Hamlet and the Oedipus Complex Essay

His mother, Gertrude, marries her brother-in-law within a few months of because of her lust and vice behavior, while Hamlet believes that his father deserves more than just a few months of bereavement. The Queen’s actions lead Hamlet into talking to his mother in a demeaning manner, not realizing he is talking to someone in authority to him, but also someone who unconditionally loves him. The Prince explains to the Queen that she had thrown away pure and everlasting love, for lust. Also, he expresses his loss of faith in women and love because his mother had moved past the death of her loving husband so quickly. Furthermore, Hamlet once loved Ophelia, but his past experiences have made him ignorant and have led him to believe that Ophelia is a deceiving person. Claudius and Polonius use Ophelia as bait to find the real reason of Hamlet’s facade of madness but while they are both talking, Hamlet gets suspicious and verbally abuses

Some explain Hamlet 's mysterious hesitancy as a result of the Oedipus complex. One might think that Hamlet continually postpones the act of vengeance against Claudius because of the overly confused psychodynamic situation in which he finds himself. Although he hates his uncle, at the same time he unconsciously identifies with him, for having killed his father and having married his mother. Claudius has fulfilled the frustrated desires of Hamlet. However, from the beginning of the play there is an essential element that marks an important difference between Hamlet and Oedipus, which brings with it certain effects in the clinical analysis.

According to Ernest Jones, Hamlet has the “Oedipus-Complex” while others might just call him a momma’s boy. The “Oedipus-Complex” from Freud is expressed through Diderot statement of, “If we were left to ourselves and if our bodily strength only came up to that of our phantasy we would wring our fathers’ neck and sleep with our mothers.” In

'Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder,' says the ghost of Hamlet. The fact that his own uncle could kill his father leaves Hamlet dumbfounded and confused. Although Hamlet knows something is wrong in Denmark, he begins to question everything that the ghost has told him. When something is needed to be done, Hamlet is to busy

Hamlet is seen as one of the most complex literary character of all time. The relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude can be interpreted in many ways. Hamlet’s motivation for killing Claudius is not to avenge his father’s death, but because of his love for his mother Gertrude. This is where the Oedipus complex comes into play in Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

Similar to Hamlet. Hamlet is a teenage and is influenced by his Oedipus complex. He has been frustrated by his mothers' remarriage to Claudius, which makes him jealous. Hamlet has confronted his feeling again about his mother's remarriage and says, "No, by the rood, not so. You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife, And-would it were not so!-you are my mother." (3.4.13-15), Hamlet also mentions his wishes that Gertrude was not his mother. This could suggest that Hamlet is jealous of Claudius and could be wishing that if he was not her son than he could and been married to Gertrude. Hamlet felt this loneliness inside of him, which is due to his father's death and Ophelia leaving him. He felt that both his mother and him would be lonely after his father's death and accompany one another, but, Gertrude found someone else. Hamlet is no accepting their marriage which is a sign that he is not willing to accept the reality that he cannot get his mother and fulfil their loneliness. Hamlet is feigning this madness, but, gets tangled up in the reality and world of fantasy. He does not know how to keep the acting and showing his reality separate. Hamlet is unable to keep his facts (look for a diff word) straight about if he does or does not like Ophelia. Just like when he says, Let her not walk i' th' sun. Conception is a blessing, but, as your daughter may conceive-Friend, look to 't."

We can see the dramatic differences in Hamlet’s facial expression and tone of voice when he starts to talk about Claudius and his mother. Hamlet is revolted by him, he is “a mildewed ear/ Blasting his wholesome brother.” We can hear the disgust in Hamlet’s words as he describes his malevolent uncle and this shows the distorted relationship between them. Finally he turns to his mother. His words are full of deep hatred and utter contempt for her. He asks her how she could have replaced her perfect husband with this foul man: “Could you

Hamlet is not only angered with the fact of his father’s death, but also with his mother’s decision to marry Claudius. Devastated by his mother’s decision to marry so soon after her husband’s death, Hamlet becomes skeptical about women in general. He shows a particular obsession with what he perceives to be a connection with female sexuality and moral corruption. He almost develops hatred towards women because of his mother’s decision. This hatred occurs and is shown with his relationship with Ophelia. He urges Ophelia to go to a nunnery rather than experience the dishonesty of sexuality. This hinders Hamlet from experiencing a love that is really needed at this time of his loss. One can say that this is another flaw, which Hamlet is unaware of.

“To be, or not to be: That is the question” (III.i.56). In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet is a young man who has become crazy from his trials and tribulations in life. He loses his father due to his uncle murdering him and then had to watch his mother marry the killer. Hamlets insanity can be demonstrated by his crude language and disregard for the wellbeing of his mother. It can also be shown by his depression, which causes him to second guess everything, including his life. Finally, his love, Ophelia helps to justify his absurdness by acting as a mirror. His foolish behavior worries many in the kingdom and creates a hostile and paranoid environment for those around. While some in the castle may believe that Hamlet is putting on an act, he proves that he is mad through his violent actions, his mental health and Ophelia.

Hamlet has also idealized his mother, and it seems like that they have had a close relationship before this incident. Hamlet really loved his mother, and I think he put her on a pedestal. In the play, this delusion that he has about his mother's character is quickly shattered. She, "within a month" (1,2,145) marries Hamlet's uncle who has for some odd reason become king after Hamlet's father's death. Hamlet is sickened and disillusioned by his mother's behavior saying things like "O that this too too sullied flesh would melt" (1,2,129) and "frailty, thy name is woman"(1,2,146). But the realization that he has about his mother also ties into the realization that he has about his father and ultimately

This paper is the rough draft version. There are grammatical errors and other such errors in it.

Throughout William Shakespeare’s classic play, Hamlet, it is very clear that the Prince of Denmark suffers from severe parental problems. These problems bear a stark resemblance to those borne by Oedipus, the classic staple of Greek mythology. The similarities, however, end and begin with an unhealthy obsession towards the mothers of each character and a distinct distaste towards the father that would border on hatred. Oedipus is, due to childhood experiences that were uncontrollable to him, largely unaware of these issues and even takes steps to disprove them. Hamlet, on the other hand, finds himself in this situation due to circumstances that he encounters later in life. While both Hamlet and Oedipus have very unnatural and unusual

157-9) He is disgusted by his mother's affection toward Claudius because he believes it is incestuous. It can also be inferred the Hamlet is more concerned with the marriage of his mother than the death of his father because Hamlet does not mention or express any concern over how his father died until he sees the ghost. This fits in with the oedipal complex because it can be said that unconsciously Hamlet believes that because his father is dead all his competition is gone and his mother should be his. Claudius marring his mother does not fit in with what Hamlet wants and takes his object of desire away from him.

He acidly snaps at Gertrude, "Mother, you have my father much offended" (Hamlet, III, iv, 13). It is not that his mother is a woman that haunts and maddens Hamlet, but the fact that she chooses Claudius over himself. He believes that she does not actually love Claudius, but was merely seduced or tricked, and he cries out in anguish:

Hamlet’s sexual deviancy is a defining characteristic of Hamlet, and is an often talked about topic when discussing the play. Hamlet is engrossed in people’s sex lives, whether it is his mother, Gertrude, or his ex-girlfriend, Ophelia. Hamlet’s general distrust and disgust with women makes him a misogynist. Hamlet seems mad that his mother, Gertrude, moved on so quickly to Claudius seeing as it had only been two months since her first husband, Hamlet Sr. died. This seems like a logical response, however Hamlet keeps bringing it up. So much so, that his father’s ghost even says "Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive / Against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven." (1.5.9) Hamlet shows sign of jealousy toward Claudius as if he is the one who wants to be with his mother, because of this Hamlet