Question

Read the dialogue from Act III of Hamlet. Hamlet: Now, mother, what’s the matter? Gertrude: Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Hamlet: Mother, you have my father much offended. The structure of these lines shows that Queen Gertrude is caught between her new husband and her son. Hamlet is observing conflict between his mother and father. Queen Gertrude feels Hamlet should disobey King Claudius. Hamlet is torn between his love for Claudius and his own father.

Answer 1

a.)Queen Gertrude is caught between her new husband and her son

Answer 2

The correct answer is Queen Gertrude is caught between her new husband and her son.

B is definitely incorrect because his father is dead so he cannot observe his conversation; C is incorrect because Gertrude believes Hamlet should blindly follow what Claudius has to say; D is incorrect because Hamlet hates Claudius.

This leaves us with sentence A - Gertrude has just lost her husband but she remarried immediately. Now, she is torn between her son whom she loves, and her new husband, who she feels she should obey.