Who Gertrude is
Gertrude belongs to the Danish royal court at Elsinore, where her son Hamlet mourns his father. Her new husband, Claudius, wears the crown that Hamlet's father previously held. The court presents their marriage as a fresh beginning, but Hamlet feels surrounded by betrayal.
Gertrude and the others in the story
Gertrude's marriage connects Hamlet's family grief with his distrust of the royal court. Claudius is both her new husband and her son's uncle, making Hamlet's suspicions a family matter as well. A ghost resembling Hamlet's father accuses Claudius of murder and demands that Hamlet take revenge.
The accusation concerns Claudius, while Gertrude's marriage already deepens her son's grief and distrust. Hamlet struggles to establish his uncle's guilt, questioning the ghost's reliability and seeking evidence before acting.
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Who is Gertrude in Hamlet?
Gertrude is Hamlet's mother and the wife of Claudius, Denmark's reigning king.
How is Gertrude related to Claudius?
Gertrude marries Claudius, her son's uncle, soon after her previous husband's death.
Why does Gertrude's marriage upset Hamlet?
The marriage intensifies his grief for his father and his sense of betrayal at court.
