Hamlet Psychological Analysis

Hamlet Psychological Analysis
Throughout the play, Hamlet is portrayed as an instable and confused character. After the death of his father, Hamlet experiences an alteration in his personalityconcerning his attitudes towards women. He shows an ambivalence of approaches regarding women, loving them one day and hating them the next. This insecurity and fluctuating accusations make Hamlet’scharacter even more deep and tangled up, that one must ask if he really isn’t mad.
There are various ways that one can account for the harsh and insensitive way that Hamlet speaks to women, specificallyhis mother, Gertrude and his lover, Ophelia. The interpretation of Hamlet’s personality can be seen through a psychodynamic perspective, which involves Freud’s theory of the Oedipus complex. TheOedipus complex exposes the speculation that a son falls in love with his mother, and thus provoking jealousy towards his father. In the play, Hamlet is greatly jealous of Gertrude’s physical intimacy withhis uncle and he begs her not to sleep with him for his sake (3.4 188-189). Hamlet feels that Gertrude has not only been unfaithful to him, but to the old King Hamlet as well (3.4 42-47). Thisjealousy consequently provokes his inner ego to emerge, making him change his views of women because of his mother.
Regarding Ophelia, Hamlet feels betrayed by her; since she was part of Polonius plan todecode the reason for Hamlet’s madness (3.1 108-109). He also shows fear of intimacy, commitment and sexuality, by avoiding a serious relationship with her. Polonius expresses this when he warnsOphelia about the lack of interest Hamlet has, focused more in reigning the Kingdom than her (1.3 124-131).
Hamlet’s interaction with Gertrude and Ophelia has tendencies of a love-hate relationship. Atthe end of the play, Hamlet justifies killing King Claudius because his mother died, showing signs of admiration towards her, by saying, “Drink off this potion, is thy union here? Follow my...