How does Gertrude seek to shield Hamlet?

Answer 1

In Act 4, Scene 1 when Claudius asks Gertrude "How does Hamlet?" she tells him that he is as "Mad as the sea and wind", not telling him what Hamlet has admitted to her in the previous scene that he is actually "mad in craft" as opposed to actually mad, thereby protecting his plan. On top of that while she tells Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonious accidentally in the last scene, she does not tell him that Hamlet was openly disappointed that he had not killed Claudius. She also says that Hamlet "weeps for what is done" when in fact after murdering Polonious Hamlet said "Thou wretched, intruding fool, farewell. I took the for thy better."

Answer 2

The Ghost of King Hamlet saves the Queen from Hamlet's rage. During the first time when Hamlet speaks to the ghost, the ghost goes on to tell Hamlet of how he was murdered and that Hamlet must avenge his father. The ghost tells Hamlet to "Leave her to heaven, and to those thorns that in her bosom lodge..." He is telling Hamlet to leave his mother to heaven and to God and let her lay in her own guilt.

Also, in Act 3, Scene 4, after he has killed Polonius, Hamlet direct a violent rant against his mother, in which he tells her that she is living "In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, / Stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love / Over the nasty sty" (3.4.92-94). He is shouting or weeping, or perhaps doing both at once. At that point, the Ghost appears and tells Hamlet to help his mother, to "step between her and her fighting soul" (3.4.113).

Answer 3

She goes along with the story that he was crazy when he killed Polonius.

In some productions. she protects Hamlet when she recognizes that the cup which Claudius has prepared is poisoned. She then drinks the poisoned drink herself rather than let Hamlet get poisoned by it.

Answer 4

Hamlet has revealed to Gertrude that he is essentially mad in craft, not mad in actuality. She covers for him by saying that Hamlet has in madness slain Polonius, thus giving him an excuse she knows he is not entitled to.