Who is Gertrude?

                In class, we discussed Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and Claudius’ new bride. Many of my classmates expressed their opinions on Queen Gertrude which was either positive or negative. Therefore, I am here to analyze both sides. First I am going to focus on the positive/good Gertrude. There is this theory that Queen Gertrude only got married to Claudius to protect Hamlet. We know that Claudius is a suspicious and shady character because he married his sister-in-law. Also, he is shown to be antagonistic towards Hamlet by stating to him that “to persever/ in obstinate condolement is a course? Of impious stubbornness: tis unmanly grief” (9). He is basically telling Hamlet that he is just an immature boy who is unnecessarily stubborn. Therefore, Queen Gertrude might have known Claudius’ ill feelings towards Hamlet that she married him to protect her son. She seems worried that her son will lose his life like the late king that she begs Hamlet, “I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg” (10). It can be viewed by some people that Gertrude is sacrificing herself depicting her as a strong and heroic individual. Lastly, some might point out Hamlet’s first soliloquy which describes Gertrude’s overflowing grief on King Hamlet’s death. She is said to “have follow’d [Hamlet’s] poor father’s body,/Like Niobe, all tears” which appears as a sincere gesture (11). Her strong emotional response to the King’s death portrays her as a morally good and devoted wife. Yet, the others view Gertrude as a morally corrupt individual by also pointing out Hamlet’s first soliloquy. Hamlet states that “within a month….she married. O, most wicked speed, to post/with such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (11). Through Hamlet’s revelation, we learn that Gertrude married Claudius, her brother-in-law after only one month after her first husband’s death. To some, her action indicates duplicity and incites suspicions in people’s minds. Did Gertrude only marry Claudius to maintain her position as queen? Was there an affair between Claudius and Gertrude in the past? It seems quite suspicious and abnormal that she married a family member at such speed knowing that she is committing incest. Also, her deliberate disapproval and disregard for Hamlet’s mourning seems cruel. She coldly states to Hamlet, “all that lives must die/ Passing through nature and eternity” (9) which is an unkind gesture to Hamlet’s fragile emotional state. However, I have come to the conclusion that Gertrude is actually a morally good person. I believe that she married Claudius in order to protect her son, the immediate person to the throne of Denmark. She is sacrificing herself and playing the role of a happy wife to preserve her loved ones. She is also a rather alert and wise individual because she quickly married Claudius fully knowing the dangers that could have claimed Hamlet’s life. She threw away her honor, pride, and body to protect her son. (Unfortunately, Hamlet fails to understand his mother’s actions.) But who am I to judge? I just only read two scenes of the first act.