Gertrude biography hamlet

Character in Hamlet

Fictional character

In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Gertrude is Hamlet's mother and Queen of Denmark. Her relationship with Hamlet is somewhat turbulent, since he resents her marrying her husband's brother Claudius after he murdered the king (young Hamlet's father, King Hamlet).

Gertrude reveals no guilt in her marriage with Claudius after the recent murder of her husband, and Hamlet begins to show signs of jealousy towards Claudius. According to Hamlet, she scarcely mourned her husband's death before marrying Claudius.

Gertrude biography hamlet

Her name may derive from Gertrude of Bavaria, who was Queen of Denmark in the late 12th century.

Role in the play

Gertrude is first seen in Act 1 Scene 2 as she tries to cheer Hamlet over the loss of his father, begging him to stay at home rather than going back to school in Wittenberg.

Her worry over him continues into the second act, as she sides with King Claudius in sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern t