Free Hamlet Essays: A Freudian Reading of Hamlet

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A Freudian Reading of Hamlet

There are many different theories in the world today. The theory that will be discussed in the following paragraphs is the Oedipus Theory, and how it relates to Hamlet. So what are we talking about again?! What I mean is did hamlet have true romantic feelings for his mother? Well I don’t know, am I him?! No seriously this messed up guy was going through a lot, his dad died and came to him as a ghost, his mother married his uncle, his girl jumped off a bridge and his buds are back-stabbers! Come on now what would you be like after all that? Oh ya my topic is his relationship with his mother! Oops! So what is the Oedipus theory again? Well its all this crazy thinking by this cool cat guy named Freud! Wow what character! Well what this guy thought was that boys have unconscious sexual motives for our mommy’s! Ya that nice woman who blows you kisses, makes cookies, and buys your clothes. That’s right! Well before you right Freud off as a weirdo think about it! I sure did and in the following paragraphs, you will see how I get the feeling that Freud is right, (in this one) and Hamlet did have such unconscious motives for his mother.

It was Freud himself who, in an essay published in 1905, was the first to try and resolve in psychoanalytical terms the enigma offered by Hamlet’s behaviour. According to Freud, the personal crisis undergone by Hamlet awakens his repressed incestuous and parricidal desires. The disgust which the remarriage of his mother arouses in him, as well as the violent behaviour during their confrontation in the queen’s bedroom, are signs of the jealousy which he constantly experiences, even if unconsciously. The bedroom scene is one example amongst many of Hamlet’s aversion to sexuality, which he more often than not associates with vulgarity and sickness. Despite his violent reactions, he is nonetheless fundamentally incapable of acting, Freud tells us, because he cannot bring himself to avenge himself on the man who has killed his father and taken his place at the side of his mother. These are some pretty strong influences that would make a person nutty don’t you think? Well how about some evidence from the text hunh? Sure no problem! The Ghost's announcement that the father's death is a great example.

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