Sigmund Freud was a theorist who focused mainly on sexual development and violence. Freud developed his theories through examination of literary work and his work with emotionally troubled adults (Boundless 1). With these studies he believed that parents played crucial roles in managing their child’s sexual and aggressive development. Freud’s theories produced so much controversy because of how original they were. This being said, his explanations of Oedipus and Hamlet were quiet a stretch; yet they were of his own understanding. As stated by Freud, sex and aggression are what motivate one’s thoughts. He believed there were a series of stages a child must pass through in order to properly develop. Better known as the psychosexual development …show more content…
As a young man, Oedipus went to the Oracle who informed him of his fate of killing his father and marrying his mother. By Oedipus trying to avoid his horrible destiny, he in end signed the deal by running from it. ‘Oedipus’ began with parental aggression and abandonment (Rubin 1). This is possibly where Freud got his theory from, Oedipus was abandoned as a young child by his parents which is what made him long for that mother figure in his life. This crave feeling lead him to marrying his biological mother and later having children with …show more content…
This anger is shown Act 1, Scene 2, when Claudius says “But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son”; in which Hamlet returns with “A little more than kin, and less than kind.” (Kirszner 1312). Due to the fact that Hamlet’s father was murdered and his mother remarried quickly, he feels the need to avenge the death of his father. In doing this, it would give Hamlet the respect of his father and he’d become the authority figure. By becoming the authority figure, Hamlet would take on the characteristics of the father he idolized (“Shakespeare and Freudian Theory”
Anger is a major theme in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The entire story revolves around Prince Hamlet trying to kill his uncle, King Claudius, for killing his father. In short, Hamlet is on a mission of revenge. Desire for revenge is one of the most serious consequences of letting anger loose. At first glance, Hamlet’s anger seems
Compare and contrast Oedipus and Hamlet. Is Oedipus more a man of action? Or is he more a man driven by whim and sudden, rash decisions? Which character is more selfless? Does Hamlet show any signs of selfish motives in his actions or inactions? Which protagonist seems more learned? wiser? more religious? more loving? more incestuous? Which seems to be a better murder investigator? Does Oedipus have any of Claudius' motives when he kills the king, Laius? Then which murderer is more blameworthy--Oedipus or Claudius?
two plays we can see that both are isolated in a world of their own,
Oedipus fits Aristotle's definition of the tragic flaw and protagonist almost flawlessly. Aristotle described the protagonist as "someone regarded as extraordinary rather than typical..."(1117). Oedipus freed Thebes from the Sphinx by solving her riddle-- something nobody else had been able to do. The priest in the first scene of Act I calls Oedipus "...our greatest power" (1121) and describes him as rated first among men.
...p; "So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr," (I.ii.143-144). Hamlet would not be regularly complimenting his father if he had ever been jealous of his relationship with Gertrude. Thus, Hamlet feels anger towards Claudius because he murdered Hamlet's father, not for feelings of rivalry.
"To be, or not to be: that is the question" (Shakespeare 1750). "Human beings have no part in the craft of prophecy" (Sophocles 1582). Both quotes are part of famous plays. Although the plays appear to be completely different they do have some similarities such as containing a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character that makes a mistake and eventually leads to their defeat. A tragic hero usually contains at least 5 characteristics such as a flaw (hamartia), reversal of fortune (peripetia), character 's actions leads to a reversal, excessive pride, and the character 's fate is greater than what they truly deserved. Hamlet and Oedipus are both great examples of what a tragic hero is because they both contain flaws, reversal of fortune, and
Tragedy comes in many forms, for example earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes are all types of tragedies. On the other hand, when talking about tragedy in literature, it has a whole different meaning. Tragedy in literature is on a smaller scale than things like earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. In literature tragedy is usually about one person and the horrible things that happen to them during their life in a story or play.
Oedipus and Hamlet are two very well known characters in literature. They both stand out in a reader's mind through their actions, conflicts, strengths, and weaknesses. A reader becomes involved more in the action through these two characters. They allow us, the reader, to gain a greater sense of the stories plot. In many ways these characters hold similar traits to one another but the one that stands out most in my mind is their relationships with their fathers. Their father's prior conflicts and decisions influenced these characters to the point of their own demise.
One of the foremost Elizabethan tragedies is Hamlet by William Shakespeare and one of the earliest critics of tragedy is Aristotle. One way to measure Shakespeare's work is to appraise it using the methods of classical critics and thereby to see how if it would have retained its meaning. Hamlet is one of the most recognizable and most often quoted tragedies in the all of English literature. Aristotle, is concerned with the proper presentation of tragic plays and poetry. Aristotle defines tragedy as:
Hamlet's problem is not exact; it cannot be pinpointed. In fact, Hamlet has numerous problems that contribute to his dilemma. The first of these problems is the appearance of King Hamlet's ghost to his son, Hamlet. Hamlet's morality adds a great deal to his delay in murdering the current king, Claudius. One of Hamlet's biggest drawbacks is that he tends to think things out too much. Hamlet does not act on instinct; however, he makes certain that every action is premeditated. Hamlet suffers a great deal from melancholy; this in turn causes him to constantly second guess himself. The Ghost is the main cause of Hamlet's melancholy. Also, Hamlet's melancholy helps to clear up certain aspects of the play. These are just a few of the problems that Hamlet encounters throughout his ordeal.
Freud emphasized that early childhood experiences are important to the development of the adult personality, proposing that childhood development took place over five stages; oral, anal. Phallic, latent and genital. The phallic stage is the most important stage which contains the Oedipus complex. This is where the child (age 4 - 6 yrs) posses the opposite sex parent and wants rid of the same sex parent. Freud argued that if the conflict is not resolved in childhood then it could cau...
After Hamlet’s father passed, Claudius took the opportunity to take over the throne and marry Hamlet’s mother. Through this union, Claudius increased his power and social status. Even though Claudius tried to be on Hamlet’s good side as a ‘father’, Hamlet still classified him as “A little more kin, and less than kind” (1.2.65). The phrase “more kin” stands out significantly because the word “kin” means to cousin. By stating “more kin”, Hamlet implies he still classifies Claudius as an uncle. Hamlet also indirectly jabs at Claudius, stating an opinion on what Hamlet thinks of him. This jab is shown through completely ignoring Claudius and only responding to his mother: “I shall in all my best obey you, madam” (1.2.120). This raises the question whether the irony of Hamlet’s jabs are lost on Claudius. Hamlet’s connection with his biological father exhibited stark contrasts to his relationship with Claudius. He not only continued seeing his father as a role model but could not move past that fact that he was no longer able to rely on his counsel. When given the chance to kill Claudius for his father, it not only shows that Hamlet, as well as his father, are seeking revenge at Claudius but also illustrates how he looks up to his father: “May sweep to my revenge” (1.5.31). The term “revenge” typically adds intensity and depth in a phrase. By using “revenge” it brings up the assumption that Hamlet wants to free his father’s soul but also wants to get back at Claudius even more so than before. Factors such as Hamlet’s power, political and emotional status are what influence his reactions to Claudius and his loyalty to his biological
Hamlet’s “Oedipus Complex” “Hamlet is another of the great creations of tragic poetry. What is it that inhibits him in fulfilling the task set him by his father’s ghost?.Hamlet is able to do anything—except take vengeance on the man who did away with his father and took that father’s place with his mother, the man who shows him the repressed wishes of childhood realized. Thus the loathing which should drive him on to revenge is replaced in him by self-reproaches, by scruples of conscience, which remind him that he himself is literally no better than the sinner whom he is to punish. ”- Sigmund Freud.
The Oedipus complex originates from the classical era and was seen as pejorative due to the afflictions of hatred, jealously and a desire to kill the father. It is where a boy unconsciously develops a desire and lust for his mother considering the father as his ultimate rival whom he must eradicate. The death of Hamlet's father to his envious adversaries hand, stimulates Hamlet's deep affections for his mother from his childhood. Hamlet's Oedipal desire leads him to procrastinate in killing Claudius: in doing so, it would be an obvious admittance to his Oedipal lusts: his enemy has already fulfilled his Oedipal desires in murdering Old Hamlet and sleeping with Gertrude.
Freud called childhood desire to sleep with the opposite sex parent and to kill the same sex parent of the Oedipus Complex. Freud describes the source of this complex in his introductory lecture (twenty-first lecture): “ You all know the Greek legend of King Oedipus, who was destined by fate to kill his father and take his mother to be his wife, who did everything possible. to escape the Oracles decree and punish himself by blinding him. learned that he had none the less unwittingly committed both these crimes. ”(16.330)