Gertrude's Treatment Of Women In Hamlet

Actress Loretta Young once said “Love isn't something you find. Love is something that finds you”. The relationship between Claudius and Queen Gertrude in William Shakespeare’s tragedy “The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, is anything but love. Rather, it is clear throughout the play that their marriage is not even platonic but strictly political. Evidence of this is strewn throughout the play as Gertrude reveals that she regrets the marriage, Claudius shows no consideration for his wife, and lastly, the promptness of their marriage proves that their marriage was rushed. All of these factors hint at the fact that love is not the main intent of the union. Hamlet is extremely upset with his mother for marrying Claudius, and so soon after his father’s funeral at that. After the play within the play, while Claudius is upset, Gertrude calls Hamlet up into her room. While the two of them are arguing, Hamlet asks Gertrude to look inside her soul. Gertrude says “Oh speak to me no more!/ These words like daggers enter in my ears./ No more, sweet Hamlet!” (3.4.107-109), proving that Gertrude regrets the marriage or at the very least has
The natural reaction of a loving husband is “We are both in danger because he wanted to kill me and you were with him while he was mad”. But instead, Claudius says that he is in great danger, considering that Hamlet wants to kill him instead. Claudius shows no concern that his wife is in immediate danger and decides to worry about himself. Throughout the entire confrontation, Claudius does not even consider consoling Gertrude or asking if she is alright. While Claudius does mention that Hamlet is a threat to everyone, this is more of a generalized statement. It is crucial to note that this is the only time in the play where Claudius and Gertrude are alone. This confrontation shows that Claudius has no love for Gertrude and most likely only marries for political