Hamlet, Part 1: An Introduction to Elizabethan Theater — Quiz
Question 8 • British Literature and Composition
Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene ii. Gertrude: Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not for ever with thy vailed lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know’st ’tis common; all that live must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Hamlet: Ay, madam, it is common. Gertrude: If it be, Why seems it so particular with thee? Which is the best description of how Gertrude is characterized in this passage?
Answer
A
Gertrude is sympathetic of her son’s obvious distress and tries to comfort him.
B
Gertrude is saddened by her son’s unhappiness and tries to distract him.
C
Gertrude is critical of her son’s continued mourning and urges him to move on.
D
Gertrude is oblivious to her son’s grief and focuses on her own happiness.
Explanation
Gertrude reminds Hamlet that death is common to everyone and tells him not to keep looking for his father in the dust. Her question, “Why seems it so particular with thee?” suggests she thinks he is mourning too intensely or for too long. This makes her critical of his continued mourning and shows that she is urging him to move on.
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