Hamlet vs. Hamlet Part II

Another interesting difference between the Kenneth Branagh and David Tenant was the role of Gertrude, Hamlets mother. "Frailty thy name is woman" is one of Hamlets first descriptions of his mother. The character of Gertrude is the most questionable among the cast. Several things about her character are left open-ended for interpretation in the play. For example: Did she conspire to kill her husband? Did she cheat on her first husband? Did she betray Hamlet when she confides in him after her Act III scene with Hamlet? etc. 

The differences in interpretation are usually seen in Act III Scene IV  and Act V Scene II. In Act III Hamlet goes to his mothers bedroom and they discuss his behavior and hers. Hamlet end up telling his mother about Claudius' role in the Kings death and killing Polonius. Gertrude's reactions and actions in this scene determine whether you think she's a murdering adulteress or just a "frail" woman dependent on men to fulfill her. In the final scene of the play Gertrude drinks the poison meant for her son. Depending on your interpretation, This could be done of guilt or ignorance.


In Act III of the David Tenant version Gertrude was shocked at the Idea of Claudius killing her first husband. Yet she still had inconspicuous motives when she rats Hamlet out to his uncle. At the end of the play when Claudius tells her not to drink the cup she exchanges an all knowing look of discovery and disgust with her current husband before basically committing suicide. Gertrude is portrayed as innocent woman fallen to the passions of her heart when she finds out her lover is a murderer she feels guilty and kills herself. 


In the Kenneth Branagh version Gertrude is shown flirting with Claudius while her first husband is still alive. This gives the impression that she is unfaithful and therefore you wonder if she was a conspirator in the kings murder or just an adulterer. In the Act III scene you can't really tell what Gertrude is thinking. You can tell she's scared of and for her son based on her reactions, but she's never really on his side. Therefore when she rats him out to Polonius it is more consistent. In the final scene she's oblivious to the poisoned glass that causes her death. Never do you really see her feeling guilty so either she was in on the murder or never accepted it when Hamlet told her. Over all, I liked this interpretation the best. I felt it was most consistent with the test and plot.