Hamlet and the Oedipus Complex Essay - 1229 Words

Hamlet and the Oedipus Complex William Shakespeares play Hamlet contains very similar elements to Sophocles Greek Myth, Oedipus Rex. In the late 1800s through early 1900s, a Doctor based out of Vienna, named Sigmund Freud, developed a theory based on the events of the play Oedipus Rex, which has since been coined the Oedipus Complex. Ernest Jones also applied his knowledge of Freudian psychology and wrote a persuasive paper suggesting that Hamlet cannot kill his uncle Claudius because of his repressed feelings for his mother. In the story of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus fulfills a prophecy given to him, by killing his father Laius and by sleeping with his mother Jocasta. When Oedipus realizes he has fulfilled the prophecy he†¦show more content†¦These desires are normally kept repressed within our subconscious. However, if our id gains control of our super-ego, then we act or behave accordingly. Both tragic characters suffered from Freuds classical interpretation of a childs love for their mother. Throughout the play Hamlet, there are several hints that the young prince suffers from the Oedipus complex. Claudius is quoted, The queen his mother lives almost by his looks, (Hamlet IV.vii.11-12) revealing a sense of closeness between Hamlet and his mother. This also reveals the need for Hamlet in his mothers life. Although Hamlet does love his mother, he is able to fall in love with Ophelia. Quite possibly, Hamlet saw qualities in Ophelia that resembled those of his mother, which would explain the early attraction between the two. Other more striking evidence is visible when the ghost or old Hamlet commands young Hamlet to, Let thy soul contrive against thy mother. (Hamlet I.v.85-86) In this scene the ghost is trying to make sure that Hamlet keeps his impulses controlled, and will carefully plan a course of action upon his mother. However, the Closet Scene or Act 3 Scene 4 is key to understanding Hamlets true feelings. In this scene the ghost reappears in order to prevent Hamlet f rom enacting his childhood fantasies with his mother Gertrude. Young Hamlet finally decides to confront his mother, and is extremely upset by the situation. However, instead of talking about hisShow MoreRelatedHamlet and the Oedipus Complex1537 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play about indecision, apprehension, and inner turmoil. Hamlet, the main protagonist, struggles within himself, attempting to muster the courage to avenge his father’s death by the hand of the current King, Claudius, who is also his late father’s brother. There seem to be many possible reasons for Hamlet’s delay in doing so. However, the one theory that answers all the questions is that Hamlet was possessed by his own Oedipus Complex , that is, he was deeply in loveRead MoreOedipus Complex in Hamlet Essay805 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus Complex in Hamlet In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s personality can be explained by the Oedipus Complex. Throughout the play there are many times where he proves that he has Oedipus Complex. Oedipus Complex was not around at the time that that Hamlet was written. It just shows that Shakespeare saw the same personality complex’ as Freud. Freud first named the Oedipus Complex Theory in his book , An Interpretation of Dreams, in 1899. Freud states The child takes both of its parents,Read MoreEssay on Hamlet and the Oedipus Complex1319 Words   |  6 Pages When examining Hamlet through the lens of the Oedipus complex, it is critical to first define and thoroughly explain the Oedipus complex, then to apply it to Hamlets relationships, before a final conclusion is reached. The Complexities of the Complex Before one can understand the Oedipus complex, one must understand Sigmund Freuds theory on infantile sexuality. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy points out that the roots of Freuds theory can be foundRead More Hamlet and the Oedipus Complex Essay1218 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet and the Oedipus Complex Hamlet is the typical kind of son almost every father and mother would want: intelligent, loving, caring, strong and loyal. Yet, some scholars believe that he is just another emotional character, defying our eyes to think that his acts are innocent, when his real purpose is to take his mother for himself. This gives scholars, like Ernest Jones, the impression that Hamlet’s actions were encouraged by an Oedipus complex, characterized by feelings of intenseRead More Hamlets Oedipus Complex Essays1190 Words   |  5 Pagescharacters who embody the elements of the classic Oedipus Complex, that of a son with an undue and unhealthy attachment to his mother. D.H Lawrenceamp;#8217;s Sons and Lovers, along with other early modernist works, shows how a sonamp;#8217;s bond to his mother can lead to that characteramp;#8217;s major downfall. Even earlier than works of the late 19th Century does the Oedipus Complex appear, in this case, William Shakespeareamp;#8217;s Hamlet. Shakes peareamp;#8217;s play about the Prince ofRead MoreOedipus-Complex In Shakespeares Hamlet1962 Words   |  8 Pagespsychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, coined the term Oedipus-complex in 1910 when explaining a child’s psychological desire for his opposite-sex parent. Coupled with this desire is a bitter sense of rivalry with the parent of the same sex, as the child feels envious and compelled to win the affection of the coveted parent (Freud 19). Shakespeare’s Hamlet, although written prior to the development of this theory, is often referenced as a prime example of this complex. Hamlet famously descends into madness in an effortRead MoreOedipus Complex, Penis Envy, And The Tragedy Of Hamlet2112 Words   |  9 PagesAlthough it may be a difficult idea to grasp, Shakespeare employed some of Sigmund Freud’s concepts long before Freud himself was even a figment of his ancestor’s imagination. Many scholars discuss Shakespeare’s use of the Oedipus complex, pe nis envy, and many of Sigmund Freud’s other famous concepts and while a proxy family may not be a Freudian concept specifically, it certainly enables them. Many of Shakespeare’s works include a main character who has a strained relationship with their parentRead MoreLove Thy Mother Most Peculiar Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract: Does Hamlet, a character in Shakespeare’s historical play, have the Oedipus complex? Do we truly understand the semantics of the Oedipus complex? Many critics have had different opinions. According to Webster’s online dictionary, the Oedipus complex is a â€Å"complex of males; desire to possess the mother sexually and to exclude the father; said to be a source of personality disorders if unresolved† (Websters Online Dictionary, 2011). Another source defines the Oedipus complex as â€Å"the attachmentRead More No Oedipal Complex Found in Hamlet Essay1150 Words   |  5 Pages No Oedipal Complex Found in Hamlet nbsp; Some scholars have interpreted Hamlets actions throughout Hamlet to be the Oedipus complex.nbsp; According to the story of Oedipus, Laius, his father, learned from an oracle that Oedipus would kill him.nbsp; Laius then left his son to die on a mountain, where he was found and raised by the King of Corinth.nbsp; Oedipus was also told that he would someday kill his own father, and fled Corinth because he believed that the King of Corinth was his realRead MoreFree Hamlet Essays : Freud s Hamlet 1656 Words   |  7 PagesFreud applied to Hamlet Hamlet is another one of William Shakespeare plays that ends in a tragedy, the play is about Hamlet, a prince from Denmark. Hamlets father was killed by Hamlets uncle, Hamlet wants to avenge his father’s death. Like most of Shakespeare’s plays Hamlet ends as a tragedy, everyone dyeing except Horatio, Hamlets friend, and the kingdom ends up in the power of Norway. According to Sigmund Freud’s the three structure of the human mind are the id, the superego and the ego. The id