However, she is also the woman upon whom the most strict and rigid social expectations are enforced and for whom it is the most difficult to achieve the kind of autonomy for which she yearns. In fact, her most strict critic is her own son, Hamlet, who finds it utterly despicable that his mother pursues his own uncle for a romantic relationship after her husband's death. ... Interestingly, Gertrude herself has little to say in defense or explanation of her decision, which has left the interpretation of her motives and even her mental state up to the judgment of readers and literary critics...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate