Gertrude

Question 1

Franco Zeffirelli adaptation

Old Hamlet funeral scene

Answer 1

• funeral scene of Old Hamlet is included
• Gertrude is presented as a submissive woman
• Gertrude sobs immaturely during the funeral before running to kiss Claudius
• Gertrude sits on her throne like an obedient child
• epitomises the stereotypical trait of women
• Hamlet conveys Gertrude’s fickleness in the line “Frailty, thy name is woman”.
• The use of ‘frailty’ here is a critical statement on her seemingly easy transition between husbands which is ultimately the cause of Hamlet’s antic disposition.

Question 2

(Gregory Doran) David Tennant is Hamlet

first scene

Answer 2

• Gertrude is positioned behind Claudius despite trying to connect with Hamlet due to his unenthusiastic attitude towards their marriage.
• Hamlet is still mourning the death of his father, and embarrasses his mother in doing so. Gertrude has moved on quickly referring to his death dismissively
• “Thou know’st ‘tis common. /All that lives must die”.
• Consequently, Hamlet tries to silence Gertrude with his finger, but she kisses it.
• she is silencing Hamlet’s voice with her sexuality
• Gertrude obtains power through her sexuality and lust

Question 3

Hamlet to Gertrude - regarding her incestuous marriage with Claudius
scene in G’s bedroom

Answer 3

“rank corruption”

“do not spread the compost on the weeds/ To make them ranker”

Question 4

(Gregory Doran) David Tennant is Hamlet

scene in G’s bedroom

Answer 4

• Gertrude sexualises this scene by holding and touching her breasts and allows her face to be in close proximity with Hamlet’s.
• Freudian idea of the Oedipus Complex with the incestuous undertones between mother and son

Question 5

Gertrude is inferred to be ashamed of her actions as opposed to her previous portrayal of naivety: “O Hamlet, speak no more…”

Answer 5

“O Hamlet, speak no more/ Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul,/ And there I see such black and grained spots”.
- ‘black and grained spots’ = corruption within Gertrude’s soul - she has finally realised the implications of her ignorant actions

Question 6

(Gregory Doran) David Tennant is Hamlet

Gertrude and ghost

Answer 6

• Gertrude can see the ghost
• Upon seeing her husband, Gertrude would have the ability to reflect on her actions and thus the realisation that she achieves in Act three, one of shame and guilt, would have more of an impact on her.

Question 7

Player Queen in Hamlet’s play ‘Mousetrap’:

“A second time I kill my husband…

Answer 7

“A second time/ I kill my husband dead/ When second husband kisses me in bed”

Question 8

Evidence of Gertrude’s development as a character in her final words

Answer 8

“The drink, the drink! I am pois’ned.”

• In her final words Gertrude is attempting to warn Hamlet of the poisoned goblet
• performing an act of defiance
• She is finally challenging Claudius by giving him an opportunity to admit his duplicity and, upon him failing to do so, she is trying to make Hamlet finally complete his act of vengeance.

Question 9

(Gregory Doran) David Tennant is Hamlet

final scene

Answer 9

• Gertrude, while lying on the floor, pushes the goblet towards Hamlet so that he can finally kill Claudius.
• In her final words “The drink, the drink - I am poisoned”, Gertrude is giving Hamlet the ultimate provocation he needs in order to kill Claudius.
• Does not have unwavering faith forwards Claudius:
• When the king demands that she does not drink from the goblet, she blatantly refuses - an act of defiance from a woman that has been subject to orders from a dishonest man.

Question 10

“my most seeming …

Answer 10

“my most seeming virtuous queen”

Question 11

Maxine Peake Hamlet

Answer 11

Hamlet looks towards Gertrude when Claudius expresses desire for him to stay and not go to Wittenberg
- oedipal?