Extra Credit Blog Post

This song by Sugarcult is the the perfect manifestation of all the characteristics of Gertrude. Throughout the play she is shown as a vapid, go-with-the-flow kind of woman who seems to be nothing without a man.

Lyrics:
pretty girl is suffering while he confesses everything.
pretty soon she'll figure out what his intentions were about.
and that's what you get for falling again;
you can never get him out of your head.
and that's what you get for falling again;
you can never get him out of your head.

it's the way that he makes you feel.
it's the way that he kisses you.
it's the way that he makes you fall in love.

she's beautiful as usual with bruises on her ego and
the killer instinct tells her to be aware of evil men.
and that's what you get for falling again;
you can never get him out of your head.
and that's what you get for falling again;
you can never get him out of your head.

it's the way that he makes you feel.
it's the way that he kisses you.
it's the way that he makes you fall in love. [2x]

pretty girl... pretty girl...

pretty girl is suffering while he confesses everything.
pretty soon she'll figure out: you can never get him out of your head.

it's the way that he makes you cry.
it's the way that he's in your mind.
it's the way that he makes you fall in love.
it's the way that he makes you feel.
it's the way that he kisses you.
it's the way that he makes you fall in love...

She is completely aware of the reasons for her son's gloom, no other than his father's death, and our o'er hasty marriage" (2.2.56-57). And when told that Hamlet is having trouble sleeping and wanders at night in the lobby, she simply replies, "so he does indeed" (2.2.160). Gertrude allows herself to submit to her biological and mental desires for a man in her life at the risk of losing her son. Gertrude surrenders all logic without even know what Claudius's "intentions were about," like the "pretty girl" in the song. Further, Gertrude responds to King Claudius's requests with, "I shall obey you" (3.1.37) and indicates an inflated respect for him by announcing, "the king rises" (3.2.226). Although a queen and a woman with great power, she is more concerned with pleasing her new husband and being a good, obedient wife, perhaps blinded by the security that Claudius brings to the relationship. Further, she reprimands her own son on behalf of Claudius, "Hamlet, thous hast thy father much offended" (3.4.9). This is another example of Gertrude surrendering her relationship with Hamlet and taking Claudius's side. It is a common occurrence that Claudius commands Gertrude to do something or go somewhere, usually with a simple, "come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends" (4.1.37). This illustrates Claudius's inclination to order Gertrude around and take charge of what the couple does, and what kind of front they put on. Gertrude has simply no say in pressing matters. As Claudius and Laertes have secret conversations, for example when Claudius promises, "we shall jointly labour with your soul/ to give it due content" (5.1.201-202), Gertrude is left out of the loop. And as Claudius's plans become increasingly darker, Gertrude finds herself suffering as a cause of his doing. Even as her and Hamlet reconcile and she lovingly, "rubs [his] brows," (5.2.252) she is unaware of Claudius's plot to kill her own son. They are beginning to be on better terms and Claudius is plotting something that will ruin their relationship once again. The one time that Gertrude responds to Claudius with, "I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me" (5.2.255), she drinks from the cup of poison. It is quite interesting that Claudius does not do more to stop his "beloved" wife from meeting her death. And as she figures out, "what his intentions were about," she finds that, "[she is] poision'd" (5.2.274). Gertrude was just a figurehead, a pretty girl with no real power. A pretty girl latched onto a man whose intentions were as poisoned as her drink. And "that's what [she gets] for falling again."