Queen Gertrude, Hamlet

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

The ambiguity Shakespeare surrounds Queen Gertrude with in Hamlet definitely leaves the reader at a crossroads, forcing one to come to their own conclusions about her. Gertrude is the queen of Denmark, mother of Hamlet and newly married to her brother in law. During the coronation of the new King, Hamlet who recently lost his father is told by his mother (who just lost her husband and is married to the new King) to, “Cast thy knighted color off (1.2.70).”

This is the very first statement Queen Gertrude makes; leaving Hamlet along with the reader with questions like, did she really love Hamlet senior, did she have a hand in the murder of Hamlet Sr., or is she just trying to put up a brave face. Shakespeare continues to cast aspersions on Queen Gertrude by having the ghost of her dead husband refer to her as, “incestuous…adulterate beast (1.5.48).” These unanswered fundamental questions along with the impression left by the ghost incite suspicions and provoke preconceived notions.

When finally confronting his mother about her marriage to his uncle while also implying she knew and even part-took in the murder of his father, the Queen strongly “protests” that she has no idea of what Hamlet is accusing her off and begs him to stop (These words like daggers enter in my ear. No, more sweet Hamlet 3.4.105). Her reaction during the verbal and quite physical attack forces the reader to agree with her when she said, “The Lady doth protest too much, Methinks (3.2.254)”.

One could argue that Queen Gertrude only married for Denmark; back then countries with only a female leader were often considered weak and vulnerable to attacks. One could strongly dispute this fact, and argue that Shakespeare depicts her this way to exposure how frail and quickly women move from man to man especially since the play was written during the Elizabethan era. An era where England was at its strongest while under the sole leadership of a female, Elizabeth I.

Throughout the play, Queen Gertrude proves to be quite insensitive and emotional unavailable. She never weeps nor mourns her dead husband, and when Hamlet does so, she tells him to get over it. When Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England to get him “treated”, a truly loving and devoted mother would have favored or objected one way or another, but she seems unmoved by the decision. When she hears that Ophelia the ex girlfriend of Hamlet is mad, the first statement she utters is, “I will not speak with her (4.5.1.)” and even goes on to say, “Each toy seem prologue to some great amiss (4.5.23)” insinuating that Ophelia’s weakness eventually leads to her insanity.

By the end of the play, Shakespeare exhibits the maternal love the Queen had for Hamlet, by making her take the bullet for her son; she drinks the poison that was meant for Hamlet. He however fails to clear up the ambiguities and aspersions he cast on Queen Gertrude. Leaving the reader with the elusive impression that Queen Gertrude might have been in the loop since day one.