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Post by anniee on Feb 14, 2016 13:37:59 GMT
I don't think Gertrude's character isn't explored enough that we can easily come to a conclusion on why she married Claudius after her the king's death. In the story, she is mainly used as the object of Hamlet's anger and misogyny, and all she voices is confusion on her son's sudden change of character. However, based on evidence in the story, I think it is more believable that Gertrude was guilty of lust in her marriage. Even if she was fulfill her role of protecting the nation, it probably would have took longer than two days to figure out what to do in order to save Denmark. Remarriage in such a short time, especially to her husband's biological brother, seems suspicious. Also, in Act 1 Scene 5, when King Hamlet was explaining to Hamlet about how he was murdered, he accused his wife Gertrude not only of incest, but also of adultery. It would be technically inaccurate to accuse someone of adultery when they are widowed, so this makes me believe that she had already begun her affair with Claudius when her husband was still alive.
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Post by graceyichen on Feb 14, 2016 17:24:33 GMT
Is it possible to fall to lust and marry your own husband's brother though? I guess if she married her husband as a responsibility in the first place then yes, she would just be doing it again. The feeling I got from Gertrude in the play is that she is always agreeing to someone, and when she expresses her opinions, she's very ununcoolertive. Which actually makes me wonder, if she were so hesitant, would she have the courage to just marry her husband's brother right after the funeral? Therefore, I don't think she married Claudius because she was lustful. When Hamlet was yelling at her, she didn't even know what mistake she could have make to anger her son like that. I don't think she could be that innocent if she was lustful.
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Post by melody on Feb 14, 2016 18:20:23 GMT
Agreeing with Sunny, so far I couldn't' find the part where Gertrude was portrayed wise or smart. However, I think Gertrude might've married Claudius because he could threaten her that he'll harm Hamlet or Claudius could've just manipulated her to be the Queen in order to made the country stable or she could just fell in love (technically, cheated on Hamlet's father) with Claudius. However, I still believe Gertrude married Claudius for a reason because if I was Gertrude, even if I was desperate about wealth or power, I would always care about what people judge me. She couldn't have easily married her dead-husband's brother without thoughts. She rather married him because she fell in love with Claudius or she have other plans by marrying him.
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sunnyp
Junior Member
Posts: 92 
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Post by sunnyp on Feb 21, 2016 13:32:53 GMT
I want to believe Gertrude married for the nation. IT would have causes less chaos after old Hamlet's death in nation. Also Gertrude seemed like a responsible woman, and she chooses Hamlet over Claudius at the end when she dies, so I think this was for nation than for Claudius.
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Post by Jessica (Yeeun) Kim on Feb 21, 2016 14:25:25 GMT
In my opinion, there are two possible answers. First, Gertrude was suffered too much about the death of King Hamlet, therefore, the marriage Claudius was the only choice to rescue herself. Second, Claudius felt guilty because he killed his brother, the King Hamlet, so he married for self-contentment. As the evidence of Act 1 scene 5, when Hamlet talked to the ghost, the ghost of the dead king warned Hamlet, not to revenge Gertrude. This might mean that Gertrude was innocent.
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Post by heesu on Mar 6, 2016 11:12:47 GMT
I think she married with Claudius because she doesn't want to lose her social status and her son. I'm not sure why because it depends on the law that was made at Shakespear's time. When she don't marry with him then she might lose her social power and may be Hamlet will lose his status. I felt like she married with him because of her own benefit. She didn't disagree with Claudius's ideas from this I felt like she obeyed him.
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Post by erickim on Mar 6, 2016 13:44:51 GMT
I don't think Gertrude married Claudius due to lust but the pressure she has on her shoulder. Just Imagine that you are a woman and has a duty to lead a kingdom to success. I don't think that kind of pressure was suitable for women in that time period since there was more men/women equality differences.
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kevv
Junior Member
Posts: 64 
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Post by kevv on Mar 6, 2016 15:17:19 GMT
I would want to believe that Gertrude married Claudius in order to stabilize the nation but according to the story and Shakespeare's desire, I think that Gertrude married Claudius for her own desire. In most of Shakespeare's dramas, he makes one of his major themes as incestuous desires. Therefore I would say that Gertrude kept an eye on Claudius even before King Hamlet died, and took Claudius as her husband but after a few months not to make it seem that she is a woman who only seeks for men.
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Post by melody on Mar 13, 2016 2:47:41 GMT
I don't think Gertrude married Claudius in order to stabilize the nation and protecting them from going chaotic or something. If Gertrude have ever thought of the nation, she wouldn't have married Claudius even though she might've got killed by rejecting the marriage. It's because by Gertrude's shocking death, the citizens will turn more chaotic and lose trust to their royalties. If the people lose trust to their royalties, they're still likely to rebel (even though, she married or not) because what their royalties have done is wrong in moral. I think Gertrude just married Claudius in order to keep her and maybe Hamlet's position. I also think she married Claudius because she felt the pressure to marry him or she'll might fall in danger. Whatever the reason is, her decision made Hamlet and the citizens mad. It was not right and hard for them to accept the fact.
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