Comparison of Shakespeare Characters Volumnia and Gertrude

The maternal power of Coriolanus' Volumnia and Hamlet's Gertrude is equally strong, yet very different in their fundamental nature. Both Volumnia and Gertrude undeniably have powerful bonds with their sons. The mothers dominate the two men's actions. While Volumnia is direct in her authority, Gertrude's control is indirect. Moreover, Volumnia is portrayed as a beast that gave birth to a creature bred to hunt, whereas Gertrude is portrayed as the nurturer in a more traditional mother role.

We are introduced to Volumnia's morbid pride in her first appearance of Coriolanus. Volumnia chastises her son's wife Virgilia, "If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where she would show most love. (1.3. 2-5). Volumnia's darkness is more vivid when she refuses Virgilia permission to leave with Valeria. Virgilia isn't allowed freedom from Volumnia's clutches until Volumnia illustrates the picture of a glorified Coriolanus on the battlefield. "Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum, See him pluck Aufidus down by th' hair; As children from a bear…" (1.3. 26-28).

Volumnia boasts further of her son, comparing their relationship to the relationship of Hecuba and her son Hector. "The breasts of Hecuba/ When she did suckles Hector looked not lovelier/ Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood/ At Grecian sword contemning." (1.2. 37-40). Volumnia taunts Virgilia with the continuing image of Coriolanus as a bred warrior.

In comparison, when we first see Gertrude in Hamlet, we see a mother who encourages her son to be noble and prideful in a civilized manner:

Good Hamlet, cast thy nightly colour off,
And let thine eye look like a friend of .
Do not for ever with they vailed lids
Seek for they noble father in the dust.
Thou know'st 'tis common - all that lives must die -
Passing through nature to eternity. (1.2 68-73)

Gertrude offers Hamlet comfort. She wants to understand her son's emotions and help him. She speaks to him with genuine soft spoken concern about his father. Gertrude wants Hamlet to understand the common nature of death, and she communicates this to Hamlet in a gentle manner.

Gertrude also has a strong sense of family. "Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet. / I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg." (1.2. 118-119). We see the responsibility that she feels for Hamlet. Even though Gertrude has quickly remarried after King Hamlet's death, she wants to comfort Hamlet during his grieving. Gertrude seems to want Hamlet under her wing. She wants to guide, protect, and nurture.

The advice that we see Volumnia give to her son in Coriolanus is strategic. Volumnia asserts herself by voicing, "I have a heart as little apt as yours, / But yet a brain that leads my use of anger / To better vantage." (3.2 27-39). This is a pivotal scene in which Volumnia goes to Coriolanus and intervenes in his actions to give her instruction. She wants him to be more flexible during his decision making. She readily gives her opinion on how he should put his pride away and act more humble in order to achieve his objective. She advises her son that in warfare, deception is completely acceptable. Coriolanus initially refuses to go to the people with "bonnet in hand" (3.2. 73). However Volumnia is very persuasive in her tactics to sway Coriolanus. "Do as thou list. / Thy valiantness was mine, thou sucked'st it from me, / But owe thy pride thyself." (3.2. 127-129). She looks at Coriolanus as her creation. She made him, and will continue to make him. She doesn't want him to shame her. Coriolanus does give in to his mother with an attitude of defeat, "Pray thee be content. / Mother, I am going to the market - place. / Chide me no more." 3.2. (130-132).

In Hamlet, the control that Gertrude has is an indirect power. Gertrude does not purposely dominate Hamlet's emotions or actions. Hamlet has had to deal with his father's death and his mother's quick marriage to Claudius. These events all take place in a short amount of time. We see Hamlet begin to fixate on avenging his father's death, but his underlying emotions are directed toward his mother.

With Hamlet's preoccupation of avenging his father's death, he also thinks about his mother's reaction to his plan. Would she believe that Claudius was guilty of killing King Hamlet? If he killed Claudius, could his mother forgive him

It is arguable as to why Hamlet put on his "antic disposition" (2.1. 173). He wanted his mother to know what Claudius was capable of, yet he couldn't just come out and accuse the new king of murder. Hamlet's outward emotions were critical to his relationship with Gertrude. She saw him as her dear son, whom she treated as a little boy sometimes. He didn't want to be a disappointment to Gertrude. Imagine the anxiety Hamlet felt at losing his mother's affection.

Volumnia's ultimate manipulation occurs when she takes Virgilia and young Martius to the Volsces' camp. She wants Coriolanus to spare Rome. She marches in with the family to Coriolanus' tent and puts the "acceptable deception" to use. Coriolanus knows what his mother is up to and does not want to talk with her. He does not have much of a choice. Volumnia plays on every heart string. When she falls to her knees in front of him, the decision is ultimately made. He doesn't want to dissatisfy his mother.

The final scene of the play Audifus convinces an angry mob that Coriolanus is a traitor. Coriolanus is killed and Audifus stands over his dead body saying, "Which to this hour bewail the injury, / Yet he shall have a noble memory." (5.6 153-154). This scene is Volumnia's victory. Her son is dead, yet he is still a hero. Coriolanus' short heroic warrior life was important to Volumnia. By Coriolanus dying, he becomes a legend.

In Hamlet, Gertrude tries to warn her son of Claudius' plan to poison him. When Gertrude drinks from the cup intended for Hamlet, her dying words are, "O my dear Hamlet, / The drink, the drink - I am poisoned." (5.2. 252-253). Gertrude tries to protect Hamlet in her dying breath

Both Volumnia and Gertrude are mothers who greatly influenced their sons. Gertrude wanted peace for Hamlet. She had genuine concern for him as his mother and protector. Volumnia's influence was self-serving. She wanted to give birth to a legend. By giving birth to Coriolanus and shaping him as her creation, she achieved an eternal name. She will be known as the mother of a great warrior. Hence she becomes immortal through his actions.