1. Gertrude at Fault?
The hierarchical females of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and Sophocles" "Oedipus Rex" share many common threads. "Hamlet's" Gertrude and "Oedipus"" Iokaste mirror each other by their submissive attitudes and their inability to acknowledge the blatantly obvious. Both characters are guilty of taking part in an incestuous relationship. Iokaste's manipulation by the Gods and Gertrude's manipulation by the Claudius is also a related factor. However, the most significant similarity between these two Greek tragedies is that both Queens wed the culprit responsible for their husbands" death. .
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The lives of Iocasta and Gertrude were manipulated by someone of a superior stature. Iokaste was merely a pawn used by the gods to fulfill the prophecy predicted by the Oracle. Oedipus was destined to murder his father and wed his mother. Although Iokaste had wanted nothing more but to raise her family and revel in their pleasures, her existence was used to aid Oedipus in meeting his destiny. Gertrude's manipulation, however, was more direct to human involvement. In order for Claudius to attain kingship, he had to kill his brother and marry Gertrude. Otherwise, Hamlet, being the next direct heir to the thrown, would have become king. Both of these women met their fate through deceit and trickery. .
The Queens in both plays unknowingly married their husband's killer. The ghost in "Hamlet" says, "The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." ("Hamlet", Pg, 258, Lines 48-49) This shows that the Claudius, the current king, was the perpetrator guilty of murdering old Hamlet. According to Maurice Charney, "Murderous rage is feasible when a kingdom is to gain." ("Styles In Hamlet", Pg. 122) This quote illustrates Claudius" core motive for his actions -the want for power and status. The same situation relates to Iokaste in that she fulfilled the prophecy by marrying her son. It is quoted, "Laios was killed at a place where three roads meet.
We can see that Gertrude is unaware of her husband's murder when she says `As kill a King?' ... There is a point in this scene when Gertrude thinks her life is in danger of Hamlet and gets frightened, which shows us that she considers him to be mad and harmful. ... `Wretched Queen, adieu' Shakespeare makes the closet scene more dramatic by including the appearance of the ghost and the fact that Gertrude cannot see it. The ghost's appearance results in different reactions between Hamlet and Gertrude. The interesting part is that Gertrude cannot see the ghost in account o...
Sister Gertrude Morgan American 1900 - 1980 Sister Gertrude Morgan was an active member of the Baptist Church since her childhood days in Lafayette, Alabama. ... Sister Gertrude Morgan preached in Georgia and Alabama and eventually settled in New Orleans when she became the recipient of another divine order that told her she "was married to the lamb, Christ". ... Sister Gertrude Morgan founded an orphanage in New Orleans, which was later destroyed in 1965 by Hurricane Betsy. ... By 1970, Sister Gertrude Morgan's paintings had received attention beyond its religious import and was incl...
There is much similarity between Gertrude and Ophelia in the play. ... Ophelia and Gertrude seem to be the same women at different stages in their lives. ... By disposition, Gertrude turns to the positive side of life and can't bear to face pain. ... When Hamlet and Gertrude meet, Hamlet says that she has dishonored his father. ... This is because Gertrude wants to avoid seeing Ophelia's death and mental breakdown as further proof of the evil caused by Gertrude's behavior, thus making her feel innocent. ...
Although, at times, some of these clues give the impression that Gertrude is guilty, I believe that she is actually innocent. ... Also, once Claudius began to react to what was happening on stage, Gertrude merely says, "How fares my lord?" ... The final clue to Gertrude's innocents was the scene right after Hamlet speaks with his mother. ... Right after this, Gertrude sees Claudius and when he asks how Hamlet is, Gertrude tells him that Hamlet is "Mad as the sea and wind," (Act 4, Scene 1, ligne 7). ... For most of the play you can go back and forth debating whether or not Gertrude i...
Gertrude Stein was the youngest child of 5 children, born on February 3, 1878. ... This "27 Rue de Fleurus would be the first real and permanent home for Leo and Gertrude since Oakland in 1891, and one that Gertrude would remain in for almost 40 years.""... Toklas met Gertrude Stein met she heard heard bells ring ringing ringing bells. ... As Gertrude writes in The Autobiography of Alice B. ... Alice and Gertrude were not only lovers, but a perfect pair. ...
Gertrude is, more so than any other character in Hamlet, the antithesis of her son. ... This is why Gertrude was so quick to remarry back into royalty. ... Gertrude was also sleeping with Claudius, the man who murdered his father. This then brings in the question; did Gertrude commit adultery before Hamlet the king was murdered? ... This scene in the closet with Hamlet is when Gertrude realises her mistake, and the love she has for Hamlet. ...
Gertrude's character in the first half of the play seems to be aweak character.though it has itys importance, as her actions play an important part in the life of her son, hamlet. gertrude, in the first half on the play, is a woman who seems to have no opinion of her own and is less intelligent than a queen is expected to be.for example her hasty marriage after her husband, king hamlet's death, and that also with her husband's brother, turns her own son against her and she loses her respect as a mother in the eyes of hamlet.if she would have been intelligent, she would not ha...
