Exploring Hamlet's Psychological Conflict and Emotional Depth
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Bahçeşehir University - Beşiktaş Campus**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PSYCHOLOGY 100
Subject
Arts & Humanities
Date
Dec 12, 2024
Pages
3
Uploaded by DeaconRoseWasp45
HAMLET’S PSYCHOLOGİCAL STATE AND INTERNAL CONFLİCTWilliam Shakespeare's Hamlet focuses on Prince Hamlet, one of the most complex charactersin Western literature. The work questions the inner conflicts of the individual not only with themes of revenge and tragedy, but also by descending deep into the human spirit. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theories, especially the concepts of the subconscious, mourning, and Oedipus complex, provide a powerful framework for analyzing the emotional and mental stateof Hamlet. In this article, the psychological dynamics underlying Hamlet's behavior will be discussed and how Shakespeare exhibited human weaknesses with this character will be discussed.Short SummaryHamlet is a story woven with betrayal, revenge and tragedy that takes place in the Kingdom of Denmark. After the death of his father, Hamlet, who enters a deep mourning process, cannot accept the rapid marriage of his mother Gertrude's uncle Claudius. This leads him to perceive the world as a rotten place. His father's ghost tells him that his killer is Claudius and he must take revenge. However, Hamlet constantly hesitates to carry out this revenge and struggles with inaction. Throughout the story, Hamlet's inner conflicts reveal the moral and emotional complexity of man.The Mourning Process and MelancholyThe emotional state that Hamlet experienced after the death of his father can be analyzed withFreud's theory of "Melancholy and Mourning". According to Freud, when an individual accepts his loss and completes the mourning process, he can return to his normal life. However, when this process is interrupted, it turns into melancholy. In Hamlet's case, seeing his father's ghost and asking for revenge prevents him from completing the mourning process.Hamlet's melancholic mood manifests itself in seeing the world in a constant decay:“There is something rotten in Denmark.” (Hamlet, I.iv.90)This melancholy is further deepened by Hamlet's anger not only at Claudius, but also at his mother Gertrude and even himself. For example, “Oh, this is very strict, cursed meat, / It will melt, dissolve and mix with water like a pine drop!” (Hamlet, I.ii.129-130) words clearly express his desire to die and his detachment from life. These words are examples of the unresolved of the mourning process and turning into a self-directed anger (Source: Freud, Mourning and Melancholia, 1917).Oedipus Complex and Feelings for Gertrude
Hamlet's intense interest in his mother Gertrude and his hatred for his uncle Claudius can be explained by Freud's theory of the Oedipus complex. According to Freud, boys unconsciouslyfeel an attraction to their mother and see their father as a rival. It is incomplete to see Hamlet'shatred of Claudius only as a desire for revenge. Claudius' marriage to Gertrude threatens Hamlet's desire to have Gertrude on the unconscious level. This situation further increases his hatred of Claudius.“Weakness, your name is woman!” (Hamlet, I.ii.146)This word shows Hamlet's questioning his disappointment with his mother and his confidencein the woman's moral power. But according to Freud, this type of anger is often a reflection ofrepressed desires. Hamlet's anger at his mother's marriage is actually an expression of his unconscious complex feelings (Source: The British Library, “Hamlet and Freud's Oedipal Complex”, bl.uk).Subconscious Conflicts and InactionOne of the most remarkable aspects of Hamlet's story is his hesitation to take revenge. Freud'smodel of id, ego and superego offers an effective tool for understanding this situation. While Id immediately pushes Hamlet to take revenge, the superego brakes him with moral values. Ego, on the other hand, tries to balance these two forces.“To be or not to be, that's the whole question.” (Hamlet, III.i.56)This famous monologue is a choice made by Hamlet not only revenge, but also between life and death. Freud's life instinct (Eros) and death impulse (Thanatos) theory allows us to better understand this conflict of Hamlet. Hamlet's constant questioning of his own actions is an indication of these subconscious conflicts (Source: ThoughtCo, “Analysis of 'To Be or Not to Be'', thoughtco.com).ResultShakespeare's Hamlet is not only a story of revenge, but also a psychological analysis that explores the depths of the human soul. Freud's psychoanalytic theories provide a powerful framework for understanding Hamlet's complex mood and inaction. Hamlet's mourning process, Oedipus complex and subconscious conflicts reveal that he is a portrait of him full of human weaknesses. In this context, Hamlet is a unique masterpiece for examining the relationship between literature and psychology.Works Cited
1.Freud, Sigmund. Mourning and Melancholia. 1917.2.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Penguin Classics, 2005.3.SparkNotes. “Hamlet: Themes and Analysis.” Available at: www.sparknotes.com.4.The British Library. “Hamlet and Freud's Oedipal Complex.” Available at: www.bl.uk.5.Verywell Mind. Freud's Id, Ego, and Superego Explained. Available at: www.verywellmind.com.6.ThoughtCo. Analysis of 'To Be or Not to Be' Available at: www.thoughtco.com.7.Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Freudian Psychoanalysis and Hamlet.” Available at: www.britannica.com.