The Weight of the Gertrudes of Literature: Motherhood, Desire, and the Oedipal Dynamic in D. H. Lawrence and Shakespeare

This article examines the roles and treatment of two notable figures named Gertrude, in the literary domain: one from the Morel family and the other from the Danish royal family, presenting a comparative analysis, aiming to reveal the source of conflict from Elizabethan Age to the Modern Period, from external to internal. Their commonalities i.e., the shared name and the portrayal of Oedipus complex, make them significant points of discussion, even though the two works are set in different eras. In comparing the two, the article analyses the significant influence of the setting that prompts the supposed actions taken by these characters, investigating all these pertinent areas in relation to the title, as well as the questionable decisions that create psychological ambiguity. At length, the paper highlights how Gertrude from Hamlet and Gertrude from Sons and Lovers serve as determining figures, challenging anticipated viewpoints.