Relationships In Hamlet

Male/Female Relationships In Hamlet Hamlet is involved in intense emotional relationships with both Ophelia and Gertrude, the only two female characters in the play. While these relationships are for the most part very rocky and full of distrust, there is still hope for healthy relationships among men and women. The reasons for how these characters acted is understandable, and their reactions are quite typical. The relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude is one that has been torn apart by Hamlet's fathers death. Hamlet reacts to the death in a way that he sees most proper, which included wearing his true emotions on his sleeves and letting the world see his anguish and grief. However, Gertrude reacts very differently. She hides her
Still thinking of how to keep the country together she has two options of who should succeed the throne of Denmark. Either her son Hamlet or her brother in law Claudius. She knows her son is in a very delicate state with the death of his father and knows the pressure of leading a country on the brink of war would tear him apart and likely destroy the country. So out of love for her son and country she decides to marry Claudius in hope that he may take this burden off of her son and guide the country through this conflict. Hamlet on the other hand takes the news of his mothers decision to marry Claudius as any young man would and believes his mother to be dishonoring his father's good name and her decision to be out of lust. "O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourned longer- married with my uncle, My fathers brother, but no more like my
When Hamlet defeats Laertes in the first portion of the duel, Claudius fears Laertes will become unsuccessful in his assassination attempt. Therefore to provide and insurance on it he poisons a cup of wine and offers it to Hamlet in congratulation. Gertrude sensing something was not right took the cup of wine before Claudius was able to give it to Hamlet, and drank. This proved Gertrude's devotion and love for her son, knowing the cup was poisoned she willingly sacrificed herself so that her son may live. In the end it is no matter because Hamlet is killed anyway, however it had an even deeper significance. It could be seen that Gertrude's life was a waste seeing as Hamlet was killed anyway, however, it was because of her self sacrifice that Hamlet was finally able to have his vengeance on Claudius as his father had requested. It was because of this sacrifice that Hamlet was able to send Claudius to hell because he was in the middle of a terrible sin, a sin that ended up taking the life of three others. Gertrude had also finally discovered Claudius's wickedness when she sensed the cup was poisoned and in the attempt to save Hamlet's life she was also hoping to save the fate of her country in hope that Hamlet would kill Claudius. She loved her country so much that she would rather have it be ruled by a foreign leaders than let it