Is Gertrude an innocent victim or a sexually and morally corrupt woman?
Is Gertrude an innocent victim or a sexually and morally corrupt woman? Shakespeare's character Gertrude is one of much mystery; in relation to this there are many questions that need to be answered to establish Gertrude's innocence through out the play. Some examples of these questions are, was Gertrude in some kind of relationship with Claudius before the murder of her late Husband and did she know about the murder before or after it was committed? Does she love Claudius or is it just her status that she is protecting? And did she ever love the late King Hamlet? At the beginning of the play when we learn about the late King Hamlet's death and Gertrude's hasty marriage to his brother Claudius, we are faced with a question on the audience's awareness. It can be assumed that the marriage to her brother- in-law is purely because of Gertrude's weak personality, resulting in a dependency on men and the means of protecting her status and her power. We also question the love between the Gertrude and Claudius; this is because there is no suggestion of a resemblance between the late King and his brother. The description that we are given about late King Hamlet maybe slightly distorted, as it is Hamlet who tells us this, and he is noticeably loyal to his father. It is also possible to argue that the love that the late King and Gertrude shared was not that strong as the only evidence
Explore the "loving mother-son" relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet, with focus on language.
Ramya Sr. 4 D Q. Explore the "loving mother-son" relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet, with focus on language. Ans. Very evident in Hamlet is the "loving mother-son" relationship between Queen Gertrude and Prince Hamlet. Their mutual affection for each other can be seen right from the first act when they address each other as "Good Hamlet" and "good mother". This seems rather polite and formal but shows their deep underlying love for each other. However as the play progresses and Hamlet learns through the ghost of his father the truth about his uncle (whom his mother has married), the actual intensity of the mother-son relationship is brought out. This happens as Hamlet learns of his father's murder. Our first impression of Hamlet sets the tone for the whole play. Even without Shakespeare providing an elaborate description of Hamlet's features, we can imagine his pale face, tousled hair, intense, brooding eyes. Dressed totally in black, Hamlet displays all the 'forms, moods and shapes of grief'. His speech is punctuated with harsh sounding words and he repeats the 'd' sound often with words like " dead, sullied, windy, dejected, denote". This shows his extreme despair. Gertrude, as his mother, cannot help but notice Hamlet's outward appearance of mourning, but Hamlet makes it clear that the outward signs of grief do not come close to conveying how much sorrow he
In the Withered Arm, by Thomas Hardy, who do you feel more sympathy for Rhoda or Gertrude.
In the Withered Arm, by Thomas Hardy, who do you feel more sympathy for Rhoda or Gertrude. The Withered arm is typical of Hardy's novellas, as it is a tragedy. It involves two main characters, Rhoda and Gertrude. Rhoda and Gertrude both have their own different problems that the must face. Rhoda and Gertrude become friends after they first meet. Rhoda had an illegitimate child to farmer lodge who marries Gertrude. Before Rhoda and Gertrude meet Rhoda does not know what Gertrude is like so is bitter about the idea of her marrying farmer lodge who hardy hints Rhoda is still in love with. Rhoda is described to be old before her age and works as a milkmaid. She receives no help in the upbringing of the boy she had with farmer lodge so she works hard to care for him. The other milkmaids talk about her and they start to talk about the subject of farmer lodges new wife. This part makes you feel some sympathy for Rhoda as she is being talked about when she is still there. Because of the times Rhoda was not at all respected for bringing up a child on her own but instead she was treated as a social outcast. No one seemed to blame farmer Lodge for what had happened. The other milkmaids will think nothing of talking about her business when she is there. This makes you feel sympathy for Rhoda because in this day and age the farther would be forced to help at least financially with the
Examine Hamlet's Relationship with Gertrude & Ophelia in light of the comment 'Frailty thy name is woman'.
Examine Hamlet's Relationship with Gertrude & Ophelia in light of the comment 'Frailty thy name is woman'. At the beginning of the play, during Hamlet's first soliloquy, Hamlet contemplates suicide because he is so furious with his mother for marrying Claudius within a month of his father's death. This is when Hamlet comments, 'frailty thy name is woman' to express his bitter feelings towards his mother for not only the speed of her remarriage and betrayal of his father, but the 'dexterity to incestuous sheets'. The situation, and Hamlet's reaction to it, is a trigger of an increasing negative attitude towards all women, viewing them as weak. It is shown through his relationships with Gertrude and Ophelia. The audience learn through the other characters that Hamlet has shown affections towards Ophelia; whether they are genuine and lasting feelings is uncertain as Leartes advices Ophelia that they are not. Leartes asks Ophelia to 'hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood;/ A violet in the youth of primary nature.' Leartes not only says that Hamlet's feeling towards Ophelia is short-lived nonsense of his youth but highlights that 'for he himself is subject to his birth'. Polonius also echoes a negative portrayal of Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia as he advises her to 'be somewhat scaner of your maiden presence'. Ophelia sees that Hamlet's feelings are genuine as he
Evaluate how the portrayal of Gertrude and Ophelia could be influenced by the sources available to Shakespeare.
Evaluate how the portrayal of Gertrude and Ophelia could be influenced by the sources available to Shakespeare. In this day and age, for a play to be plausible and enjoyable, women have to be included substantially in the plot. Our society is no longer patriarchal or male driven, but in the Elizabethan era things were different. The role of women was radically changing as the public were beginning to realise the power of Elizabeth I and this directly affected English Literature which had began to also focus on women. Yet Shakespeare gave small and insignificant roles to Gertrude and Ophelia in Hamlet. As said by Judith Cook, they appear to be 'somewhat spiritless creatures' when likened to the major greats of Shakespearian theatre like Lady Macbeth, Cleopatra, Portia and Rosalind who at times show great strength of character and independence of spirit. However, it is quite certain from his plays that had Shakespeare wanted Gertrude and Ophelia to be more important in 'Hamlet', he would have given them much more substance and much more dialogue. However, for a modern director, it is important to understand what role Gertrude and Ophelia play; although Shakespeare may not have wanted them to be the protagonists, they are still essential to the plot. Part of Hamlet's madness and his jealousy towards his uncle is due to his mother taking Claudius to her 'incestuous sheets,' and
This essay is going to discuss the works of Shakespeare's Hamlet and John Updike's Gertrude and Claudius.
This essay is going to discuss the works of Shakespeare's Hamlet and John Updike's Gertrude and Claudius. It will look to compare and contrast certain aspects of each book in relation to each other. Some central characters in each book will be looked at and how they are similar in each book, along with the views that would lead you to believe that Gertrude and Claudius are truly in love or just lusting over each other. The ghost in each writing will be looked at to see if they relate to each other or not and the character of Polonius will be examined in each of the two works. Also some foreshadowing from Gertrude and Claudius on to Hamlet will be addressed. Shakespeare's Hamlet has a lot to do with the character of Hamlet himself, as he is the central character in the play. It starts off with the introduction of a ghost who turns out to be in the image of Hamlets murdered father, Old Hamlet. This Ghost plays a vital role in the play because it is the ghost that enduces Hamlet to get revenge for his father murder. In this first act we are introduced to basically all the main characters. We learn that Hamlets mother, Gertrude the queen, is no married to Hamlets uncle, now the King, Claudius. This puts unrest on the kingdom of Denmark because it is almost seen as incest and the fact that it takes place so close to the funeral of the late king. Its also told that a Young
'Rhoda and Gertrude suffer equally, but in different ways. How far do you agree with this statement?'
Daniel Godfrey Mrs. RH Churchill Coursework 29th of January The Withered Arm- Thomas Hardy 'Rhoda and Gertrude suffer equally, but in different ways. How far do you agree with this statement?' Although it is arguable whether Rhoda and Gertrude suffer equally, I agree that they suffer in different ways. They both struggle unsuccessfully to gain Farmer Lodge's love although neither gains this,although they both go o great lenghs to try to achieve this feat. I think that Rhoda and Gertrude suffer constantly throughout the story, which is ironic as they are the cause for most of each others suffering.I feel that Thomas Hardy's potrayal of the suffering of the characters is both sarcastic and cynical. After reading the story it is obvious that suffering and unrequited love is the theme. This love is present in both the characters. In the beginning of the story we are introduced to Rhoda Brook. It starts in a field, with milkmaids talking while milking the cows. 'The discussion waxed so warm that the purr of the milk-streams became jerky, till a voice from another cow's belly cried with authority, "Now then, what the Turk do it matter to us about Farmer Lodge's age, or Farmer Lodge's new mis'ess! I shall have to pay him nine pound a year for the rent of every one of these milchers, whatever his age or hers. Get on with your work, or 'twill be dark before we have
Examine how Shakespeare looks at the role of women through Gertrude and the men in her life
Examine how Shakespeare looks at the role of women through Gertrude and the men in her life. Shakespeare's "Hamlet" was first published in1603, a time when women were very much seen to be second class citizens and inferior to men in almost everyway. She is possibly one of Shakespeare's most confusing characters throughout his plays. More questions are raised throughout the play about her than are answered. It is never quite known if she was involved with Claudius before her husbands' death, if she loved her husband or if she truly even loves Claudius now. Gertrude is found in a position where she is conflicted by the roles different men wish her to play. She is, throughout, questionable, by both her son, Hamlet, and her husband, Claudius, both continually unsure of her loyalties and motives. Gertrude comes across as an unsure woman and, like Ophelia, reliant on the men in her life. She needed Claudius to remain in such high esteem within the country, and needs Hamlet as her strong backbone through the loss of her husband and the change in her life. Hamlet's most famous comment about Gertrude is his furious condemnation of women in general: "Frailty, thy name is woman!" this conveys Gertrude's frail state of mind and being- an older, beautiful lady, with little solidity to hold onto in her life. Gertrude is very much stuck in the middle of the feuding men in her life.
The characterization and lives led by Gertrude Lodge and Rhoda Brook in Hardy's The Withered Arm
The Withered Arm The characterization and lives led by Gertrude Lodge and Rhoda Brook in Hardy's The Withered Arm gives a graphic picture of the lives working and middle class women lived in the 19th century rural England. Women lived in a patriarchal society and were below men hieratically. They were therefore deprived of career opportunities and responsibilities. The inequalities existing between the sexes are more than apparent politically and socially; in addition to this the class divisions in society are evident in every aspect of life, as shown in Hardy's narrative. England was predominately a Christian country and those who were Christian lived according to strict moral principles, one of which was the Christian principle of 'no sex before marriage', which was closely followed by women of all classes, but not necessarily men, whom were thought to have had a dominant role in the lives of women. Thus, a woman who was unmarried and also a mother would struggle to survive financially. Hardy's text explores the issue of class, gender, superstition and their affect on the lives of his characters. Hardy paints a negative view of women's lives in rural society and presents them as being quite literally powerless, for example the illicit affair with Farmer Lodge affects Rhoda Brook irrecoverably. The text implies that Farmer Lodge exploited a financially disadvantaged woman
Women in Hamlet. The only two female characters in Hamlet are Gertrude, Hamlets mother, and Ophelia
The Portrayal of Women in Hamlet By: Fatima Salman Shakespeare's Hamlet is a firmly structured revenge tragedy revolving around Hamlet, the male protagonist. Due to the restrictions of the genre, the other characters must remain peripheral to Hamlet leaving many aspects of their stories and mannerisms underdeveloped and shrouded with ambiguity. This is more so the case with the female roles as they would have been initially played by young boys who would have not been able to communicate the complexities of a woman making it harder to understand their characters. The only two female characters in Hamlet are Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and Ophelia, his lover where questions of their sexual conduct frequently arise. For Gertrude, it is the question of weather she committed adultery or if Hamlet's accusations are only related to her hasty marriage. At the start we see that Hamlet is troubled by his mother's hasty marriage to his uncle, in his first soliloquy he describes this as "incestuous" and with "wicked speed!" these words hint at a moral wrong-doing to emphasize Hamlet's disapproval. Hamlet also makes the comparison of his father being a "Hyperian" to Claudius as a "Satyr" demonstrating his disgust at his mother's choice. After this, he personifies weakness to be a woman, where he concludes, "frailty thy name is woman!" wherein his mother's conduct has damaged
