The Character of Hamlet's Mother

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Carolyn Heilbrun’s essay, “The Character of Hamlet’s Mother”, defends Gertrude against the claims of many critics that she is an adulteress, shallow and dull woman. In many ways, Heilbrun’s essay points out several truthful aspects of Gertrude’s character, that prove she’s in no way an adulteress and not at all a dull woman. There is no evidence in the play that alludes to Gertrude’s complicity in the murder of Hamlet’s father, yet there are plenty of moments between Gertrude and Hamlet that prove she’s not in the least, a shallow person. Despite there being people that believe that Gertrude was an adulteress and that she played a role in the murder of King Hamlet, there is no evidence within the play to substantiate such vile statements. When the Ghost first speaks to Hamlet, he speaks with disgust towards the Queen, saying, “Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,/ With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,--O wicked wit, and gifts that have the power/ So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust” (1.5.42-45) This is perhaps the only instance where her unfaithfulness to Hamlet the King is mentioned. But the Ghost of Hamlet maybe spoke those words out of spite and anger, feeling that his marriage to Gertrude was still existent even past his death. But isn’t marriage valid until death do them part? As Heilbrun mentioned, the Ghost seemed angry over Gertrude’s betrayal and that is why he uses words like “shameful lust” and “traitorous” to describe the Queen. Besides this allusion, there is no further evidence in the play that suggests that Gertrude cheated on the King with Claudius while the King still lived. Moreover, if Gertrude had been the adulteress she is criticized to be, she would have had taken some part in the murder of King Hamlet. As stated by Heilbrun, “We next learn from the Queen’s startled, ‘As kill a king?’ (3.4.31) that she has no

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