Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-1-freudian-response-to-hamlet

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [OCR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr.md) › [English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet.md) › Freudian Response to Hamlet

# Freudian Response to Hamlet

English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet, topic 7.2.1

## Early 20th Century Interpretations of *Hamlet*

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) disagreed with the Romantic view of Hamlet as a man who cannot act.

### Freud on Hamlet's murders

![Freud on Hamlet's murders](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-08/19f987a5-e2b6-4c62-a3d1-38fbd941504c/Polonius_and_Hamlet_MET_DP852085.jpg)

- Freud argued that Hamlet kills Polonius without a moment’s hesitation and later sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths with no trouble to his conscience.

### Freud on Hamlet's delay

![Freud on Hamlet's delay](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/de03d366-47e5-4351-9cec-babc2e28d81e/midsummer-night-dream-.jpg)

- Freud developed his own theory to explain the problem of Hamlet’s delay in *The Interpretation of Dreams* (1900). 
- Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis, a set of psychological theories which explored a person’s unconscious and deep-seated thoughts, memories, emotions and desires. By probing a subject’s subconscious, one could discover the hidden impulses which drive a subject’s thoughts or behaviour.

### Hamlet’s Oedipal feelings

![Hamlet’s Oedipal feelings](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-08/4ce7b703-571e-4c0d-928c-66b280e7e627/Per_Gabriel_Wickenberg_-_Oedipus_och_Antigone.jpg)

- For Freud, Hamlet’s inability to act is rooted in what he termed as Hamlet’s Oedipal feelings (or Oedipus complex) which he believed were common to all men but were deeply repressed. 
- The term is derived from the ancient Greek tragedy, *Oedipus Rex* by Sophocles, in which the hero, Oedipus, unknowingly kills his own father and marries his own mother. 
- Freud used the figure of Oedipus to illustrate his theory of psychosexual development, in which children view their same-sex parent as a rival for the opposite-sex parent's attention and affections.

### Freud on Hamlet not killing Claudius

![Freud on Hamlet not killing Claudius](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-06/1c3f530c-0e0e-457a-9fe8-5dde3e49df94/wrong-cross-.png)

- According to Freud, Hamlet is unable to kill Claudius because he cannot **“take vengeance on the man who did away with his father and took that father’s place with the mother”**. 
- Since Claudius has fulfilled **“the repressed wishes”** of Hamlet’s childhood, he subconsciously feels too strong an affinity with him which prevents him from taking out his revenge. 
- Hamlet is restrained by the realisation that he is **“no better than the sinner whom he is to punish”**.

## Exploring Freudian Interpretations of *Hamlet*

Later writers also explored the Freudian interpretation of the play, such as Ernest Jones in his classic essay, *Hamlet and Oedipus* (1949).

### Adelman on Gertrude

![Adelman on Gertrude](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-07/be955cde-d246-4fd9-bbfc-1dd86f079435/gertrude-hamlet-.jpg)

- More recently, Janet Adelman’s *Suffocating Mothers* (1992) argued that Hamlet is primarily a family drama in which the figure of Gertrude, although not a particularly complex or fully-drawn character, inspires **“fantasies larger than she is”**. 
- In Adelman’s view, **“both the play and Hamlet shift blame for old Hamlet’s murder to Gertrude”**. 
- Adelman's view is common to several strands of 20th century criticism – of Gertrude being the cause of Hamlet’s psychological torment.

### Setting: Gertrude's bedroom

![Setting: Gertrude's bedroom](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-08/df9edf81-21f2-491c-9245-861296430914/pillows-820149_1280%20(1).jpg)

- Some productions of the play allude to the Freudian interpretation of *Hamlet* by setting Act 3, Scene 4 (the scene in which Gertrude is confronted by her son) in what is clearly Gertrude’s bedroom.  
- This helps to suggest the repressed Oedipal impulses which Hamlet has towards his mother.

## Test yourself on Freudian Response to Hamlet

- In what text did Freud explain the problem of Hamlet’s delay?
- What has Claudius fulfilled, according to Freud?
- In which essay did Ernest Jones explore the Freudian interpretation of *Hamlet*?
- Which scene do some productions set in Gertrude's bedroom - alluding to the Freudian interpretation?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8dece131-d168-46de-9b11-ea7deb49963f/section/e46d1c08-6e21-4e6d-9f5a-47fe29a7c3fb/session)

- Previous topic: [7.1.3 Romantic Commentary on Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-3-romantic-commentary-on-hamlet.md)
- Next topic: [7.2.2 Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-2-other-early-20th-century-responses-to-hamlet.md)

## English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet contents

### 1 Introduction
- 1.1 Introduction & Background to Hamlet
  - [1.1.1 Introduction to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-1-introduction-to-hamlet.md)
  - [1.1.2 The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-2-the-literary-tradition-of-the-hamlet-story.md)
  - [1.1.3 Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-3-introduction-to-the-settings-in-hamlet.md)
  - [1.1.4 Introduction to Social Issues Raised](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-4-introduction-to-social-issues-raised.md)

### 2 Plot Summary
- 2.1 Act 1: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.1.1 Act 1, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-1-act-1-scene-1.md)
  - [2.1.2 Act 1, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-2-act-1-scene-2.md)
  - [2.1.3 Act 1, Scene 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-3-act-1-scene-3.md)
  - [2.1.4 Act 1, Scenes 4-5](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-4-act-1-scenes-4-5.md)
- 2.2 Act 2: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.2.1 Act 2, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-2-1-act-2-scene-1.md)
  - [2.2.2 Act 2, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-2-2-act-2-scene-2.md)
- 2.3 Act 3: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.3.1 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-1-act-3-scene-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.3.2 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-2-act-3-scene-1-key-ideas.md)
  - [2.3.3 Act 3, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-3-act-3-scene-2.md)
  - [2.3.4 Act 3, Scene 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-4-act-3-scene-3.md)
  - [2.3.5 Act 3, Scene 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-5-act-3-scene-4.md)
- 2.4 Act 4: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.4.1 Act 4, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-1-act-4-scene-1.md)
  - [2.4.2 Act 4, Scenes 2-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-2-act-4-scenes-2-3.md)
  - [2.4.3 Act 4, Scene 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-3-act-4-scene-4.md)
  - [2.4.4 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-4-act-4-scene-5-key-events.md)
  - [2.4.5 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-5-act-4-scene-5-key-ideas.md)
  - [2.4.6 Act 4, Scene 6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-6-act-4-scene-6.md)
  - [2.4.7 Act 4, Scene 7](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-7-act-4-scene-7.md)
- 2.5 Act 5: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.5.1 Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-1-act-5-scene-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.5.2 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-2-act-5-scene-2-key-events.md)
  - [2.5.3 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-3-act-5-scene-2-key-ideas.md)

### 3 Character Profiles
- 3.1 Hamlet
  - [3.1.1 Hamlet's Speech & Mind](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-1-hamlets-speech-and-mind.md)
  - [3.1.2 Hamlet's Heroic Status](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-2-hamlets-heroic-status.md)
  - [3.1.3 Hamlet's State of Mind](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-3-hamlets-state-of-mind.md)
  - [3.1.4 Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-4-hamlets-indecisionaction-taking.md)
- 3.2 Claudius
  - [3.2.1 Claudius' Crime](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-2-1-claudius-crime.md)
  - [3.2.2 Changing Impressions of Claudius](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-2-2-changing-impressions-of-claudius.md)
- 3.3 Gertrude
  - [3.3.1 Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-1-mystery-and-hamlets-view-of-gertrude.md)
  - [3.3.2 Gertrude's Character](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-2-gertrudes-character.md)
  - [3.3.3 Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-3-gertrudes-relationship-with-hamlet.md)
- 3.4 Ophelia
  - [3.4.1 Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-4-1-ophelia.md)
- 3.5 Polonius
  - [3.5.1 Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-5-1-portrayal-of-polonius-and-treatment-of-ophelia.md)
  - [3.5.2 Polonius' Spying & Death](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-5-2-polonius-spying-and-death.md)
- 3.6 Laertes
  - [3.6.1 Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-6-1-laertes-popularity-and-relationship-with-ophelia.md)
  - [3.6.2 Laertes' Character Traits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-6-2-laertes-character-traits.md)

### 4 Key Themes
- 4.1 Regicide in Hamlet
  - [4.1.1 Regicide in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-1-1-regicide-in-hamlet.md)
- 4.2 Madness in Hamlet
  - [4.2.1 Madness in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-2-1-madness-in-hamlet.md)
- 4.3 Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet
  - [4.3.1 Guilt in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-3-1-guilt-in-hamlet.md)
  - [4.3.2 Punishment in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-3-2-punishment-in-hamlet.md)
- 4.4 Settings in Hamlet
  - [4.4.1 Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-4-1-physical-settings-and-historical-setting-of-hamlet.md)

### 5 Writing Techniques
- 5.1 Structure
  - [5.1.1 Structure of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-1-structure-of-hamlet.md)
  - [5.1.2 'Play Within a Play' Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-2-play-within-a-play-structure.md)
  - [5.1.3 Play-Acting Motif](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-3-play-acting-motif.md)
- 5.2 Form
  - [5.2.1 Soliloquy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-1-soliloquy.md)
  - [5.2.2 Comedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-2-comedy.md)
- 5.3 Imagery
  - [5.3.1 Imagery of Corruption & Decay](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-3-1-imagery-of-corruption-and-decay.md)
  - [5.3.2 Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-3-2-imagery-healing-performance-and-costume.md)
- 5.4 Language
  - [5.4.1 Word Usage & Hendiadys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-4-1-word-usage-and-hendiadys.md)
  - [5.4.2 Questions & Classical Allusions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-4-2-questions-and-classical-allusions.md)

### 6 Context
- 6.1 Social & Historical Context
  - [6.1.1 Elizabeth I & Succession](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-1-elizabeth-i-and-succession.md)
  - [6.1.2 Cosmic & Social Hierarchy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-2-cosmic-and-social-hierarchy.md)
  - [6.1.3 Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-3-renaissance-and-emergence-of-humanism.md)
  - [6.1.4 Regicide](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-4-regicide.md)
  - [6.1.5 The Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-5-the-reformation.md)
- 6.2 Literary Context
  - [6.2.1 Seneca Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-2-1-seneca-tragedy.md)
  - [6.2.2 The Revenge Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-2-2-the-revenge-tragedy.md)
- 6.3 Performance & Textual History
  - [6.3.1 Performance History of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-3-1-performance-history-of-hamlet.md)
  - [6.3.2 Textual History of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-3-2-textual-history-of-hamlet.md)

### 7 Critical Debates
- 7.1 18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet
  - [7.1.1 Introduction to Critical Debates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-1-introduction-to-critical-debates.md)
  - [7.1.2 18th Century Commentary on Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-2-18th-century-commentary-on-hamlet.md)
  - [7.1.3 Romantic Commentary on Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-3-romantic-commentary-on-hamlet.md)
- 7.2 20th Century Responses to Hamlet
  - [7.2.1 Freudian Response to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-1-freudian-response-to-hamlet.md)
  - [7.2.2 Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-2-other-early-20th-century-responses-to-hamlet.md)
- 7.3 Feminist Readings of Hamlet
  - [7.3.1 Introduction to Feminist Criticism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-1-introduction-to-feminist-criticism.md)
  - [7.3.2 Feminist Readings of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-2-feminist-readings-of-hamlet.md)
  - [7.3.3 Presentation of Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-3-presentation-of-ophelia.md)
- 7.4 Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet
  - [7.4.1 Introduction to Marxist Criticisms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-4-1-introduction-to-marxist-criticisms.md)
  - [7.4.2 Marxist Readings of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-4-2-marxist-readings-of-hamlet.md)