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A Hamlet timeline - chronicle of events Claudius - planning my foul murder King Hamlet's funeral - where was Hamlet? Gertrude & Claudius - adultery or not? Horatio - Hamlet's friend? Horatio - is he passion's slave? Polonius - the evil that men do Ophelia's love? - did she love Hamlet? Ophelia closetted - Polonius on love O help xxx ....... - Olivier's version Ophelia's change - is Hamlet suspicious? Is Hamlet mad? - Polonius's opinion Hamlet kills Polonius - stabs the "Voice" Laertes on Ophelia - madness & death Ophelia's death - a recipe Hamlet's age - digging up the past Yorick - something rotting in Denmark |
Gertrude and Claudius The question of adultery Because Christianity is central to "Hamlet", Christian religious considerations must be applied to the Claudius/Gertrude adultery issue. The 7th commandment given to Moses says "Thou shalt not commit adultery." This implies that there must be a physical act. However, in the gospel of Matthew this issue is clarified by Jesus Christ:5:27. You have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit adultery.In terms of Christianity, therefore, there does not need to be a physical act to commit an adultery. One person alone can be an adulterer. I argue that Claudius and Gertrude did not have an adulterous relationship. It is only Claudius who has broken the Christian adultery commandment, having done so by his desire for Gertrude. The Ghost repeatedly accuses him quite specifically of adultery. The Ghost never once accuses Gertrude of adultery but only draws attention to her weakness of character in marrying Claudius, thus breaking her solemn vow that she would never remarry. Claudius said he murdered King Hamlet: (1) to get the crown, and (2) to get Gertrude. If Claudius and Gertrude were having an affair before the murder, then he already has her. Getting Gertrude would not be an issue and hardly worth mentioning! Also, if their affair has been going along before the murder why the need for their o'erhasty marriage after the murder? There would be no need to hurry. It is laughable to think they would rush into marriage. You will note that in the play "The Murder of Gonzago", Hamlet tells us "You shall see anon, how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife." Gonzago's wife is faithful to Gonzago, therefore the only way the murderer can get her for himself is to kill Gonzago. With Gonzago's crown and wealth he is able to induce her to break her vow never to remarry and to go with him. Applying this same situation to Claudius and Gertrude can produce a scenario without the need for Gertrude to commit adultery: Gertrude is faithful to King Hamlet. Claudius cannot effect a physical adulterous relationship with her. Claudius is driven by two motives: (1) to get the crown, and (2) to get Gertrude. After killing King Hamlet, Claudius approaches Gertrude and she falls for his inducements and agrees to marry him. He lusts for her but she refuses him — no sex before marriage — she lives by the Christian ethic. He wants her now! — he solves the problem — he marries her straight away in the o'erhasty marriage. |