I was just discussing this with a friend yesterday. My opinion is a combination of some of the others stated here. I think once Gertrude talked to Hamlet (after Polonius' death) that she started to go a little nutters, too. She was disgusted with herself, as evidenced by her line to him about seeing into her soul. So when Claudius said not to drink, I think she suspected what he had done, but 1) wanted to protect her son (she kept the cup after drinking, probably thinking that she could keep it from Hamlet until she died and it was obvious that the drink had been poisoned), and 2) was looking for an out - like Ophelia - and this way could commit suicide without committing suicide, if that makes any sense. She was murdered, but she chose to let it happen.
Then again, I could just be blowing smoke. Someone should see if Penny Downie has talked about this in any interviews...
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Was today really necessary?
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