Psychoanalytic Analysis of Shakespeare's Hamlet

If one wants to truly understand the psychological implications of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the primary focus should be on the character Hamlet, and how he develops and modifies throughout the play. Using the fundamentals of the psychoanalytic perspective of critical evaluation, one would be able to truly identify and explore the true nature of Hamlet, and the effects that his character has on the situation surrounding him. In order to gain a true understanding of most of the detail that is implied through Hamlet's way of portraying himself to others, it is vital to look deep into the actions that are carried out, and analyze them psychoanalytically.

Many have already written works that evaluate the play using this method, and one can also do this simply by having a good understanding of what a psychological evaluation truly is. Before beginning the analysis, it would be necessary to have a proper understanding of the psychoanalytical perspective. After attaining knowledge about the perspective, and reading Hamlet of course, one can begin to make important connections using details from the play.

In the actual play, one of the principle argument is whether Hamlet is truly mad or not. To analyze this for validity, one would have to look at the linguistics of the play and the situations that play out within it. There is concrete evidence, as well as implied detail, which leads one to believe that Hamlet is only acting as if he were mad in order to carry out his plan to avenge the death of the late King Hamlet.

One of the first examples of this evidence shows itself when Hamlet warns Horatio of what he's planning, and in effect, not to blow his cover.

"Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, how strange or odd soe'er I bear myself,-- As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on,-- that you, at such times seeing me, never shall...note that you know aught of me:--this is not to do, so grace and mercy at your most need help you, swear." (Hamlet)

This quotation clearly shows that Hamlet is conscious of the situation, and will pretend to be mad. But, there is other evidence that may lead one to think about whether or not Hamlet may have actually been slightly mad. For instance, it strikes one as odd that Hamlet waits so long, and goes through so much trouble in order to kill King Claudius. Hamlet was struggling with himself, debating when to avenge his father's death, though he had several opportunities, such as the time he found Claudius alone praying. He considers doing it at that time, recognizing it as a good oppritunity, but then finds reason to wait.

"Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I'll do't;--and so he goes to heaven; and so am I reveng'd.--that would be scann'd: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven." (Hamlet)

Had Hamlet really been mentally sound, he might have acted right away, killing the king. Instead he exhibits a great deal of internal conflict because he's desperate to make his move, but believes that in this situation, killing the king would actually a blessing to him, rather than the punishment that Hamlet feels her deserves.

One of the most valuable insights into whether or not Hamlet has actually gone mad comes with Shakespeare's presentation of the ghost of Hamlet's father. This is a part of the play that has been fuel for debate between critics and readers alike. Some believe that it is the ghost of Hamlet's father that "brought forth the urge for vengeance within Hamlet" (Paredes) while others believe that Hamlet "already had within himself the urge to kill and to seek revenge for his father" (Paredes) and that the ghost was contrived by Hamlet's imagination to justify his urge to kill Claudius.

With the appearance of the ghost the reader is, whether they realize it or not, being challenged to take a position on Hamlet's state of mind. At first the reader may take it at face value assuming that a ghost is a ghost and should be accepted as such. But after a deeper look using the psychoanalytic perspective of critical evaluation, it becomes believable that the ghost is just a trick of Hamlet's mind used to justify his urges to avenge his father's death, a sort of madness. It is hard to decide what to think about Shakespeare's introduction of the ghost because of the two different ways he portrays it.

Hamlet is not the first one to see the ghost, Marcellus and Bernardo were. The next night it appeared to Horatio as well. It was only after its first two appearances that