Hamlet goes on to explain King Hamlet’s ways of affection which she has quickly forgotten. “...so loving to my mother that he might not beteem the winds of heaven visit her face too roughly” (I.ii.142-144). This
Within the era of Hamlet, those defined a closet as a private chamber made solely for it’s owner and their lover. A place which she ostensively exercised complete control, her truly privy and private place. CITE HERE This prompts the question concerning why Polonuis was in Gertrude’s room rather than Claudius. Along with rationalizing Hamlet’s decision to stab behind the curtain without glancing behind, only assuming it to be Gertrude’s husband. Furthermore, this situation only demonstrates the political sphere has invaded the private sphere, meaning there is no privacy in Claudius’ reality or realm of Denmark. Throughout the duration of the scene, Hamlet’s actions are driven by his sexual drive and critics would ensue his “repressed sexual desires for his mother.” As several would suggest, …show more content…
With both the quickness of his father’s death and mother’s remarriage, Hamlet quickly becomes enraged. His negative emotions and inner conflicts become noticeable to the audience through his soliloquies, yet he is unable to act on them. Hamlet’s resentment towards Gertrude increases throughout the progression of the play, along with his willingness to murder Claudius. However, his motives were fairly unclear through his inability to take action in regards to his situation. The complexity of this situation becomes aware to the audience in his opening soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 2. “A beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer...” (I.ii.152) Hamlet’s use of both animal imagery and metaphoric structure adds emphasis to his anger concerning his given situation. Through his comparisons, he contrasts Gertrude’s character to that of a creature, unable to feel emotions, mourning longer than she had. Thus, insinuating she never loved him much in the beginning. Hamlet goes on to explain King Hamlet’s ways of affection which she has quickly forgotten. “...so loving to my mother that he might not beteem the winds of heaven visit her face too roughly” (I.ii.142-144). This