Hamlet Oedipus Complex Quotes Analysis

Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth,

Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him

As if increase of appetite had grown

By what it fed on, and yet, within a month

Let me not think on ’t. Frailty, thy name is woman!”

(Act1 Scene 2,lines 140-145)

The Quote displays that Hamlet is jealous of the relationship between his mother and Claudius. Hamlet wants his mother to love him not Claudius. The quotes also shows Hamlet’s anger towards his mother remarrying. Hamlet’s feelings towards his mother in this quote also represents the Oedipus Complex. Hamlet also portrays the Oedipus complex when he states

“Oh, throw away the worser part of it,

And live the purer with the other half.

Good night—but go not to mine uncle’s bed.

….

Once more, good

This quote shows that Hamlet was jealous of the things that Claudius has done because it the things that he wanted to do. Hamlet is in his mother’s bedroom telling her not to be with Claudius. Hamlet is jealous if the affection his mother gives that Claudius and not him.

Even thought the Oedipus Complex plays a major role in Hamlets actions its not the only reason for Hamlets actions. The character foils within the play also have a lot to do with Hamlets actions. The character foils in hamlet mainly display Hamlets delay in killing Claudius. Laertes actions in the play help us to better understand Hamlets from a male perspective of losing and avenging a father. Whereas Ophelia helps us to see a female perspective of emotion about losing a father.

Ophelia can be considered a foil character because she provides a better understanding of Hamlet. The character foil between Hamlet and Ophelia is mainly based on the death of their father and grief. Ophelia and Hamlet are difference in the way that they grieved for their father’s deaths. When Hamlets Father dies Hamlet is full of grief which turns into anger towards Claudius and Gertrude this is shown when Hamlet