Once Gertrude starts saying, “Alas” it becomes her go to word. She used it in the previous scene with Hamlet and now the Alases keep on coming. Next up – “Alack” which is really just like “Alas” with a slight sound variation.
Gertrude’s right. For her troubles do come in battalions. Once the “alas” well has been tapped, it’s just going to stream Alas until the end of the play.
The Hamlet Project 