hat character is William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay Example
hat character is William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay Example

hat character is William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Since the dawn of human civilization, psychology has been an inherent part of our existence. The cause and effect responses ensuing from interactions between individuals can significantly impact both parties. Studying these reactions through a psychological lens provides insight into how people deal with them. This exploration dates back to the 1800s, with eminent psychologists like Dr. Sigmund Freud playing a crucial role.

This article delves into the utilization of one of Dr. Freud's philosophies to dissect the renowned figure, Hamlet, from William Shakespeare's English literature. Among Freud's fascinating theories is the Oedipus complex - alternatively known as Oedipal. This concept emanates from a persona in a Greek drama penned by Sophocles and portrays the historical Greek monarch Oedipus who tragically murdered his father and wedded his adored mother, with whom he shared intense a

...

ffection.

The stage of Oedipus, succeeding the oral and anal phases and preceding adolescence, was identified by Freud as one of the psychosexual stages in a child's growth. If an individual failed to entirely reconcile with a specific stage during their evolution, they would either consciously or unconsciously aim to fulfill it at some later life phase. In this particular phase, a son had an intense craving for his mother's love which led him to pursue her affection through different gestures like caressing, kissing, hugging or merely seeking feelings of love and reliance.

The reference to affection here primarily relates to a physical sort, an innate instinct present in all mammals that the child may recognize either consciously or unconsciously. However, due to another man's presence who also nurtures feelings for the mother of the child, she cannot consistently shower her love on him

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

This man is none other than the child's father who has the privilege of sharing his bed with his wife and conveying his affection for her privately while leaving the child alone in his own bed. This situation triggers jealousy within the child which eventually transforms into resentment towards his father.

The child would go to any extent possible to replace his father and become the sole recipient of his mother's attention. Consequently, the boy's own father becomes his nemesis. If you were to ask anyone who posed as Hamlet's nemesis, they would promptly answer, King Claudius. Claudius was a man who committed two abhorrent acts against Hamlet: murdering his father and rapidly marrying his mother. Naturally, Hamlet would feel immensely enraged by either of these deeds, but the amalgamation of both would undeniably induce severe psychological distress.

Losing a parent brings about painful emotions in children, including sadness for the loss and resentment towards the person accountable for the death. Additionally, the child is likely to experience animosity towards the individual who assumes their father's role, taking care of their mother. This situation is further complicated by Claudius usurping the rightful position of King of Denmark that should rightly belong to Hamlet. The fact that Claudius is also Hamlet's uncle only worsens the situation.

Despite Hamlet's honourable nature, his extreme jealousy prevents him from committing murder without a valid cause against his newly designated "father". He grows increasingly discontent with his inability to take decisive action as he waits for the right moment to act. Consequently, signs of insanity begin to manifest in Hamlet. Some critics propose that this so-called madness might be feigned by Hamlet as

a strategy to extract information about his father's demise from Claudius.

It is evident that Hamlet's intense emotions may indicate a mental disorder related to the Oedipus complex. He harbored unresolved issues until he deemed it appropriate to address them. Hamlet envied those who could easily resolve their emotional issues, unlike himself. The play lacks a genuinely happy ending as Hamlet only resolves his personal struggles with satisfaction upon his mother's lover's death.

Despite not getting the opportunity to fulfill his dream of taking care of his mother and gaining the same power as his late father, Hamlet, along with his mother, ends up dead. Thankfully, the truth about his biological father's demise is uncovered, bringing some relief to Hamlet as it maintains his honorable reputation and allows for his ego to be satisfied before his demise. Similar to the character Oedipus, Hamlet experiences a strong compulsion to enact his childhood fantasies.

The most prevalent fantasy among Hamlet and Oedipus is the desire to kill their fathers and take over the nation by their side with their mothers. Additionally, both Hamlet and Oedipus engage in critical thinking and interpretation. They carefully analyze every action they take, considering any potential reactions it may cause. Their exceptional intelligence distinguishes them from the other characters they manipulate. Hamlet, in particular, experienced a mental disorder.

The likelihood of his involvement with the Oedipus complex is quite high, as his character closely resembles Sophocles' Oedipus. His immaturity might explain why he couldn't exact revenge during the play and potentially why he met his own demise. If Hamlet had killed his stepfather earlier, he would have achieved his childish desire of taking his father's power

and caring for his mother. Due to his psychological issues, he failed and ultimately caused his own demise.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New