Did Gertrude know Claudius killed the king? In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably . In William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Queen Gertrude's culpability of King Hamlet's death has been the subject of much debate. Hamlet, being the loving and devoted son he was, and unable to accept Claudius as the leader to replace his father, accepted King Hamlets request. Gertrude's incestuous relationship with her brother-in-law plagues Hamlet more than his father's death. Our experts have done a research to get accurate and detailed answers for you. In summation there is no firm evidence that Polonius has a hand in Hamlets fathers murder. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet King Hamlet is murdered and the perpetrator is clearly defined, whereas one is not. His questioning of death is a result of his realization that suicide is much too easy of a solution to rid himself of the hardships of life. Hamlet is killed by Laertes poisoned sword but kills Claudius first by stabbing him and forcing him to drink poison. This is the strategy Vladimir penis never grew Ilyich Lenin taught us. Fact #1: He murdered Old King Hamlet by pouring poison in Old King Hamlet's ear while the guy was sleeping peacefully in his garden. With Gertrude playing the victim in Claudius, Hamlet has someone who will remain faithful to him. If she drinks on purpose, then she's the self-sacrificing mother Hamlet has always wanted her to be. Polonius manipulates Reynaldo by making him speak rumors to get information about Laertes' reputation there because he does not trust him. Hamlet advised her to tell Claudius that he is crazy and not tell him that she knows that he is faking it., I think Gertrude's deceit seems to drive the unfolding of the play. He acknowledges the toast with saying, "Good madam!" Claudius is a sneak who murdered and lied. We can see Claudius s remorse when he is talking to God and gives his monologue about his his murder. In reality, she is dying because she has just drank poison, but Claudius lies, telling Hamlet that she has fainted at the sight of blood. No, Hamlet did not sleep with his mother. . Hamlet dies on-stage, stabbed by Laertes with a blade poisoned by Claudius (it seems to be the poison that kills him, since he takes a while to die). Analysis #1. Why does the king say Gertrude do not drink? How does Claudius feel about the Kings death? Did Gertrude know the cup was poisoned? Even though Hamlet lashes out at her with all the rage he can muster, Gertrude remains faithful to him, protecting him fron the King. After King Hamlet's death he appeared as a ghost moving through the castle at one o'clock every morning. Later in the play the ghost is utilized to allow Hamlet and the audience knowledge of the vile murder of the king by Claudius, the kings own brother. But I'm not sure why Gertrude consented to marry Claudius. Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark and Hamlet's mother, is an exception. Manipulative individuals use their power to deceive others for social status or power. Queen Gertrude drinks the poison meant for Hamlet. Additionally, Gertrude disrespects Hamlet's personal struggle as he mourns for his father by siding with Claudius during conflicts between the two men. i personally believe that gertrude killed ophelia. Therefore Claudius says My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent(pg. Instead, Gertrude's love for Claudius creates a thrilling twist to the closet scene in which he is revealed as a murderer. The final Act, in which she is clearly aware that the wine is poisoned, sees her sacrifice herself to save Hamlet. Hamlet knows that murder is an offense which will send him to hell for eternity. Meeting with the Ghost makes Hamlet discard all of his previous postulations and putting his mind on the direction that the Ghost pointed to. Gertrude is killed by accidentally ingesting poison meant for Hamlet. Hamlet commits his murders in the open and suffers the pangs of his own conscience. Characters drop one after the other, poisoned, stabbed, and, in the case of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, executed, as the theme of revenge and justice reaches its conclusion in the moment when Hamlet finally kills Claudius. According to Hamlet, she scarcely mourned her husband's death before marrying Claudius. Claudius obviously coveted Gertrude. He is also indirectly involved in the deaths of his love Ophelia (drowning) and of his mother Gertrude (mistakenly poisoned by Claudius). After he kills his brother for the crown, he lies to Gertrude and marries her. Latest answer posted December 25 . 2) Claudius deceives Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlet's voyage to England, telling them that the lunatic Hamlet must leave Denmark in the interest of public safety. Why does Gertrude tell Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius? Did Gertrude drink the poison on purpose? Queen Gertrude is a woman observably guilty of poor judgment and weak character. Hamlet is asked, "If thou didst ever thy dear father love - oh God - Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." What does Claudius say about Gertrude? Prince Hamlet. There is evidence, in Gertrude's behaviour, and her words, that she did not know that Old Hamlet had been murdered by her new husband, Claudius. Claudius abused his power so much that all of the main characters dies. The second reason Claudius gives for not punishing Hamlet is his popularity with the people of Denmark. she didnt want hamlet to love someone that wasnt high class. Claudius makes a remarks on deceit that brings it back to woman "The harlot's cheek, beautied with plast'ring art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it" (3:1:41)., One of the most important characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet would be the mother of Hamlet himself, Gertrude. The Act I clearly show that Gertrudes and Hamlets mother-son relationship will never as it once was. Hamlet figures out that Claudius killed his father when the ghost of his father appears to him and tells him what happened. Hamlet falls in deep love in the book and Hamlet's mother marries Hamlet's uncle after his uncle kills the king with poison. Of course she does not know that the cup is poisoned, at all. In the letter he found an order for his death. Claudius and Laertes had conspired to murder Hamlet and the plot is executed by Laertes. The events narrated by Shakespeare in his tragedy Hamlet1 are the following: King Hamlet of Denmark dies suddenly and his brother Claudius a few weeks later marries the widow his sister-in-law Queen Gertrude according to the official explanation a snakebite was the cause of his death. Did Queen Gertrude know about the poison? He also refers to his mother as a spiritually, morally, and physically weak woman. She led a life of wealth and royalty, but could not find happiness in either. Who was an early proponent of functionalism. In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably to save her son from certain death. And although. Suspense is created when the audience is ignorant as to the purpose of the ghost. Why did Gertrude drink the poison? She obviously recognises tha. To begin, Gertrude is a victim because she is naive that eventually leads to her death. The ghost tells him that it was his. " The drink, the drink! In this production Gertrude is seemingly oblivious to the political and murderous manoeuvrings surrounding her. The ghost says nothing despite the valiant efforts on the parts of Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo. Once Hamlet takes even the slightest sip he will die. The next line is Claudius's; he says, "Gertrude do not drink." Remember that Claudius killed King Hamlet. In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Gertrude is Hamlet's mother and Queen of Denmark. It is difficult to imagine a more convoluted family dynamic or a more out-of-balance political situation but Claudius nevertheless preaches an, Claudius feels guilty about killing his brother. Hamlet's most famous comment about Gertrude is his furious condemnation of women in general: "Frailty, thy name is woman!" (I.ii.146). 305-306 "How does the queen?" Why does Hamlet want evidence to prove that Claudius killed King Hamlet? Gertrude's behavior and her words proved that she had no clue Claudius had murdered the Old king. Claudius's love for Gertrude may be sincere, but it also seems likely that he married her as a strategic move, to help him win the throne away from Hamlet after the death of the king. Hamlet is killed by Laertes poisoned sword but. This line could be delivered Gertrude is manipulated by Claudius because she doesn't know he murdered her husband. Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die" (I.ii.72-74). There's no evidence in the text to suggest that he did. In a subsequent scene, the dead King's spirit reveals to Hamlet that Claudius killed him by pouring poison into his ear while he slept in an orchard. Hamlet is a play of loss, of revenge and of insanity. Of course she does not know that the cup is poisoned, at all. Was kandi burruss ever on the masked singer. This is an act of betrayal on Gertrudes part, because she should be in mourning of the her first husbands death, but she immediately enters another marriage, with the kings brother. Thus by committing suicide he would simply be damning himself to hell which will also cause pain and suffering. Old Hamlet, the King of Denmark, is poisoned by his brother, Claudius. No, Hamlet did not sleep with his mother. Claudius abused his power so much that all of the main characters dies. In Shakespeares Hamlet Claudius kills King Hamlet Hamlets father so he can marry his wife and be crowned king of Denmark. King Claudius then convinces Laertes that Hamlet must die for accidentally killing Polonius. Claudius killed Hamlet for his crown (that is to become King of Denmark) to serve his own ambitious nature and in order to marry Gertrude the Queen of Denmark. Laertes: "Here I lie, Never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd: I can no more: the king, the king's to blame" (V.ii.308-310). Laertes selects the poisoned and sharpened rapier, and the two go at it. The king tells her not to drink, but she does so anyway. She was married to the murdered King Hamlet (represented by the Ghost in the play) and has subsequently wed Claudius, his brother. In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably to save her son from certain death. Gertrude shows as another prime example of a female that is submissive to the men in her life. The next day the two guards, Horatio, and young Hamlet were present to speak to the ghost of King Hamlet. The exact reason why Gertrude drinks from the poison cup is not clear based on the text. Instead, Gertrude's love for Claudius creates a thrilling twist to the closet scene in which he is revealed as a murderer. An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. "She swoons to see them bleed." Did Gertrude mean to drink the poison on purpose? This flinch provides a first glance by the reader, and, However, that is the fact that he has to face since his meeting with the Ghost. In the scuffle that follows, Hamlet forces an exchange of rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes. Sneaky Claudius crept up to King Hamlet and poured poison down his ear killing his brother and ensuring that he would take his place as king of Denmark. She knowingly drinks from the poisoned cup and then offers it to Hamlet so that Claudius's plan could not come to fruitionhe who has killed her husband would not also be responsible for the death of her son. King Claudius then convinces Laertes that Hamlet must die for accidentally killing Polonius. Gertrude thought Hamlet intended to kill her, and she knew he thought he was killing Claudius himself when he stabbed Polonius through the arras. Gertrude begins to deteriorate her relationship with her son when she betrays her former husband by marrying Claudius. She is also confused because she wants to love two people who dislike each other, Hamlet and Claudius, so she tries to satisfy both men. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the general scholarly consensus is no, the Queen does not know that Claudius killed Hamlet's father until Hamlet tells her. She says, "The Queene carowses to thy fortune Hamlet." . Hamlet hesitate killing Claudius because he is now Gertrudes husband and Hamlet may unconsciously feel a connection with Claudius as his stand by father. Hamlet wounds Laertes with his own poisoned blade, and Laertes then falls as well. This fact emphasizes Claudius. During the duel, Gertrude drinks poison and both Hamlet and Laertes are fatally wounded. However, this hasn't stopped successive generations of literary scholars from using Freud's concept of the Oedipus complex to put forward the notion of an incestuous relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude. Moreover, Hamlet displays signs of depression since his mother did not mourn her husbands death for very long before remarrying, ironically to her husbands murderer. If she drinks on purpose, then she's the self-sacrificing mother Hamlet. What method did King Claudius use to kill his brother King? When he learns that Hamlet is out to kill him he plans for Hamlets death. I believe that Gertrude tries to rationalize Hamlet's insanity and the downfall of Denmark as a blemish on Ophelia's own character. When he learns that Hamlet is out to kill him, he plans for Hamlets death. Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's wife is in question of being a plotter., Gertrude did not know about King Hamlet's murder, Gertrude Did Not Know About King Hamlet's Murder. After his mothers wedding Hamlet wants nothing more than just to die but to commit suicide is a sin in the eyes of God. If she drinks on purpose, then shes the self-sacrificing mother Hamlet has always wanted her to be. Gertrude believes Hamlet is mourning too long for his father because death is a part of life and everyone has suffered the loss of loved ones. It is the love he had for his father that brought him to his doom. When the ghost finally speaks, he tells Hamlet,, Usually in a playwright, one of the author's objectives is to keep the viewer or reader confused or disconcerted about certain events in the plot. what was lincolns primary goal immediately following the civil war? She says that he is as mad as the sea during a violent storm; she also tells Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius. Her name may derive from Hamlet then is told about a ghost that is haunting the kingdom Hamlet declares to see this ghost and ask it questions because they think it is his father. HAMLET. Rather than accept the ghosts word Hamlet sets out to observe Claudius and test his guilt. Firstly, William Shakespeare in his play demonstrates the use of manipulation though the main character Hamlet. And by killing Claudius Hamlet would be killing a part of himself. After witnessing Hamlet kill someone, Gertrude hurries to find Claudius. Her death spurs Hamlet, finally, to act. Clearly, there are indications that Gertrude has willingly poisoned herself in order to save her child from further tragedy. Did Claudius really love Gertrude? As Prince Hamlet says: "Foul deeds will rise, / Though all the earth . In Act 1, scene 5, Hamlet learned the truth from the ghost that his father was killed by Claudius. Remember that Claudius killed King Hamlet by pouring poison into his ear. He acknowledges the toast with saying, "Good madam!" The Ghost (of Old Hamlet) says "[t]he serpent that did sting [Hamlet's] father's life / Now wears his crown. Ophelia's death therefore was an accident to the extent that her madness made her blind to the danger that she was in. King Claudius, as seen in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, is both intelligent and well-spoken, two traits that, put together, complement his manipulative and dangerous nature. In the play Hamlet, there are many occurences of manipulation. Hamlet kills Polonius, father to Laertes and Ophelia, mistaking him for Claudius. Is Gertrude innocent? There is evidence, in Gertrudes behaviour, and her words, that she did not know that Old Hamlet had been murdered by her new husband, Claudius. In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably to save her son from certain death. Claudius on the other hand gets up and leaves. Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew. She is the mother/aunt of Hamlet, and she is also the wife/ex-sister-in-law of King Claudius. Claudius subverts his conscience and refuses to ask for divine forgiveness. Gertrude did not know about King Hamlet's murder. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the general scholarly consensus is no, the Queen does not know that Claudius killed Hamlet's father until Hamlet tells her. Toasting Hamlet, she drinks the poison, ensuring her eventual death. For obvious reasons, he does not tell her that he murdered his brother, her first husband, and Prince Hamlet's father. This shows that Claudius takes advantage of Hamlet's return alone as an opportunity for Laertes to kill him. She is the mother/aunt of Hamlet, and she is also the wife/ex-sister-in-law of King Claudius. that Claudius deserves death if he indeed did commit treason and kill King Hamlet. Instead, Gertrude's love for Claudius creates a thrilling twist to the closet scene in which he is revealed as a murderer. Why does Gertrude tell Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius? Now, we have got a complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! Did Gertrude drink the poison on purpose? Groped I to find out them; had my desire. Laertes, the brother of Ophelia (Hamlet's love interest), challenges Hamlet to a duel in order to avenge Polonius' death. "Good Madam." Strange, I think. She says that he is as mad as the sea during a violent storm; she also tells Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius. In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably to save her son from certain death. How does Hamlet deal with his fathers death? Does Gertrude know Claudius killed her husband? 2) Claudius deceives Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlet's voyage to England, telling them that the lunatic Hamlet must leave Denmark in the interest of public safety. Gertrude is a character in the Shakespearian play Hamlet. So, feel free to use this information and benefit from expert answers to the questions you are interested in! King Hamlet dies and his ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his death by killing Claudius. Gertrude is a character in the Shakespearian play Hamlet. 76) Hamlet disputes Gertrudes charge that he is being hypocritical, "Seems, madam? Hamlet believed Gertrude loved his father dearly, but the quick marriage caused Hamlet to wonder if his mother lied to both him and his father for all their lives. Gertrude is continuously selfish throughout the play but, her selfishness began with her marriage to Claudius but two months dead(I,ii,138), of her former husband King Hamlet. Does Gertrude know Claudius killed her . "The Queene carowses to thy fortune Hamlet." For this (or these) Gertrud's words, Hamlet replies, "Good, Madam". The ethical concerns of Hamlet are obvious when the queen tells Hamlet: "If it be, why seems it so particular with thee?" There is a moment when Claudius could have stopped her, but his plot to . Answer (1 of 2): I don't know what the situation was in Denmark, but in some societies it was a man's duty to marry his deceased brother's widow and take care of her. No, Gertrude does not tell Claudius the entire truth about what happened between her and Hamlet. In some cases, a possible character is suspected of the crime and nothing more. In Act 1, scene 5, Hamlet learns of his fathers murder, from the ghost ~ in the guise of old Hamlet. However Polonius does conspire to spy on Hamlet so in that sense he could be labeled a co-conspirator. In a subsequent scene, the dead King's spirit reveals to Hamlet that Claudius killed him by pouring poison into his ear while he slept in an orchard. . Ophelia's death therefore was an accident to the extent that her madness made her blind to the danger that she was in. Gertrude married Claudius two months after Hamlet Sr. was murdered, which makes Hamlet Jr. question his childhood its validity. This is an exchange between Hamlet and Claudius after the queen has fallen. By the end of the tragedy, Hamlet has caused the deaths of Polonius, Laertes, Claudius, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern , two acquaintances of his from childhood. As kill a king and marry with his brother (http://shakespeare.mit.edu/hamlet/full.html. The next line is Claudius's; he says, "Gertrude do not drink." He wants her to think on her original husband, Hamlet's father, and compare him to the piece of trash she has now ventured into the taboo by marrying. In fact though, it is his conscience that makes Claudius such a complex villain. He accuses her of not being able to see the great sin right in front of her nose. You just studied 121 terms! Why Did Claudius Kill King Hamlet? She unravels her thoughts and emotion mainly in Act 3 of the play where she begins to understand the measures Claudius took to obtain the throne., Hamlets mother Gertrude betrays her first husband, the first king of Denmark. Hamlet kills Polonius, father to Laertes and Ophelia, mistaking him for Claudius. Gertrude's love and obedience toward Claudius are shown throughout the play when she relentlessly stands by, supports, and obeys all of his requests. The ghost told Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius, his brother, who had been sworn in as the new king and married his wife, Hamlets mother, Gertrude. Why did Claudius marry Gertrude? King Hamlet the princes father was asleep in his garden when Claudius crept up and poured poison in his ear. Apparently Claudius snuck into the garden one day while Hamlets father was sleeping there and killed, 2.133). How tall should a bluebird house pole be? She unknowingly adds fuel to the flame that is Hamlets detestation for the marriage. Depending on the way the plan was developed in the plot the viewer may have to stop and ask themselves; who was involved; who was killed or framed; what events actually transpired; and what events happened after the murder. Of course she does not know that the cup is poisoned, at all. #3 she This is what she withholds from her husband. What evidence is there that Gertrude is unaware that Claudius murdered Hamlet Sr? Who dies by accidentally drinking poison in Hamlet? Now wears his crown.". By the end of the tragedy Hamlet has caused the deaths of Polonius Laertes. However, this hasn't stopped successive generations of literary scholars from using Freud's concept of the Oedipus complex to put forward the notion of an incestuous relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude. The viewer/reader is always trying to understand the events that have just recently taken place, or events that will take place in the play. When Claudius offers Hamlet the poisoned goblet of wine, Hamlet refuses, and Gertrude picks up the cup instead. Claudius dies and Hamlet dies immediately after achieving his revenge. When asked what she thinks by Hamlet she says, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." (3.2.223). Claudius convinces Laertes to put poison on the tip of his sword to cut Hamlet in the duel. Only Claudius feels guilt and shame. death. The potion was, how to find domain and range of a piecewise function. Did Queen Gertrude know about the poison? In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably to save her son from certain death. This comment is as much indicative of Hamlet's agonized state of mind as of anything else, but to a great extent Gertrude does seem morally frail. Did Hamlet sleep with his mother? Why did Gertrude drink the poison? Approved by eNotes Editorial Team. (27) Here begins Hamlet's quest to avenge his father by laying ruin to King Claudius. 2.133). When Claudius offers Hamlet the poisoned goblet of wine, Hamlet refuses, and Gertrude picks up the cup instead. His mother, Gertrude epitomizes frailty or weakness. Laertes succeeds in wounding Hamlet though Hamlet does not die of the poison immediately. She says, "The Queene carowses to thy fortune Hamlet." . Rather than defending Hamlet's position, Gertrude tells him to "not forever with thy vailed lids seek for thy noble father in the dust. Hamlet sees the ghost of his father. Schmucker did not die immediately, but he could no longer recover his mind he did not swiss navy male enhancement pills eat anything and only did some unconscious movements. This illustrates that Hamlet's trust and respect for Gertrude is deteriorating as a result of the hasty marriage. He accuses her of not being able to see the great sin right in front of her nose. Terms in this set (3) How are Death and Claudius similar? He also tells Laertes that he will put poison on the end of Laertess sword so that even if he just lightly scratches Hamlet Hamlet will die. Claudius kills his brother mainly because of jealousy the crown the queen and a hatred of his brother. This implies that she is just about ready to take a drink herself and she makes a sharp, potentially brash reply when she responds, "I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me." As the ghost says in Act I scene v Claudius has poisoned "the whole ear of Denmark" with his words (I.v.36). 3 that he committed this crime because he wanted the crown he wanted Gertrude and because he was ambitious. How is gertrude frail? In William Shakespeares Hamlet, Queen Gertrudes culpability of King Hamlets death has been the subject of much debate. Shakespeare continually illustrates that words can function as poison in the ear as well. He also apparently hurries her into the marriage, before she has had time to grieve or make sense of what is going on. Sometimes in cases like this, the characters that are not guilty of the crime are mistaken for those who actually committed the crime, and vice versa. In the play Hamlet, there are many occurences of manipulation. Claudius manipulates Gertrude, his wife, by not being completely (or even minimally) honest with her. Q: They all deserve to die. Discuss. Why does Claudius let Gertrude drink the poison? What Political Party Was Dr Martin Luther King Jr, How Many Kids Does Martin Luther King Jr.Have. In Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Hamlet, Gertrude drinks knowingly, presumably to save her son from certain death. Fact #1: He murdered Old King Hamlet by pouring poison in Old King Hamlet's ear while the guy was sleeping peacefully in his garden. First of all, why does Gertrude take up a drink? By the end of the tragedy Hamlet has caused the deaths of Polonius Laertes Claudius and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern two acquaintances of his from childhood. Hamlet dies on-stage stabbed by Laertes with a blade poisoned by Claudius (it seems to be the poison that kills him since he takes a while to die). Claudiuss emotional reaction convinces Hamlet of his guilt setting in motion the climax of the play in which Hamlet kills Claudius as well as Hamlets death. After this encounter, young Hamlet refused to tell the guardsman and Horatio what happened but made it known that he would act like a, Hamlet is cursed by the ghost of his father coming back and haunt him by dictating Hamlet to avenge his horrible murder. To mine own room . Hamlet is winning the match when Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup that Claudius has prepared for Hamlet. Gertrude displays a lack of respect for Hamlet's grieving process by telling him to move on with his life and, Throughout Hamlet, many characters develop showing their change of mind and emotions. What makes Claudius a villain is that he is wrong and Hamlet is right. Queen Gertrude played a devious and shameful role, which left many questioning her dignity throughout the play. When King Claudius views it, he feels a sudden pang of conscience and abruptly leaves. This is an exchange between Hamlet and Claudius after the queen has fallen. Gertrude reveals no guilt in her marriage with Claudius after the recent murder of her husband, and Hamlet begins to show signs of jealousy towards Claudius. 2 Did Queen Gertrude know about the poison? Her decisions, based largely on desire, lead to her death and the casualty of others as well. If she drinks on purpose, then she's the self-sacrificing mother Hamlet has always wanted her to be. If Gertrude knew about the, makes the metaphysics of the play dark. Does Gertrude know that Claudius killed Hamlet's father? . To be certain of the King's guilt, Hamlet puts on a play bearing a resemblance to how the ghost described the murder. Hamlet, being still depressed about his fathers death was further upset and felt betrayed by his mother when she quickly married Claudius. King Claudius then convinces Laertes that Hamlet must die for accidentally killing Polonius. First of all, why does Gertrude take up a drink? Act 5-2. If she drinks on purpose, then she's the self-sacrificing mother Hamlet has always wanted her to be. However, this hasn't stopped successive generations of literary scholars from using Freud's concept of the Oedipus complex to put forward the notion of an incestuous relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude.