Why does Gertrude wear her rue with a difference?

Answer 1

In Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Gertrude mentions wearing her rue "with a difference" to signify her complex feelings of remorse and guilt over her actions, particularly her hasty marriage to Claudius following King Hamlet's death. Rue is traditionally associated with repentance, and by wearing it "with a difference," she acknowledges her sorrow while also suggesting that her grief and moral conflict are unique to her circumstances, highlighting her awareness of the consequences of her choices. This phrase reflects the duality of her character, torn between loyalty to her deceased husband and her current allegiance to Claudius.