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Hamlet interacts with the Ghost, and since Gertrude cannot see the Ghost she concludes that her son really has gone mad. This moment introduces a significant point of ambiguity into the play. On the one hand, Gertrude’s lines raise the possibility that the Ghost’s first appearance to Hamlet back in Act I may have marked the original onset of Hamlet’s madness.
1. There is some ambiguity as to what extent Gertrude believes Hamlet, but here (lines 8-10) she clearly lies to shield her son from the wrath of Claudius. In the first printed version of the play, known as Q1, there is a scene between Horatio and Gertrude in which Gertrude elaborates on her feelings. You can read the scene here.
Hamlet Commentary - Act IV. Act IV. Scene I. - A Room in the Castle. King Claudius: "My soul is full of discord and dismay." King Claudius speaks with his wife, Queen Gertrude. He learns of Polonius' murder which shocks him; it could easily have been him. Queen Gertrude lies for her son, saying that Hamlet is as mad as a tempestuous sea. King ...
In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably to save her son from certain death. If she drinks on purpose, then she's the self-sacrificing mother Hamlet has always wanted her to be. But we're not convinced that the rest of the play has shown her to be self-sacrificing at all.
- Act IV Scene 5
- Act IV, Scene 6
- Act IV, Scene 7
- Analysis
Queen Gertrude, Horatio, and a Gentleman enter. On Horatio’s advice,Gertrude reluctantly agrees to speak with Ophelia, who has been requesting anaudience. The Gentleman informs the queen that Ophelia’s condition is pitiful;she frequently mentions her father, but her words are jumbled and nonsensical.Ophelia walks in singing a song, oblivious to the...
Some sailors approach Horatio, claiming to have a letter for him. Horatio issurprised to see that the letter is from Hamlet. Hamlet explains that his shipto England was attacked by pirates, who have now returned him to Denmark. Inhis letter, Hamlet tells Horatio that the sailors also have letters for theking. He instructs Horatio to oversee the del...
Claudius and Laertes enter, discussing Polonius’s death. Laertes now agreesthat Claudius is not at fault but wonders why he did not openly punish Hamlet.Claudius explains that he loves Gertrude and cannot bear to upset her bypunishing her only son. He also says that it would be risky to publicly accuseHamlet, since he is so well-loved by the people...
These scenes reveal Ophelia’s tragic fate: she has been driven mad by theloss of her father and eventually dies as a result of her madness. UnlikeHamlet, Ophelia’s mental breakdown is neither pretense nor ambiguous.Throughout the play, Ophelia is dominated by the male figures in her life:Hamlet, Polonius, and Laertes. Raised to be passive and obedi...
Share Cite. In the play, it seems that Gertrude is unaware of Claudius 's guilt in the murder of her husband, the old King Hamlet. As the old king's ghost says to his son, Ay, that incestuous ...
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Still thinking he has stabbed King Claudius, Hamlet agrees with his mother that the stabbing was indeed "A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, / As kill [killing] a king, and marry [marrying] with his brother", the first time Hamlet has truly spelt out to his mother why he disrespects her (Line 27). Queen Gertrude is surprised, our first ...
