Gertrude is the mother of Hamlet, the protagonist of William Shakespeare's tragedy of the same name. She is a powerful figure in the play, and her relationship with Hamlet is somewhat complex. Gertrude is a queen, the widow of King Hamlet, and the mother of Prince Hamlet. She is also the wife of Claudius, the King of Denmark and Hamlet's uncle. Gertrude is a central figure in the play, and her actions and motivations are often ambiguous and controversial.