Hamlet is arguably one of the most criticized and well-known plays in British literature. The play is the story of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, whose father, King Hamlet, is killed. Barely after one month, Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, marries her deceased husband's brother, Claudius. Hamlet is appalled by his mother's lack of sympathy towards the death of his father. Then comes the appearance of King Hamlet's ghost. The ghost then tells Hamlet that its death was due to murder and goes on to name Clau

Hamlets attitude towards his uncle -- father, Claudius, appears to be a complex one. Hamlet of course detests Claudius for his involvement in his father's death. Perhaps moreover, in accordance with Freudian theory, Hamlet harbors feelings of jealousy towards Claudius. Jones suggests that as much as Hamlet hates Claudius, he can never really denounce him with the ardent indignation that boils within him. This is because, in accordance with Freud, Hamlet wants to be Claudius so he can receive affection from Gertrude. The more Hamlet exhibits his hatred and underlying jealousy of Claudius, the more his unconscious feelings are stirred. Hamlet is therefore in a tug of war and moreover into dilemma. On the other hand, Hamlet could allow his natural detestation of Claudius to play itself out freely, yet on the other hand; Hamlet may ignore the imperative call for vengeance that the duty assigned by the ghost, demands. In reality, Claudius possesses the object that Hamlet so wantingly desires, the Queen. As suggested by Jones, this possession mirrors hamlets own desire, thus Hamlet cannot kill Claudius without killing himself. This solution of murder -- suicide is one closely akin to what Freud has attributed, through his studies, to be the motive of suicide in melancholy. This is the solution that Hamlet finally adopts.

O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power

Because of this cynicism, the child finds itself anticipating disappointment but not always receiving it. This gives the child a feeling of reward when receiving what, in reality they rightfully deserve but perhaps does not always receive. Freud's theory of the first state called pathological depression is extremely similar to the state of "self reproach" in that it too contains an element of cynicism. This cynicism, however seems to have a purer nature.

The will of my most seeming-virtous queen.

With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts--

Shakespeare somehow had the amazing talent of identifying psychological disorders hundreds of years before psychoanalysts even existed. Whenever Shakespeare intended to be the explanation, the fact that remains a mystery will keep literary critics busy writing for another 500 years.

These words may be interpreted as the ghost defaming Claudius praising the " seeming-virtuos" Queen. This appears to occur for the sake of Hamlets consciousness. It seems Hamlet needs to be reassured that the object in the way of his mother's affection is evil. This would, in hamlets mind, justify his desire to murder Claudius. To demonstrate the magnitude of disgust which Gertrude marriage to Claudius holds, Hamlet attacks his mother with the words "Nay, but to live in the rank sweat of an esteemed bed, stewed in corruption, honeying and make love over the nasty sty!" (3.4.103-106). This seems to illustrate Hamlet trying to show is mother that her marriage to Claudius is corrupt and incestuous. Hamlets motive for this is, perhaps, to turn his mother from his uncle and thus have her affection solely for himself.

Although Hamlets father dying and the second marriage of the Queen may have appeared to the rest of Denmark to harbor no relation, in Hamlets own subconscious, the two had always been closely associated. This association of ideas appears to force its way to conscious recognition after Hamlet find out that Claudius is the guilty party in the murder of his father. The ideas seem to find expression when Hamlet says, "O my prophetic soul! My uncle?"(I.5.59). This line appears to suggest that the frightful truth his subconscious already knew, his consciousness now had to asset as best it could. The ghost then goes on to speak about Claudius in a bawdy fashion.

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Approximate Word count = 2564
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)