In Act 4, Scene 7 of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Queen Gertrude delivers a poignant monologue informing Laertes of his sister Ophelia's tragic death.

Title of Monologue:

Queen Gertrude's Monologue from Act 4, Scene 7 of Hamlet

Synopsis:

Queen Gertrude recounts the circumstances leading to Ophelia's drowning, painting a vivid and melancholic picture of the young woman's final moments.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Prior to this monologue, King Claudius and Laertes have been conspiring to kill Hamlet as revenge for Polonius's death. Their plotting is interrupted by Gertrude's entrance, bringing the heartbreaking news of Ophelia's demise.

Original Text:

QUEEN

One woe doth tread upon another’s heel,

So fast they follow. Your sister’s drowned, Laertes.

LAERTES

Drowned! O, where?

QUEEN

There is a willow grows askant the brook

That shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream.

Therewith fantastic garlands did she make

Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,

That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,

But our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them.

There on the pendent boughs her crownet weeds

Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;

When down her weedy trophies and herself

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,

And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up;

Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds,

As one incapable of her own distress,

Or like a creature native and endued

Unto that element. But long it could not be

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay

To muddy death.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

QUEEN

One tragedy follows another so quickly.

Your sister has drowned, Laertes.

LAERTES

Drowned! Oh, where?

QUEEN

There's a willow tree that leans over the brook,

Its gray leaves reflected in the clear water.

There, she made whimsical garlands

Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples—

Flowers that uninhibited shepherds call by a vulgar name,

But our modest maidens refer to as "dead men's fingers."

While attempting to hang her wreaths

On the hanging branches, a jealous branch broke;

Down fell her floral trophies and she herself

Into the sorrowful brook. Her clothes spread wide,

And, like a mermaid, they briefly kept her afloat;

During which she sang snatches of old hymns,

As if unaware of her own peril,

Or like a creature native and adapted

To that watery environment. But it couldn't last long

Until her garments, heavy with water,

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious song

To a muddy death.

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

Askant: Askew or leaning.
Hoary: Gray or white with age.
Crowflowers: Possibly buttercups or wildflowers.
Long purples: Commonly identified as early purple orchids.
Liberal shepherds: Free-spirited or uninhibited shepherds.
Grosser name: A more vulgar or coarse name.
Cold maids: Modest or chaste maidens.
Dead men’s fingers: A colloquial name for the early purple orchid, referencing the appearance of its roots.
Pendent boughs: Hanging branches.
Crownet weeds: Garlands or wreaths made of wildflowers.
Envious sliver: A spiteful or malicious branch.
Weedy trophies: Floral decorations or garlands.
Lauds: Hymns or songs of praise.
Incapable of her own distress: Unaware or insensible to her own danger.
Endued unto that element: Adapted or suited to that environment.
Muddy death: Drowning in the murky water.

In Act 4, Scene 7 of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Queen Gertrude delivers a poignant monologue informing Laertes of his sister Ophelia's tragic death.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

Introduction of Tragedy: One woe doth tread upon another’s heel,
So fast they follow. Your sister’s drowned, Laertes.
Gertrude conveys to Laertes that misfortunes are occurring in quick succession, culminating in the drowning of his sister, Ophelia.
Laertes' Shock: Drowned! O, where?
Laertes reacts with shock and seeks details about Ophelia's death.
Setting the Scene: There is a willow grows askant the brook
That shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream.
Gertrude describes a willow tree leaning over the brook, its gray leaves reflected in the clear water, setting the scene of Ophelia's demise.
Ophelia's Garland-Making: Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
She recounts how Ophelia crafted whimsical garlands from various wildflowers.
Cultural References to Flowers: That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them.
Gertrude notes that uninhibited shepherds have a vulgar name for the "long purples," while modest maidens refer to them as "dead men’s fingers."
Accident Leading to Drowning: There on the pendent boughs her crownet weeds
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;
When down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook.
While attempting to hang her floral wreaths on the hanging branches, a spiteful branch broke, causing both Ophelia and her garlands to fall into the brook.
Initial Buoyancy: Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up;
Ophelia's garments initially spread out, keeping her afloat like a mermaid.
Singing Amidst Danger: Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds,
As one incapable of her own distress,
Or like a creature native and endued
Unto that element.
During this time, she sang fragments of old hymns, seemingly unaware of her peril, as if she belonged to the water.
Inevitable Drowning: But long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.
Eventually, her waterlogged clothes became too heavy, pulling her down from her singing to a tragic drowning.

Journey Keypoints:

Hook: Gertrude announces the rapid succession of tragedies, culminating in Ophelia's drowning.
Turning Point: She vividly describes the scene of Ophelia making garlands by the brook.
Climax: The account of Ophelia falling into the brook and initially floating while singing.
Resolution: The inevitability of her drowning as her garments become waterlogged.

Famous or Notable Actresses Who Have Played the Role:

Glenn Close: Portrayed Gertrude in Franco Zeffirelli's 1990 film adaptation of Hamlet, delivering a nuanced performance that highlighted the queen's complexity.
Julie Christie: Assumed the role in Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film version, offering a compelling interpretation of Gertrude's character.
Dame Judi Dench: Played Gertrude in a 1989 National Theatre production, bringing depth and gravitas to the role.

This monologue delves into themes of tragedy, innocence, and the fragility of life, providing rich material for performance and analysis.