Psychoanalysis of Hamlet

There are always three sides to a say when it comes to psychology. Two be the heads and tails, the other being the thickness of the coin represented here by the why factor. No carry through is of all time considered to be an accidental doings, thus making crossroads an intriguing theatre of analysis. Critics of William Shakespeares play Hamlet often debate the cognitive processes of younker Hamlets mind. To examine Hamlet through a psychological perspective, one must use knowledge of deport affable psychology, which is the study of behavior that bring outs inner thoughts.Hamlet is a complex character full of deep emotions and disciplineal problems it is revealed through his actions, thoughts, and words portrayed during the play. Traumatic experiences in a some(prenominal)bodys sustenance history disregard have serious mental repercussions, such as disconnection from others, self-blame, or permanent mental instability. Accordingly, Hamlets behavior demonstrates textb ook symptoms of emotional and psychological damage. With the loss of his father, and the quick remarriage of his induce, the salient changes in the familiarity of manner become the triggers for Hamlets change in behavior.These psychological triggers are very relevant in patient cases now such as the remarrying of a parent, the death of close friend, or development during adolescence. The triggered behaviors become dangerous, as the ability of being able to confide in somebody else does non seem a possibility to Hamlet. Losing a delight in one is never easy, in Hamlets case the loss leads to a d stimulatewardly spiral of behavior that in conclusion preserves many different population in his kingdom. This problem of seeking comfort or advice in times of remove is crucial for the development during adolescence.Psychologists agree that bottling up emotions faeces cause detonative and irrational behavior, such as in the case of Hamlet. Madness in great ones must not unwatch ed go. A persons actions toast to the world what is going on in his or her mind to a tremendous extent. Hamlets actions in the play depict a mix of complex planning with sporadic displays of mental instability. Such actions such as the hesitation of killing Claudius, the murder of Polonius, and Hamlets interactions with Ophelia reveal Hamlets true mental realm. Many critics have scrutinized the delay of Hamlet not killing Claudius everywhere the age.Freud offered what seemed to many a decisive answer to this screen out for the ages that Hamlet is stymied by the weird coincidence of Claudiuss crime with his own oedipal wishes. (Kilgore) This ingeminate represents the deep internal conflict of Hamlets actions because of his obsession with his spawns sexual behavior. Hamlet is able to do anything but scoop out vengeance upon the man who did away with his father and has taken his fathers place with his mother the man who shows him in realization the repressed desires of his o wn shaverhood (Kilgore).This acknowledgment suggests that Hamlet wanted to be like Claudius subconsciously. In addition, this quote answers why Gertrudes quick remarriage to Claudius is taken so heavily by new(a) Hamlet. Freud considered this complex the cornerstone of the superego and the nucleus of all human relationships. (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia) Next, the action of killing Polonius is one example of Hamlets temporary insanity. Moments afterwards Hamlet fails to kill Claudius as he prays because he is unshriven he slays Polonius chthonic the impression it was Claudius.The contradictory nature of these two finiss shows in behavioural psychology that Hamlet is emotionally unstable. This action also demonstrates that aggression has taken over reasoning. Emotions are one of mans greatest strengths but back tooth cause the greatest downfalls. For example, In Hamlet, Poloniuss murder eventually leads to Hamlets death at the hands of Poloniuss son. Hamlets lack of cogn itive reasoning ultimately conflicts with his short-term plans as Hamlet is sent away from the kingdom by the man who he is trying to murder.This shows that the catastrophe occurs as a leave behind of instinctive reactions sort of than pre-meditation. To inhibit actively ones behavior is stressful and disease related when individuals do not or cannot emit thoughts and feelings concerning a traumatic event (i. e. , when they engage in behavioral inhibition), thither is an increased probability of having obsessive thoughts slightly the event and of having illnesses in the enormous run (Kelly). Keeping secrets from people or being burdened by others secrets is an action that can be harmful in every cheek of health.Hamlets action of keeping secrets from others is representative of his mistrust in people. Hamlet has no one to confide in which leads to irrational decisions and obsession. Most psychologists agree that having soul to confide in is crucial in the developmental process . The act of not revealing such traumatic information destroys Hamlet from a mental perspective and causes Hamlet to slip in and out of sanity. The relationship in the midst of Hamlet and Ophelia is an example of the destructive nature secrets can cause.Good relationships are built on the fundamentals of trust and communication neither of which is demonstrated in their relationship. Hamlets subconscious mistrust in the ability of people to keep secrets is projected into the communication of their relationship. Ophelia thinks that Hamlet has gone insane, and this lack of communication drives her into madness and her death. Secrets can inadvertently destroy many people, making them to a greater extent dangerous through the subconscious influences. All authors project their own life experiences and thoughts subconsciously in to their literature.Shakespeare had a son named Hamnet who died of the bubonic plague years before the play Hamlet. (Wheeler 127-153) It is through this loss of Shakespeares own child that the play takes on a deeper psychological aspect. Hamlets to be or not to be monologue can be viewed as a forcing out into the troubles facing Shakespeare during his own life. The loss of a loved one is a powerful influence and subconsciously can cause feelings of depression and suicide. This monologue is one of the most recognized worldwide due to its contemplation of life and death due to the struggles that face Hamlet.To be, or not to bethat is the school principal Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them. (Shakespeare) Hamlet is clinically depressed and overwhelmed by the troubles in his life. Not even being able to kill the murderer of his father, he is unlikely that to kill himself. Shakespeare presents us with a vivid recital of the thought processes of a man making up his mind about a critical step in his life.(Kilgore)Thus many peopl e believe that hamlet is over cerebration the problem. Thus if this soliloquy was recited to a psychiatrist he would recommend anti-depressant medication. Contemplating life and death is a process that we all do at different points in life. However, it is the sort in which we approach our lives and deaths that define us as individuals. Hamlet has legitimate a liberal education thus his learned critical thinking and questioning about every action causes obsessive self-criticism. Hamlets soliloquy of Act 2 Scene 2 shows hisinnermost feelings of self-disgust about his inaction. But I am a pigeon-livered and lack gall to addle oppression better, or ere this I should have fattened all the regions kites with this break ones backs offal. (Shakespeare) Thus, this harsh self-criticism leads to Hamlet making irrational decisions. In teenagers the facade lobe is still in the developmental stages, and discovering his self-perception in addition to his decision making. Hamlet is the perfe ct storm of decisions based on pathos rather than logos.Hamlets decisions, although sometime requiring calculation, often are unrealistic and impetuous representing the foot race and error method of learning. Hamlets words are priceless to the shaping of his character. His attitude towards the murder of Polonius disconnects him from the norms of society. Making jokes about the body of someone whom he just murdered demonstrates almost a psychopathic propensity brought about by intense levels of stress. In addition to this, Hamlet is in a position where his actions do not have repercussions evidenced by the town looking the other way on his actions.The psychological launch of having no consequences for actions starting at a young age can have disastrous effects of the development during adolescence and often in cases can lead to the development of Oppositional defiance disorder children. Children with ODD have modest (or no) regard for what their parents or society expect of them. (Abraham) Hamlet does not premeditation about how he should behave in society and does as he pleases. Hamlet feels entitled to manipulate the lives of others for his own personal success and has no regard for anyones welfare but his own.Hamlet was set up for hardship in societal norms from childhood. Other insights into Hamlets mental state can be examined through Hamlet and Ophelias relationship. The words I loved Ophelia forty thousand brothers/ could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum. (Shakespeare 296). Hamlet is under false pretenses of what love way due to his adolescence, demonstrated by his harsh words to Ophelia and inability to submit his distresses and concerns with her.In addition Ophelias and Hamlets relationship is skewed by how he perceives own mother and women in general. This is demonstrated by Hamlets ensure Get thee to a nunnery, which reveals that he holds the belief that all women are whores. Nunnery was a colloquium, which meant brothel i n Shakespeares day. The projections of past experiences to present experiences dramatically affect his relationships. Hamlets unkind attitude and words to others ultimately affect the lives of people around him substantially.In conclusion, Hamlets complexity and behavior is attributed to adolescence and going through life crises that trigger developmental and textbook psychology issues. Using Hamlets actions, thoughts, and words gives the subscriber a microscope for further examination the character. Shakespeare was a master of creating complex characters, some based on his real life experiences. Hamlets reactions to the changes in hi+s life much reflect the type of behavioral changes people in real life experience after interchangeable trauma. Hamlet has been a popular subject for psychoanalysis since the discipline became popular.