SHOULD HAMLET'S MOM SUSPECT POISON, OR NOT?
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, do we want Gertrude to suspect poison in the "chalice" of wine into which Claudius drops a fine pearl? Or not?
Various critics (like J. Dover Wilson in his book, "What Happens in Hamlet") have claimed that an older tradition believes Queen Gertrude likes immediate gratification of her desires. To them, this explains in part why she marries her dead husband's brother so quickly (get me sex!), and why she drinks the cup of wine that Hamlet refuses (she claims she's thirsty), in spite of the urgings from Claudius for her not to do so.
In the Kenneth Branagh Hamlet and the Franco Zeffirelli Hamlet (starring Mel Gibson), Gertrude in both of these films seems unsuspecting of poison, and is later shocked at the realization of Claudius' foul play as the poison takes effect.
But in both the David Tennant version and the Ethan Hawke version, the queen clearly suspects poison, and clearly volunteers herself (and risks her life).
Does she do this to save her son's life in case Claudius has poisoned the drink? Or because, if Claudius has done so to kill her son, she doesn't want to live any more (suicide, like a Roman)? Or both?
How do you like your Gertrude?
#Shakespeare #Hamlet #Literature #Renaissance #EarlyModern #theatre #Drama #literarycriticism
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Links to a description of my book project:
On LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eJGBtqV
On this blog: https://pauladrianfried.blogspot.com/2017/05/hamlets-bible-my-book-project-im.html
[Originally posted around the week of 10/9/17 on LinkedIn]
Various critics (like J. Dover Wilson in his book, "What Happens in Hamlet") have claimed that an older tradition believes Queen Gertrude likes immediate gratification of her desires. To them, this explains in part why she marries her dead husband's brother so quickly (get me sex!), and why she drinks the cup of wine that Hamlet refuses (she claims she's thirsty), in spite of the urgings from Claudius for her not to do so.
In the Kenneth Branagh Hamlet and the Franco Zeffirelli Hamlet (starring Mel Gibson), Gertrude in both of these films seems unsuspecting of poison, and is later shocked at the realization of Claudius' foul play as the poison takes effect.
But in both the David Tennant version and the Ethan Hawke version, the queen clearly suspects poison, and clearly volunteers herself (and risks her life).
Does she do this to save her son's life in case Claudius has poisoned the drink? Or because, if Claudius has done so to kill her son, she doesn't want to live any more (suicide, like a Roman)? Or both?
How do you like your Gertrude?
#Shakespeare #Hamlet #Literature #Renaissance #EarlyModern #theatre #Drama #literarycriticism
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Links to a description of my book project:
On LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eJGBtqV
On this blog: https://pauladrianfried.blogspot.com/2017/05/hamlets-bible-my-book-project-im.html
[Originally posted around the week of 10/9/17 on LinkedIn]
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