Keith Dsouza
ENG3U1 – 06
Hamlet’s Relationship With Gertrude
“Whoever has trusted a woman has trusted deceivers” by Greek poet Hesiod. (8th century B.C.)
Misogyny is an attitude that is rife. Women are conveyed as expendable, overemotional characters ruled by their feelings. Their motives and thoughts are inconsiderable We see this largely portrayed in the play Hamlet. The female character Gertrude in the play Hamlet is complex. She likes to draw sexual satisfaction from the characters in the play, especially Hamlet. She is narcisstic.
Throughout the play, Hamlet’s relationship/interaction with women is rough. This is due to his mother’s (Gertrude) ‘bad’ acts. He does not trust any woman of the opposite sex. This is clearly expressed In his soliloquy when he tells his mother, “Frailty, thy name …show more content…
He compares his mother’s transition from Old King Hamlet to King Claudius by saying,
So excellent a king, that was;
To this, Hyperion to a Satyr. (1.2 140-141)
His father was a Hyperion (One of the Titans) and Claudius was a Satyr (Lecherous half-man-half-goat). Instead of drawing Hamlet and his mother Gertrude closer, it has created some sort of a divider between them, as Hamlet says, “But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue” (1.2 159).
Throughout the play, we see that Hamlet doesn’t respect his mother Gertrude. In Act 3 Scene 2, when Hamlet organizes a play to ensure King Claudius is guilty or not, Queen Gertrude tells Hamlet, ”Come hither my dear Hamlet, sit by me” (3.2 99). To this, he replies, “No, good mother, here’s metal more attractive”. (3.2 100) He ignores her words rudely and goes and lies his head on Ophelia’s lap. The surprising fact is, Hamlet doesn’t rudely react with Ophelia this time, unlike others. As the play progresses, Hamlet’s and Queen Gertrude’s relationship deteriorates. The fact that Hamlet is a true misogynist is proved when he tells Ophelia,
God hath given you one face;
And you make yourselves
ENG3U1 – 06
Hamlet’s Relationship With Gertrude
“Whoever has trusted a woman has trusted deceivers” by Greek poet Hesiod. (8th century B.C.)
Misogyny is an attitude that is rife. Women are conveyed as expendable, overemotional characters ruled by their feelings. Their motives and thoughts are inconsiderable We see this largely portrayed in the play Hamlet. The female character Gertrude in the play Hamlet is complex. She likes to draw sexual satisfaction from the characters in the play, especially Hamlet. She is narcisstic.
Throughout the play, Hamlet’s relationship/interaction with women is rough. This is due to his mother’s (Gertrude) ‘bad’ acts. He does not trust any woman of the opposite sex. This is clearly expressed In his soliloquy when he tells his mother, “Frailty, thy name …show more content…
He compares his mother’s transition from Old King Hamlet to King Claudius by saying,
So excellent a king, that was;
To this, Hyperion to a Satyr. (1.2 140-141)
His father was a Hyperion (One of the Titans) and Claudius was a Satyr (Lecherous half-man-half-goat). Instead of drawing Hamlet and his mother Gertrude closer, it has created some sort of a divider between them, as Hamlet says, “But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue” (1.2 159).
Throughout the play, we see that Hamlet doesn’t respect his mother Gertrude. In Act 3 Scene 2, when Hamlet organizes a play to ensure King Claudius is guilty or not, Queen Gertrude tells Hamlet, ”Come hither my dear Hamlet, sit by me” (3.2 99). To this, he replies, “No, good mother, here’s metal more attractive”. (3.2 100) He ignores her words rudely and goes and lies his head on Ophelia’s lap. The surprising fact is, Hamlet doesn’t rudely react with Ophelia this time, unlike others. As the play progresses, Hamlet’s and Queen Gertrude’s relationship deteriorates. The fact that Hamlet is a true misogynist is proved when he tells Ophelia,
God hath given you one face;
And you make yourselves