In the play by William Shakespeare, Gertrude portrays a Queen who some readers may assume a love and caring mother. However, Gertrude is a shallow mother who only thinks about herself and her loving, unexpected new husband, King Claudius. While reading Hamlet, as the reader focus on one character, the reader can examine why that character is significant in the play. Gertrude is significant to the play in many ways. If she was never put into the play, the reader would lack detail what's going on in the play. Especially toward her son Hamlet. She and Hamlet shared a negative relationship throughout the whole book. There were some parts in the play the reader starts to notice where their relationship stands. Even though Gertrude was a shallow witch who brought out her selfish side, she is a character that brought out one of the significance why she's in the play in the first place. .
The reader's perspective on Gertrude, was negative in the first few Acts. Gertrude's character made it seem like she didn't care for Hamlet and her only priority was King Claudius. Gertrude has a conversation with Hamlet stating, ". cast thy nighted color off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not forever with thy vailèd lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know'st 'tis common. All that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity" (Shakespeare, 35) The reader visualizes that she's a shallow mother who doesn't care for King Hamlet's death. It made it seem that she didn't love him as much as she does for King Claudius. If she truly loved King Hamlet why did she remarry so quickly? Two months has gone by and Hamlet was still grieving. By the time everything went chaotic with Hamlet accidentally killing Polonius, Ophelia and Laertes father, and Ophelia getting wacky ever since she found out her father died in Act 3 Scene 4 to Act 4 Scene 5, Gertrude is trying to push everybody to the side, especially Ophelia.