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Essay: Exploring Hamlet’s Oedipal Complex and Its Role in His Character Arc

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  • Published: 23 March 2023*
  • Last Modified: 22 July 2024
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  • Tags: Hamlet essays

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In Young’s Essay, Recognizing Hamlet, she argues that due to people’s common knowledge about Hamlet, they view him as “a tragic hero [with an] internal conflict between filial duty and inner yearnings.” She talks about the different perceptions of Hamlet throughout the years and “how philosophers and theater practitioners have contributed to the formation of Hamlet.” She argues that there’s another interpretation of Hamlet’s character than the obvious one. She also states that Freud’s theory on the Oedipal complex and the academic interpretations of Hamlet give us different views on his character. Though it could be argued that Young’s argument lack details like how motivation plays a role in the interpretation of Hamlet. Young’s argument about Hamlet’s character being able to “see into the psychic struggles of actors and audiences alike” holds due to the relationship between “the play, Freudian psychoanalysis and preoccupations of theatre-makers.” Secondly, her argument about Hamlet being given “more words, more questions, and more soliloquies” helping us understand his internal turmoil is valid as we get to examine his struggles and doubts.

Firstly, we see the implications of Hamlet’s oedipal complex several times throughout the play. At the start of the play during Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he says “Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him, as if increase of appetite had grown.” (Shakespeare) He portrays his disgust towards his mother after her marriage to Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. He claims that she married to his uncle with “most wicked speed,” to “incestuous sheets.” Hamlet, then, continues to talk about how he must stay quiet and how it affects him. He also mentions how he’ll pretend to be mad to carry out the revenge of his father while breaking his uncle and mother’s incestuous marriage. In the article, it is mentioned how Hamlet’s Oedipal conflict is believed to be located in the unconscious part of his mind. (Young) This ties in as Hamlet may not realize the secondary motive behind his impatience to kill Claudius, this is can be seen throughout the play during the various times Hamlet mentions their marriage. Furthermore, we can sense of closeness between Hamlet and his mother though his anger towards her decisions is still predominant. In act four, Claudius says “The queen his mother lives almost by his looks,” giving us a hint about their relationship or at least what it used to be. (Shakespeare) Though, he loves his mother we see that he admits to being in love with Ophelia, which could possibly be due to the similarities between the two women. As mentioned in the article, Hamlet’s oedipal complex is evident in Olivier’s version of Hamlet through the “canny filmic devices – lingering close-ups of the royal bed, more than one “suggestive embrace between mother and son.” (Young) Also, in Gibson’s version, Hamlet performs thrusting motions to his mother when assaulting her. This helps reason Hamlet’s Oedipal complex and according to analysis, it would have been unconsciousness hence establishing the possibility of Hamlet viewing his mother more than a parental figure. Also, in act one, the Ghost tells Hamlet to, “Let thy soul contrive against thy mother.” (Shakespeare) We can view this as a reminder to Hamlet from his father to control his urges and plan the murder carefully. Thus, it can be believed that Lord Hamlet was aware of his son’s unconsciousness desires. In act three, the Ghost comes into the chamber to stop Hamlet from acting on his desires and without this scene the agreement of Hamlet’s Oedipal would be weak. While expressing his anger in the scene, he also mentions the Queen’s bed several times: “In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed Stew’d.” (Shakespeare) In the article, it states, “In Hamlet it remains repressed…consequences.” (Young) This supports the concept of Hamlet keeping these feelings within him for so many years and he now would have a reason to act on them. To conclude, Hamlet’s Oedipal complex is strongly evident throughout the play even in some film versions, giving us a different understanding of Hamlet’s character.

Secondly, Young’s argument about Hamlet’s soliloquies giving us an insight on “his inner questioning and to his struggle to fit himself in appearances.” (Young) Due to the future of the play revolving around Hamlet’s actions, it was important for him to have so many lines in the play. During his first soliloquy, he is much more reflective and descriptive than later on in the play. He talks about his father’s death and mother’s new marriage saying, “It is not, nor it cannot come to good.” (Shakespeare) This soliloquy foreshadows the future as that’s when it is first mentioned by him. Due to the allusions and connections that Hamlet incorporates in his lines especially proving his intelligence, he gives the audience a strong first impression of him. During his second, he creates anticipation as to how he’ll avenge his father’s death. He talks about living by thy commandments, saying “Now to my word…I have sworn it.” (Shakespeare) Also, Hamlet repeating the lines “Adieu, adieu, remember me” would signify to the audience that the ghost wants to be remembered. (Shakespeare) This soliloquy shows us his determination which we see falters throughout the play and presents the idea of a strong Hamlet. His most famous soliloquy, the to be or not to be, this is where we see the most complex part of Hamlet’s thoughts. He talks about suffering and compares opposing things, portraying his inner turmoil and how the events in his life are affecting him. He talks about morality, death, and afterlife. When he ends his speech with, “be all my sins remembered” (Shakespeare) it tells the audience that Hamlet is ready to seek his revenge and reasons that it is indeed noble. Towards the end he mentions Ophelia, expressing his anger towards her and Hamlet is aware he would lose Ophelia if he chooses to seek revenge. He especially foreshadows Polonius’s and Ophelia’s death. To conclude, his “self-doubt and questioning” and crucial role in the play makes his words important and they help us identify his emotions.

In short, Young believes that “Hamlet is caught in a vortex of tormented, inward-looking indecision and Oedipal self-doubt.” (Young) While, his soliloquies reflect his thoughts and emotions onto the audience. Hamlet’s thoughts being important as every decision he makes and everything he says would predict the future events of the play. The argument about his Oedipal complex also stands as it would explain his misogynistic views on women especially his mother. Therefore, Young’s arguments in her work, Recognizing Hamlet, hold true and can be reasoned with more examples and proof.

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