Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Hamlet's Mother
Author(s): Baldwin Maxwell
Source: Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Spring, 1964), pp. 235-246
Published by: Folger Shakespeare Library in association with George Washington University
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2867894 .
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Hamlet'sMother
BALDWIN MAXWELL
So toseduce!-wontohisshameful lust
The willofmymostseeming-virtuous queen....
Butvirtue, as itneverwillbemoved,
Thoughlewdness courtitin theshapeofheaven,
So lust,thoughtoa radiant angellinked,
Willsateitself bed
in a celestial
Andpreyon garbage.
Surelywe arenotnow likelyto attribute Gertrude'squietnessduringherearlier
appearanceeitherto remorsefor her o'erhastymarriageor to an awareness
thatherformerhusbandwas to herpresentas "Hyperionto a satyr".
But, one may ask, is the Ghost a whollydisinterestedwitness?Are we to
accepteverything he relates?Does he reallyknow whereofhe speaks? To the
accuracyof his knowledgeof the presentand the future,I mustreturnlater,
but I thinkit can hardlybe contestedthatwe are to assumethathe has, from
his vantage point beyond the grave, learned specificallyall that concerned
his murder.He was asleep when the poison was pouredinto his ear, and the
dumb-showof the play-within-the-play-though that at best is only Hamlet's
interpretationof what the Ghosthad revealed-doesnot show him as awaken-
ing beforehe died. Yet, be it noted,the Ghostrevealsnot onlythe identityof
themurdererand the,instanteffectwhichthe poisonhad upon him but,even
moreremarkable, the verypoisonused-the "juice of cursedhebona".Further,
confirms
the King's reactionto the play-within-the-play the Ghost'saccountof
the murderin everydetail.Must we not assume,therefore, that everyother
revelationof thepastwhichtheGhostgives is equallyaccurate:thatClaudius,
Withwitchcraft of his wit,withtraitorous
gifts
. . . wontohisshameful lust
The willof[the]mostseeming-virtuous queen.
Miss Heilbrun,who thinksGertrudehad notbeen Claudius' mistress, denies
of his wit. The
thatClaudius had won her by the witchcraft real reasonGer-
trude had enteredupon her hastysecond marriage,Miss Heilbrun claimed,
was givenbytheGhostlaterin thesamespeech:
Butvirtue,as itneverwillbe moved,
Thoughlewdness courtit in theshapeofheaven,
So lust,though toa radiant angellinked,
Willsateitselfin a celestial
bed
Andpreyon garbage.
But if we acceptas trueone partof theGhost'sspeech,mustwe not acceptthe
otheralso? And do not the last threelinesquoted above suggesta violationof
the marriagevows? That theywere intendedto do so is evidencedby the
Ghost'shavingprotested in thesamespeech,in linesimmediately preceding,that
his
... lovewasofthatdignity
That it wenthandin hand evenwiththevow
I madetoherinmarriage;
and that Hamlet understoodthe Ghost's words as indicatingGertrude's
is shownbyhischargingherin theClosetScenewith
adultery
HAMErS MOTHER 239
Suchanact
Thatblurs
thegraceandblushofmodesty,
... makesmarriage
vows
Asfalse
asdicers'
oaths.
So much,then,do we learnof Gertrude in ActI. On theselinesmustbe
basedtheoriginalimpression Shakespearewishedto giveus. It is interesting
and,I suspect,significantthata verylargepartofwhatwe haveso farlearned
ofGertrude andClaudiusrepresents modification orelaborationbyShakespeare
ofwhatis foundin Belleforest's account.There,ofcourse, Gertrude is neither
weaknorneutral. Although sheis notsaidtohaveparticipated in planning the
murder ofherhusband, shewasan accomplice afterthemurder, forshedid not
denyherlover'sclaimthatitwasin defence ofherthathe hadslainhisbrother.
Where,askedBelleforest, wouldone find"a morewickedand boldwoman?"
Sucha questionwouldneverbe askedbyonewriting oftheGertrude of the
play.Her character Shakespeare has decidedly softened,eventhoughin the
playsheappearsguilty on everycountcitedbyBelleforest exceptthatofgiving
support to a falseaccountof herhusband's slaying.Shakespeare has softened
hercharacter notonlybymakingherignorant of themurderofherhusband
butbyelaborating, in a waymosteffective uponthestage,thatartful craftof
Claudiusas reported in Belleforest's
account.Therethemurderer "covered his
boldnesseandwickedpractise withso greatsubtiltie andpolicie,and underthe
vaileofmeeresimplicitie ... thathissinnefoundexcuseamongthecommon
people,and of the nobilitiewas esteemed forjustice".Claudius'persuasive
cunning is furthersuggested byBelleforest's
observing thatGertrude,"as soone
as she oncegaveeareto [herhusband'sbrother], forgot boththerankeshe
helde... andthedutieofan honestwife".8 To portray thissmoothpersuasive-
nessand subtlecraftthedramatist introduced a brilliantdramatic touchfor
whichthereis no suggestion in Belleforest-the ingratiatingsmilingwhich
leadsHamlettodeclareClaudiusa "smiling damnedvillain", andtocryout:
Mytables-meet itisI setitdown
Thatonemaysmile, andsmile, andbe a villain.
AtleastI amsureitmaybesoinDenmark.
So muchforAct I. The Queen nextappearsin II. ii. Rosencrantz and
Guildensternhavebeensummoned to spyuponHamlet,and Gertrude's first
twospeeches merely
echoinfewerwordsthewelcome giventhembytheKing.
Withoneexception herfiveremaining speechesin thissceneareofonelineor
less,mostof themdesignedto breakand give a semblance of dialogueto
Polonius'artful
narration.
The oneexceptionis a speechoftwolinesin replyto
theKing'sreporting
toherthatPoloniusclaimstohavefound
Theheadandsource
ofallyourson'sdistemper.
The Queenreplies:
I doubt
itisnootherbutthemain,
His father's
death,and ouro'erhasty
marriage.
8 QuotedfromFurness,
Hamlet(Variorumed.), II, 93-94.
240 BALDWIN MAXWELL
I musttoEngland,
youknowthat?
Ger.Alack,
I hadforgot.
'Tissoconcluded
on.
No onehaseverquestioned Gertrude's
devotion to herson,although in urging
himearlierto "staywithus,go notto Wittenberg", shemayhavespokenthe
instructionsof Claudiusas well as her motherly affection.
It is impossible
thatby"I hadforgot" shecouldhavemeantotherthanthatthemanyunhappy
eventsoftheevening hadcrowded outofhermindtherealization thatHamlet
wastobe senttoEngland.ButtheKing'sdecision thathebe sentawayshehad
apparently acceptedwithoutprotestas one accustomed to accepting without
questionwhatothers decideforher.
In Belleforest's
accountthe Queen,althoughshe neverappearsafterthe
ClosetScene,is definitely
andactivelyan allyofherson,working in hisabsence
to facilitate
his revenge.In Shakespeare,althoughshe proteststo Hamlet:
Bethouassured,
ifwords bemadeofbreath,
Andbreathoflife,I havenolifetobreathe
Whatthouhastsaidtome,
and although she keepsherpromise, theQueenuttersnotone wordin con-
demnation ofthecrimes ofClaudiuswhichHamlethasrevealed toher,and in-
deedin theverynextscenegreetshimas "mineownlord".Neveris therean
in thelaterscenesthatherattitude
indication towardClaudiusor herrelations
withhimhavebeenalteredbywhatHamlethas toldher.True it is thatim-
mediately
following theClosetScenesheapparently
liestotheKingin an effort
toprotect
herson.Although Hamlethasconfessed toherthathe is "notin mad-
ness,Butmadincraft", sheassurestheKingthatHamletis
Madastheseaandwindwhenbothcontend
Whichisthemightier.
Inhislawless fit,
Behind
thearrashearing
something stir,
Whipsouthisrapier,cries'A rat,a rat!'
Andinthisbrainish
apprehensionkills
Theunseengoodoldman.
Andshereports
thatHamlethasgone
To drawapartthebodyhehathkilled;
O'erwhom hisvery likesomeore
madness,
Among a mineral
ofmetalsbase,
pure.'A weepsforwhatisdone.
Showsitself
One needhavelittlehesitation in concluding
thatGertrudeis herelyingin an
effort to renderHamlet'sact lessresponsible
and thereforemorepardonable.
The QueenhasnotseenHamletsincetheaudiencewitnessed theirparting,
and
Hamletwas surelynotweepingthen.But thoughtheQueenliesto helpher
son,itis important
toaddin anyassayofhercharacter thatit wasnotuponher
owninitiative thatshedoesso. Hereno morethanearlieris she actinginde-
pendently. Incapableofherself anycourseof action,sheis merely
determining
following thecoursewhichHamlethadsuggested toher.To herhelpless"What
shallI do?"Hamlethadreplied:
HAMLET'SMOTBIER 243
TLen,upontheKing'swelcomeentry, with"Alas,lookhere,mylord",the
Queenturnstheunpleasant overto himand retires
situation intosilenceuntil
Her unwillingness
afterOpheliahas departed. to see Opheliaand herinability
toexpressanywordsofcomfort orsympathymay,as I havesaid,be duein part
to herbeing,at themoment, tooheavilyoppressedbyherowngriefsand her
244 BALDWIN MAXWELL
Gertrude
own senseof guilt.As Opheliaenters, in an asidetheonly
offers
theClosetScene:
ofguiltshemakesafter
admission
is)
To mysicksoul(as sin'struenature
Eachtoyseemsprologue tosomegreatamiss.
isguilt,
jealousy
Sofullofartless
infearing
itself
Itspills tobespilt.
theQueenis tocryoutuponLaertes'mob
Beforetheendofthescene,however,
theKing:
threatening
Howcheerfully onthefalsetrailtheycry!
0, thisiscounter,
youfalseDanishdogsI
and,in orderto saveClaudius,is first to seizeLaertes'armand thento assure
himthatit wasnotClaudiuswhohad causedthedeathofhisfather. Having,
perhapsunconsciously, directedLaertes'hatredtowardsHamlet,sheoffers no
fullerexplanation and is silentfortheremaining ninetylinesof the scene.
Her extended silencehereis certainly notindicativeof remorse forherearlier
acts;it has been characteristic of herthroughout the play. In thissceneshe
revealsperhaps, as shereveals nowhere elsein theplay, thesensual sideof her
love forClaudius.Beforethesceneis halfoverhersenseof guilthas been
crowded outofhermind.She showsno repentance. UnliketheQueenin Belle-
forestor the Queen in the piratedfirstquarto,she has not alignedherself
on theside of herson.Now that.he has gone,she findsit easiersimplyto
continue thelifeshehad led beforehe had madehis dreadful Had
revelation.
Hamletremained in Denmark, hadhebeenathandtoremind herofherweak-
nessand to answerwhenever necessaryherquestion"WhatshallI do?" it is
possiblethathersenseofguiltmighthavepersisted, thatshemightevenhave
repented andchangedherwayoflife.Butwithout initiativeandindependence,
shecaninHamlet'sabsence withthecurrent.
onlydrift
Only twice,then,does Gertruderevealthe least remorse-inthe latter
partof theClosetSceneand in thesingleasideas sheawaitstheentrance of
themad Ophelia.Fromthattimeon, as earlierin theplay,heractionsand
speechesevinceno prickof conscience although theGhost,in his instructions
to Hamletin I. v, had impliedthatshewas to suffer theconsequence of her
sins.". .. Howsomeverthoupursuesthisact",the Ghosthad told his son,
norletthysoulcontrive
Taintnotthymind,
Againstthymotheraught.Leavehertoheaven
Andtothose thatinherbosom
thorns lodge
andsting
To prick her....
informed
The Ghostis, as I have noted,mostaccurately of the past.That
ghostswereoftenwell informed of thefutureis indicatedby Horatio'sbe-
theGhosttospeak
seeching
tothycountry's
Ifthouartprivy fate,
Whichhappily mayavoid.
foreknowing
ofthefuture
Butthatghostsmightbe ignorant of
and evenuncomprehending
is shownin The SpanishTragedyby therepeated
thepresent by
questioning
The GhostofKingHamlet
theplayunfold.
theGhostofAndreaas he watches
HAMET'S MOTHER 245
clearly hissontosweepto a swiftrevenge;
expects he doesnotunderstand the
delay;norsurelydid he expectsuchcomplete to engulftheentire
catastrophe
In spiteofhisexactknowledge
royalfamily. it wouldap-
ofthepast,therefore,
pearthattheGhost'sknowledge of theimmediatepresentand of thefuture
was fartoolimitedto warrant our acceptance
as testimonyof Gertrude's
re-
morsehismention of
. . . those thatinherbosom
thorns lodge
To prick andsting
her....
Indeed,ifonemay,without lifeand art,delveintothepastofchar-
confusing
actersin a drama,it maybe said thatKing Hamlethad everbut slenderly
knownhis wife.Createdin an heroicmould,he understood not themortal
frailties
whichmight leadhis"mostseeming-virtuous
queen"
todecline
Upona wretchwhosenatural werepoor
gifts
To those
of[his].
Justas he had,before learning beendeceived
ofhertransgressions, byhiswife's
seeming-virtue,so,afterlearning ofthem,he her
expected to be torturedbythe
stingsofconscience.He wasapparently twicedeceived.
Butto continue tracingtheQueen'spartin theplay.She appears, ofcourse,
in all of thelastthreescenes.She enterslatein IV. vii,aftertheKing and
Laerteshavecompleted theirplansforbringingaboutHamlet'sdeath,and in
herlongestspeechin the playannouncesOphelia'sdrowning. Her purpose
here, however, is that of a messenger;her speechthrows littlelighton her
character-and certainlyrevealsno awarenessofherownresponsibility forthe
younggirl'sdeath.
In V. i, the scenein thegraveyard, the Queen firstmentions in a single
her
speech thwarted hope that OpheliamighthavebeenHamlet'sbride,and
then,as Hamletand Laertesstruggle in the grave,she,in her remaining
speeches,follows-theleadofClaudius:
King:Pluckthemasunder.
Queen:Hamlet,Hamlet!
King:0, heismad,Laertes.
Queen:ForloveofGod,forbear
him.
Then:
Thisismere
madness;
Andthusa whilethefitwillworkon him.
Anonaspatientasthefemaledove...
Hissilence
willsitdrooping.
The Queen,ofcourse, doesnotknowofthetreachery byClaudiusand
plotted
Laertes.She mustby thesespeecheshave soughtto end thestruggle in the
graveandtolessenLaertes'resentment at Hamlet'sbehavior,
butit is noticeable
-and I thinkcharacteristic-that
in eachofherspeeches sheechoesorenlarges
uponideasjustexpressedbyClaudius.
sceneoftheplay,theQueenforthefirst
In V. ii,theconcluding time,I be-
lieve,actswithinitiative
and speaksforherself.
Justbeforethecourtentersto
246 BALDWIN NVAXWEJL