is wholly ignorant of Claudius's plot against her first husband and equally oblivious of Hamlet's protectively possessive feelings towards her'. Gertrude on the surface can be perceived as women with no morality or conscience as she remarried before the Old King was even 'two months dead'. We know that in Shakespeare's time to marry your brother's widow was seen as morally wrong and indecent, and we see from the beginning of the play that Hamlet is clearly disturbed by his mother's welcoming of Claudius into her 'incestuous sheets'. One must only question if she is aware of Hamlet's feelings? If so, the reader would have no problem believing Gertrude is self indulgent and selfish; if not she comes across as a kindly but slow-witted and thoughtless character. She rather tactlessly questions why Hamlet still 'seems' sad and doesn't understand why he remains in mourning still wearing black whilst the rest of the court dresses festively.
             The motif of incest runs throughout the play most obviously shown in Gertrude and Claudius's relationship, the former brother-in-law married to his former sister-in-law. However Hamlet's potent fascination with Gertrude's sex life and his preoccupation with her in general could lead to wider interpretations of incestuous desire. He is clearly besotted and over run by emotions towards his mother. A psychoanalytical critic might interpret this in terms of an Oedipus's complex, a sexual desire for his mother. As Claudius 'usurped' his father's place so has replaced his father as the man that must die. However it is important to note he finally kills Claudius for revenge rather then to sleep with Gertrude
             ...