Hamlet Family Quotes Page 4

Ophelia's funeral is a dramatic scene when Laertes leaps into Ophelia's grave so he can hold "her once more in [his] arms" (this happens right before he fights with Ophelia's ex-boyfriend about who loves Ophelia the most). Given Laertes' previous preoccupation with Ophelia's sexuality and his emotional response to her death, we can't help but notice the traces of incestuous desire.

This moment is fascinating. After Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine that Claudius has prepared for Hamlet (does she know it's poisoned?), she tenderly wipes the sweat from her son's brow. This is a rather motherly thing to do, especially if she drinks the wine in order to save her son's life. After all of Hamlet's accusations that Gertrude is a selfish mother, Hamlet finally gets the thing that he seems to want the most – a doting mom who will pay more attention to her son than she does her husband. (Notice the way Gertrude ignores/disobeys Claudius when he says "Gertrude, do not drink.")