# Queen Gertrude — Hamlet character guide

> Queen Gertrude in Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Queen, Queen Hamlet, Queen O, Queen O Hamlet, Queen Good Hamlet, Queen Alack, Queen Drown'd, sweet Hamlet

**First appearance:** 0001-act-i

## Snapshot

Denmark's queen, twice married to kings, who loves her son and her comfort and cannot see how either has been purchased.

## Who they are

Gertrude moves through Elsinore as its gracious center, urging Hamlet back to his 'wonted way' and trusting her new husband's judgment on everything. When Hamlet finally turns on her, she discovers she cannot answer the charges he hurls, only feel them land. Her divided loyalty between son and husband makes her the quiet pressure point in every scene she enters, and her blindness is as consequential as anyone's scheming.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Urges Hamlet to cast off his mourning and accept the new marriage.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Echoes Claudius's welcome to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and asks them to visit Hamlet.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Briefly appears; agrees to leave Hamlet and Ophelia alone; hopes Ophelia's beauty will cure Hamlet's madness.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv)

Confronted by Hamlet, sees the black spots in her soul, cannot see the Ghost, and agrees to keep Hamlet's secret.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Reports Hamlet's killing of Polonius and defends his remorse.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v)

Expresses sorrow over Ophelia's state and tries to pacify Laertes.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vii)

Brings news of Ophelia's drowning, describing it in poetic detail.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Scatters flowers on Ophelia's grave and expresses her wish that Ophelia had married Hamlet.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Drinks from the poisoned cup intended for Hamlet; dies.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/characters/gertrude
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/characters