Throughout William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Shakespeare portrays Hamlet with the same types of behaviors and frustrations in humans that Sigmund Freud saw at a much later date. When the relationship between Hamlet and his mother is analyzed Freud's oedipal complex theory comes to mind. The oedipal complex is a theory created by Freud that states that "The child takes both of its parents, and more particularly one of them, as the object of its erotic wishes."(51) Because of this desire to be with the parent of the opposite sex, a rivalry is formed with the parent of the same sex. In the play, Hamlet shows great hostility toward his uncle Claudius because his mother's remarriage to him. Hamlet sees his mother's remarriage as disgusting …show more content…
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.
Within Act three scene four the full extent of Hamlet's feelings for his mother are expressed which make the oedipal complex behaviors in the relationship apparent due to the fact Hamlet makes numerous sexually allusions. In this scene Hamlet confronts his mother about her relationship with Claudius and her involvement in the murder of King Hamlet. Here Hamlet is actually more concerned with his mother's sexual relationship than anything else including avenging his father. Throughout most of the scene, Hamlet
concentrates on his mother's sexual relationship with Claudius by making many sexual allusions and berating his mother with them. He states that she seeks out "incestuous pleasure of his bed."(3.4 . l. 90) This exploring of his mother's carnal nature is because he is sexually concerned for
On William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, after the assassination of his father, Hamlet thinks he is living in a world full of corruption and deceit, where everything is falling apart and everyone is against him. An imminent, exaggerated, and passionate love for his mother is his main feature. Although others argue that Hamlet’s obsession to murder Claudius is strictly to claim revenge for his father’s death, it is Hamlet’s obsessive desire to possess his mother in an unhealthy and, perhaps incestuous, relationship. Hamlet also appears jealous of Claudius, his father-uncle, jealous of him for having Gertrude and for owning the crown. He lives a love-hate relationship with his mother. He is full of anger towards her, but at the same time he
Hamlet has many problems dealing with the fact that his mother married his uncle less than two months after the death of his father. Hamlet sees his mother's remarriage as disgusting and sees murdering Claudius as a way of freeing his mother of an incestuous marriage as well as avenging his father. Hamlet and his mother's relationship is also shown as more sexual than the traditional mother son relationship because of Hamlet's long and private conversation with his mother, as well as his rivalry toward Claudius for his mother's attentions. Hamlet makes numerous sexually allusions. The "closet scene" in Act 3 Scene 4, proves to be essential in understanding Hamlet's and Gertrude's relationship because the
Hamlet by William Shakespeare focuses on the title character plotting vengeance against Claudius for his father's murder to capture the Danish crown. The new king is also Hamlet's uncle and now stepdad due to the marriage with his mother, Gertrude. Through a sequence of events, the protagonist eventually avenges his father, although both his mother and himself fall to a tragic fate as well. Throughout the course of the play, the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude changes from strained to a disrespectful and mistrustful to a bittersweet ending.
The Oedipus complex refers to the thoughts some men have regarding their mother or maternal figures. Many scenes from the play can prove Hamlet did have these thoughts about his mother, such as acts one and three. If the reader knows what he or she is looking for, then these signs can be easily spotted. The story of Oedipus Rex is an
Hamlet’s image of Claudius reveals the extensive amount of disgust that he has for the man who has married his mother.
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."
Queen Gertrude and Ophelia, the main female characters in Shakespeare’s dramatic tragedy Hamlet, have a variety of personal qualities and experiences in common. This essay, with the help of literary critics, will explore this commonality.
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
Hamlet is very open about the fact he thinks his mom is a sinning whore for marrying his uncle and wont rest until Claudius is dead. Before Hamlet goes to confront his mother the ghost shows up. Hamlet and the ghost talk and the ghost reminds Hamlet to get revenge on Claudius and basically tells Hamlet that his mother thinks he’s crazy and its kind true, after all her son is talking to her dead husband. After that Hamlet tries to make Gertrude realize her remarriage was a horrible idea and he even threatens her. I didn’t think Hamlet had it in him to be this shady, but he definitely secretly has it out for his mama, some things are just
William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is perhaps one of his most intriguing and scandalous pieces of work. One character who is liable for much of this excitement and outrage is Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude. To some readers and critics, Gertrude is conceived as an erratic, superficial and sensual woman. Others discern the Queen as an earnest, intellectual and sagacious woman whose tragic fault is her yearning for sexual satisfaction. Throughout the text, there are several legitimate arguments for both sides, but in the end, Hamlet seems to sum up the Queen’s true persona with the words “Frailty, thy name is woman”. Evidence of Gertrude’s true nature can be found in many instances through out the play such
Despite the fact that Gertrude has very little role and few lines in the play still she is central to the action of the play. Prince Hamlet hatred and disgust for her mother as she marries Claudius, is one of the main important reflections of the play. This is because in times of Shakespeare, marrying husband's brother after husband's death was considered as a sin and act of being disloyal with the husband. Secondly, Prince Hamlet also considered Claudius inferior to his father, the late King Hamlet, in all aspects of life.
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
One central theme in Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, is the Oedipal complex, evidenced by the rivalry and resentment that characterizes Hamlet’s relationship with Claudius. Until the bedroom scene, this could be any son’s resentment towards a new stepfather, towards a mother who appears to have forgotten her late husband, and towards defending his family’s honor. However, the Oedipal complex, a reoccurring theme throughout the book, perhaps suggests a more personal motive behind Hamlet’s disgust with his mother’s betrayal of his father and with his mother’s sexual relationships.
An incident that affects Hamlet is when his love, Ophelia, rejects him. In return, He insults Ophelia for being a woman; “Get thee to a nunnery. Why, wouldst thou be a breeder / of sinners.” (3, 1, 121-122) Hamlet believes that all women sin and that they cheat on men. Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to the nunnery, in order to protect her chastity and become more loyal to men. Another person that Hamlet cannot trust is his mother. When she marries her brother-in-law, he expresses his anger to her by stating: “She married – O most wicked speed! To post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! / It is not, nor cannot come to good.” (1, 2, 156-158). Hamlet is offended that the queen remarries the deceased king’s brother and does not feel any guilt for it. The reader is aware that the situation will not end up well and someone will be have to be killed for their crimes. Hamlet admits that he is angry with his mother when he confronts her about her actions. He finds it odd that his mother marries her dead husband’s brother and she mourns over the death for such a short period of time. Hamlet questions her nature by
Throughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet finds excuses to delay the assassination of his uncle, Claudius. This is the result of the Oedipus complex whereby Hamlet struggles to overcome his sexual desires for his mother. Though he strives to avenge his father’s untimely demise, he is unable to fulfill his request until after his mother dies, for he fears the inevitable consequences of his actions. Primarily, Hamlet’s Oedipal urges resurface when they are triggered by his uncle actualizing his childhood fantasies, through the murder of his father and the incestuous courtship with his mother. Secondly, there is a conflict in interest between Hamlet avenging his father and engaging in a sexual relationship with his mother by the same means that his uncle took to assume the throne. Finally, Hamlet is able to overcome his fear of succumbing to his sexual desires because of his mother's death therefore allowing him to murder his uncle. If people do not actively work to suppress their own innate impulses, societal chaos will ensue. Hamlet’s failure to repress his Oedipal desires results in the downfall of the Danish Monarchy allowing Fortinbras to usurp the