Application to Hamlet.doc

8/10/2019 Application to Hamlet.doc

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Hardiansyah Kasim

The Psychological Approach: Freud

I. AIMS AND PRINCIPLES

Having discussed two of the basic a !oaches to "ite!a!# unde!standing$ the

t!aditiona" and the fo!%a"istic$ we now e&a%ine a thi!d inte! !etive e!s ective$ the

s#cho"ogica". 'f a"" the c!itica" a !oaches to "ite!atu!e$ this has been one of the %ost

cont!ove!sia"$ the %ost abused$ and(fo! %an# !eade!s( the "east a !eciated. )et$ fo!

a"" the difficu"ties invo"ved in its !o e! a "ication to inte! !etive ana"#sis$ the

s#cho"ogica" a !oach can be fascinating and !ewa!ding. 'u! u! ose in this cha te! is

th!eefo"d* +,- to account b!ief"# fo! the %isunde!standing of s#cho"ogica" c!iticis% +/-

to out"ine the s#cho"ogica" theo!# %ost co%%on"# used as an inte! !etive too" b#

%ode!n c!itics and +0- to show b# e&a% "es how !eade!s %a# a "# this %ode of

inte! !etation to enhance thei! unde!standing and a !eciation of "ite!atu!e.

1he idea of enhancement %ust be unde!stood as a !eface to ou! discussion. It is

a&io%atic that no sing"e a !oach can e&haust the %anifo"d inte! !etive ossibi"ities of a

wo!thwhi"e "ite!a!# wo!2 each a !oach has its own ecu"ia! "i%itations. As we have

a"!ead# discove!ed$ the "i%itations of the t!aditiona" a !oach "ie in its tendenc# to

ove!"oo2 the st!uctu!a" int!icacies of the wo!2. 1he fo!%a"istic a !oach$ on the othe! hand$ often neg"ects histo!ica" and socio"ogica" conte&ts that %a# !ovide i% o!tant

insights into the %eaning of the wo!2.

In tu!n$ the c!ucia" "i%itation of the s#cho"ogica" a !oach is its aesthetic

inade3uac#* s#cho"ogica" inte! !etation can affo!d %an# !ofound c"ues towa!d

so"ving a wo!24s the%atic and s#%bo"ic %#ste!ies$ but it can se"do% account fo! the

beautifu" s#%%et!# of a we""5w!ought oe% o! of a fictiona" %aste! iece. 1hough the

s#cho"ogica" a !oach is an e&ce""ent too" fo! !eading beneath the "ines$ theinte! !etive c!afts%an %ust often use othe! too"s$ such as the t!aditiona" and the

fo!%a"istic a !oaches$ fo! a !o e! !ende!ing of the "ines the%se"ves.

A. Abuses and Misunderstandings

of the Psychological Approach

In the gene!a" sense of the wo!d$ the!e is nothing new about the s#cho"ogica" a !oach.

As ea!"# as the fou!th centu!# 6 .C.$ A!istot"e used it in setting fo!th his c"assic definition

of t!aged# as co%bining the e%otions of it# and te!!o! to !oduce catha!sis. 1he


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7co% "eat gent"e%an7 of the Eng"ish Renaissance$ Si! Phi"i Sidne#$ with his state%ents

about the %o!a" effects of oet!#$ was s#cho"ogi8ing "ite!atu!e$ as we!e such !o%antic

oets as Co"e!idge$ 9o!dswo!th$ and She""e# with thei! theo!ies of the i%agination. In

this sense$ then$ vi!tua""# eve!# "ite!a!# c!itic has been conce!ned at so%e ti%e with the

s#cho"og# of w!iting o! !es onding to "ite!atu!e.

Du!ing the twentieth centu!#$ howeve!$ s#cho"ogica" c!iticis% has co%e to be

associated with a a!ticu"a! schoo" of thought* the s#choana"#tic theo!ies of Sig%und

:!eud +,;0>- and his fo""owe!s. +1he cu!!ent"# %ost significant of these fo""owe!s$

?ac3ues Lacan$ wi"" be discussed in cha te! =.- :!o% this association have de!ived %ost

of the abuses and %isunde!standings of the %ode!n s#cho"ogica" a !oach to "ite!atu!e.

Abuses of the a !oach have !esu"ted f!o% an e&cess of enthusias%$ which has been

%anifested in seve!a" wa#s. :i!st$ the !actitione!s of the :!eudian a !oach often ush

thei! c!itica" theses too ha!d$ fo!cing "ite!atu!e into a P!oc!ustean bed of s#choana"#tic

theo!# at the e& ense of othe! !e"evant conside!ations +fo! e&a% "e$ the wo!24s tota"

the%atic and aesthetic conte&t-. Second$ the "ite!a!# c!iticis% of the s#choana"#tic

e&t!e%ists has at ti%es degene!ated into a s ecia" occu"tis% with its own %#sti3ue and

@a!gon e&c"usive"# fo! the in5g!ou . 1hi!d$ %an# c!itics of the s#cho"ogica" schoo" have

been eithe! "ite!a!# scho"a!s who have unde!stood the !inci "es of s#cho"og#i% e!fect"# o! !ofessiona" s#cho"ogists who have had "itt"e fee"ing fo! "ite!atu!e as a!t*

the fo!%e! have abused :!eudian insights th!ough ove!si% "ification and disto!tion the

"atte! have b!uised ou! "ite!a!# sensibi"ities.

1hese abuses have given !ise to a wides !ead %ist!ust of the s#cho"ogica"

a !oach as a too" fo! c!itica" ana"#sis. Conse!vative scho"a!s and teache!s of "ite!atu!e$

often shoc2ed b# such te!%s as anal eroticism, phallic symbol, and Oedipal complex,

and confused b# the c"inica" diagnoses of "ite!a!# !ob"e%s +fo! e&a% "e$ theinte! !etation of Ha%"et4s cha!acte! as a 7seve!e case of h#ste!ia on a c#c"oth#%ic

basis7(that is$ a %anic5de !essive s#chosis-$ have !e@ected a"" s#cho"ogica" c!iticis%$

othe! than the co%%onsense t# e$ as !etentious nonsense. 6# e& "aining a few of the

!inci "es of :!eudian s#cho"og# that have been a "ied to "ite!a!# inte! !etation and

b# !oviding so%e cautiona!# !e%a!2s$ we ho e to int!oduce the !eade! to a ba"anced

c!itica" e!s ective that wi"" enab"e hi% o! he! to a !eciate the inst!uctive ossibi"ities

of the s#cho"ogica" a !oach whi"e avoiding the itfa""s of eithe! e&t!e%ist attitude.


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B. Freud's Theories

1he foundation of :!eud4s cont!ibution to %ode!n s#cho"og# is his e% hasis on

the unconscious as ects of the hu%an s#che. A b!i""iant c!eative genius$ :!eud

!ovided convincing evidence$ th!ough his %an# ca!efu""# !eco!ded case studies$ that

%ost of ou! actions a!e %otivated b# s#cho"ogica" fo!ces ove! which we have ve!#

"i%ited cont!o". He de%onst!ated that$ "i2e the icebe!g$ the hu%an %ind is st!uctu!ed so

that its g!eat weight and densit# "ie beneath the su!face +be"ow the "eve" of

consciousness-. In 71he Anato%# of the Menta" Pe!sona"it#$7 :!eud disc!i%inates

between the "eve"s of conscious and unconscious %enta" activit#*

1he o"dest and best %eaning of the wo!d 7unconscious7 is the desc!i tive one

we ca"" 7unconscious7 an# %enta" !ocess the e&istence of which we a!e ob"igated to

assu%e(because$ fo! instance$ we infe! it in so%e wa# f!o% its effects(but of which

we a!e not di!ect"# awa!e. ... If we want to be %o!e accu!ate$ we shou"d %odif# the

state%ent b# sa#ing that we ca"" a !ocess 7unconscious7 when we have to assu%e that

it was active at a certain time, a"though at that time we 2new nothing about it. +>>5, -

:!eud fu!the! e% hasi8es the i% o!tance of the unconscious b# ointing out that

even the 7%ost conscious !ocesses a!e conscious fo! on"# a sho!t e!iod 3uite soonthe# beco%e latent, though the# can easi"# beco%e conscious again7 +, -. In view of

this$ :!eud defines two 2inds of unconscious*

one which is t!ansfo!%ed into conscious %ate!ia" easi"# and unde! conditions

which f!e3uent"# a!ise$ and anothe! in the case of which such a t!ansfo!%ation is

difficu"t$ can on"# co%e about with a conside!ab"e e& enditu!e of ene!g#$ o! %a# neve!

occu! at a"". . . . 9e ca"" the unconscious which is on"# "atent$ and so can easi"# beco%e

conscious$ the 7 !econscious$7 and 2ee the na%e 7unconscious7 fo! the othe!. +, ,-1hat %ost of the individua"4s %enta" !ocesses a!e unconscious is thus :!eud4s

fi!st %a@o! !e%ise. 1he second +which has been !e@ected b# a g!eat %an# !ofessiona"

s#cho"ogists$ inc"uding so%e of :!eud4s own disci "es(fo! e&a% "e$ Ca!" Bustav ?ung

and A"f!ed Ad"e!- is that "" hu%an behavio! is %otivated u"ti%ate"# b# what we wou"d

ca"" se&ua"it#. :!eud designates the !i%e s#chic fo!ce as "ibido$ o! se&ua" ene!g#. His

thi!d %a@o! !e%ise is that because of the owe!fu" socia" taboos attached to ce!tain


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se&ua" i% u"ses$ %an# of ou! desi!es and %e%o!ies a!e !e !essed +that is$ active"#

e&c"uded f!o% conscious awa!eness-.

Sta!ting f!o% these th!ee !e%ises$ we %a# e&a%ine seve!a" co!o""a!ies of

:!eudian theo!#. P!inci a" a%ong these is :!eud4s assign%ent of the %enta" !ocesses to

th!ee s#chic 8ones* the id$ the ego$ and the su e!ego. An e& "anation of these 8ones

%a# be i""ust!ated with :!eud4s own diag!a%*


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e!ce tua"5conscious

1he diag!a% !evea"s i%%ediate"# the vast o!tion of the %enta" a a!atus that is

not conscious. :u!the!%o!e$ it he" s to c"a!if# the !e"ationshi between ego$ id$ and

su e!ego$ as we"" as thei! co""ective !e"ationshi to the conscious and the unconscious.

9e shou"d note that the id is enti!e"# unconscious and that on"# a s%a"" o!tion of the

ego and the su e!ego is conscious. 9ith this diag!a% as a guide$ we %a# define the

natu!e and functions of the th!ee s#chic 8ones.

,. 1he id is the !ese!voi! of "ibido$ the !i%a!# sou!ce of a"" s#chic ene!g#. Itfunctions to fu"fi"" the !i%o!dia" "ife !inci "e$ which :!eud conside!s to be the

pleasure principle. 9ithout consciousness o! se%b"ance of !ationa" o!de!$ the id is

cha!acte!i8ed b# a t!e%endous and a%o! hous vita"it#. S ea2ing %eta ho!ica""#$ :!eud

e& "ains this 7obscu!e inaccessib"e a!t of ou! e!sona"it#7 as 7a chaos$ a cau"d!on of

seething e&cite%ent with no o!gani8ation and no unified wi""$ on"# an i% u"sion to

obtain satisfaction fo! the instinctua" needs$ in acco!dance with the "easu!e !inci "e7

+, 05F,-. He fu!the! st!esses that the 7"aws of "ogic(above a""$ the "aw of cont!adiction (do not ho"d fo! !ocesses of the id. Cont!adicto!# i% u"ses e&ist side b# side without

neut!a"i8ing each othe! o! d!awing a a!t. . . . Natu!a""#$ the id 2nows no va"ues$ no good

and evi"$ no %o!a"it#7 +, G5


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Safet# fo! the se"f and fo! othe!s does not "ie within the !ovince of the id its conce!n is

u!e"# fo! instinctua" g!atification$ heed"ess of conse3uence. :o! centu!ies befo!e :!eud$

this fo!ce was !ecogni8ed in hu%an natu!e but often att!ibuted to su e!natu!a" and

e&te!na" !athe! than natu!a" and inte!na" fo!ces* the id as defined b# :!eud is identica" in

%an# !es ects to the Devi" as defined b# theo"ogians. 1hus the!e is a ce!tain

s#cho"ogica" va"idit# in the o"d sa#ing that a !a%bunctious chi"d +whose id has not #et

been b!ought unde! cont!o" b# ego and su e!ego- is 7fu"" of the devi".7 9e %a# a"so see

in #oung chi"d!en +and neu!otic adu"ts- ce!tain uncont!o""ed i% u"ses towa!d "easu!e

that often "ead to e&cessive se"f5indu"gence and even to se"f5in@u!#

/. In view of the id4s dange!ous otentia"ities$ it is necessa!# that othe! s#chic

agencies !otect the individua" and societ#. 1he fi!st of these !egu"ating agencies$ that

which !otects the individua"$ is the ego. 1his is the !ationa" gove!ning agent of the

s#che. 1hough the ego "ac2s the st!ong vita"it# of the id$ it !egu"ates the instinctua"

d!ives of the id so that the# %a# be !e"eased in nondest!uctive behavio!a" atte!ns. And

though a "a!ge o!tion of the ego is unconscious$ the ego neve!the"ess co% !ises what

we o!dina!i"# thin2 of as the conscious %ind. As :!eud oints out$ 7In o u"a! "anguage$

we %a# sa# that the ego stands fo! !eason and ci!cu%s ection$ whi"e the id stands fo!

the unta%ed assions.7 9he!eas the id is gove!ned so"e"# b# the "easu!e !inci "e$ theego is gove!ned b# the reality principle. Conse3uent"#$ the ego se!ves as inte!%edia!#

between the wo!"d within and the wo!"d without.

0. 1he othe! !egu"ating agent$ that which !i%a!i"# functions to !otect societ#$

is the superego. La!ge"# unconscious$ the su e!ego is the %o!a" censo!ing agenc#$ the

!e osito!# of conscience and !ide. It is$ as :!eud sa#s in 71he Anato%# of the Menta"

Pe!sona"it#7 the 7!e !esentative of a"" %o!a" !est!ictions$ the advocate of the i% u"se

towa!d e!fection$ in sho!t it is as %uch as we have been ab"e to a !ehend s#cho5"ogica""# of what eo "e ca"" the 4highe!4 things in hu%an "ife7 +>


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su e!ego c!eates an unconscious sense of gui"t +hence the fa%i"ia! te!% guilt complex

and the o u"a! %isconce tion that :!eud advocated the !e"a&ing of a"" %o!a" inhibitions

and socia" !est!aints-. 9he!eas the id is do%inated b# the "easu!e !inci "e and the ego

b# the !ea"it# !inci "e$ the su e!ego is do%inated b# the morality principle. 9e %ight

sa# that the id wou"d %a2e us devi"s$ that the su e!ego wou"d have us behave as ange"s

+o!$ wo!se$ as c!eatu!es of abso"ute socia" confo!%it#-$ and that it !e%ains fo! the ego to

2ee us hea"th# hu%an beings b# %aintaining a ba"ance between these two o osing

fo!ces. It was this ba"ance that :!eud advocated(not a co% "ete !e%ova" of inhibiting

facto!s.

'ne of the %ost inst!uctive a "ications of this :!eudian t!i5 a!tition to "ite!a!#

c!iticis% is the we""52nown essa# 7In No%ine Diabo"i7 b# Hen!# A. Mu!!a# +G0


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Poe$ # Psycho-#nalytic %nterpretation, Ma!ie 6ona a!te inte! !ets the figu!e of Ps#che

in 7 "a"u%e7 as an a%biva"ent %othe! figu!e$ both the "onged5fo! %othe! and the

%othe! as su e!ego who shie"ds he! son f!o% his incestuous instincts$ conc"uding with

the fo""owing sta!t"ing obse!vation* 7Ps#che4s d!oo ing$ t!ai"ing wings in this oe%

s#%bo"ise in conc!ete fo!% Poe4s h#sica" i% otence. 9e 2now that f"#ing$ to a"" !aces$

unconscious"# s#%bo"ises the se& act$ and that anti3uit# often !e !esented the enis

e!ect and winged.7 :o! the s2e tica" !eade! 6ona a!te !ovides this e& "anation*

Infinite a!e the s#%bo"s %an has the ca acit# to c!eate$ as indeed$ the d!ea%s

and !e"igions of the savage and civi"i8ed we"" show. Eve!# natu!a" ob@ect %a# be uti"ised

to this end #et$ des ite thei! %u"ti "e sha es$ the ob@ects and !e"ations to which the#

attach a!e !e"ative"# few* these inc"ude the beings we "oved fi!st$ such as %othe!$ fathe!$

b!othe!s o! siste!s and thei! bodies$ but %ain"# ou! own bodies and genita"s$ and thei!s.

A"%ost a"" s#%bo"is% is se&ua"$ in its widest sense$ ta2ing the wo!d as the dee "#5

bu!ied !i%a" u!ge behind a"" e& !essions of "ove$ f!o% the c!ad"e to the g!ave. +/>G-

A"though such obse!vations as these %a# have a sound s#choana"#tic basis$

thei! !e"evance to sound c!itica" ana"#sis has been 3uestioned b# %an# scho"a!s. 9e %a#

s#% athi8e with thei! inc!edu"ousness when we encounte! the :!eudian essa# that

inte! !ets even a see%ing"# innocent fai!# ta"e "i2e 7Litt"e Red Riding Hood7 as ana""ego!# of the age5o"d conf"ict between %a"e and fe%a"e in which the "uc2# #oung

vi!gin$ whose !ed ca is a %enst!ua" s#%bo"$ outwits the !uth"ess$ se&5hung!# 7wo"f7

+:!o%% /0


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the individua" is f!ust!ated in g!atif#ing these needs du!ing chi"dhood$ the adu"t

e!sona"it# %a# be wa! ed acco!ding"# +that is$ deve"o %ent %a# be a!!ested o!

ixated(. :o! e&a% "e$ adu"ts who a!e co% u"sive"# fastidious %a# suffe!$ acco!ding to

the s#choana"#st$ f!o% an ana" fi&ation t!aceab"e to ove!"# st!ict toi"et t!aining du!ing

ea!"# chi"dhood. Li2ewise$ co% u"sive ciga!ette s%o2ing %a# be inte! !eted as a

s#% to% of o!a" fi&ation t!aceab"e to !e%atu!e weaning. Even a%ong 7no!%a"7 adu"ts$

sub"i%ated !es onses occu! when the individua" is vica!ious"# sti%u"ated b# i%ages

associated with one of the %a@o! e!ogenous 8ones. In his )iction and the *nconscious,

Si%on '. Lesse! suggests that the ana"5e!otic 3ua"it# in +obinson rusoe +%anifested in

the he!o4s sc!u u"ous !eco!d 2ee ing and o!de!"iness- accounts at "east a!tia""# fo! the

unconscious a ea" of Defoe4s %aste! iece +0 =-.

Acco!ding to :!eud$ the chi"d !eaches the stage of genita" !i%ac# a!ound age

five$ at which ti%e the 'edi us co% "e& %anifests itse"f. In si% "e te!%s$ the 'edi us

co% "e& de!ives f!o% the bo#4s unconscious !iva"!# with his fathe! fo! the "ove of his

%othe!. :!eud bo!!owed the te!% f!o% the c"assic So hoc"ean t!aged# in which the he!o

unwitting"# %u!de!s his fathe! and %a!!ies his %othe!. In The "go and the %d, :!eud de5

sc!ibes the co% "e& as fo""ows*

. . . the bo# dea"s with his fathe! b# identif#ing hi%se"f with hi%. :o! a ti%e these two!e"ationshi s the chi"d4s devotion to his %othe! and identification with his fathe!

!oceed side b# side$ unti" the bo#4s se&ua" wishes in !ega!d to his %othe! beco%e %o!e

intense and his fathe! is e!ceived as an obstac"e to the% f!o% this the 'edi us

co% "e& o!iginates. His identification with his fathe! then ta2es on a hosti"e co"ou!ing

and changes into a wish to get !id of his fathe! in o!de! to ta2e his "ace with his %othe!.

Hencefo!wa!d his !e"ation to his fathe! is a%biva"ent it see%s as if the a%biva"ence

inhe!ent in the identification f!o% the beginning had beco%e %anifest. An a%biva"entattitude to his fathe! and an ob@ect5!e"ation of a so"e"# affectionate 2ind to his %othe!

%a2e u the content of the si% "e ositive 'edi us co% "e& in a bo#. +/,5//-

:u!the! !a%ifications of the 'edi us co% "e& a!e a fea! of cast!ation and an

identification of the fathe! with st!ict autho!it# in a"" fo!%s subse3uent hosti"it# to

autho!it# is the!efo!e associated with the 'edi a" a%biva"ence to which :!eud !efe!s.

+1he 'edi us co% "e& figu!es st!ong"# in ?ac3ues Lacan4s s#choana"#tic theo!# see


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cha te! = .- A sto!# "i2e Nathanie" Hawtho!ne4s 7M# Jins%an$ Ma@o! Mo"ineu&$7 fo!

instance$ has been inte! !eted b# Lesse! as essentia""# a s#%bo"ic !ebe""ion against the

fathe! figu!e. And with this insight we %a# find %eaning in the #oung he!o4s distu!bing

outbu!st of "aughte! as he watches the c!ue" ta!!ing and feathe!ing of his once5!es ected

!e"ative* the #outh is e& !essing his unconscious @o# in being !e"eased f!o% a!enta"

autho!it#. Now he is f!ee$ as the f!iend"# st!ange! suggests$ to %a2e his own wa# in the

adu"t wo!"d without the he" +and !est!aint- of his 2ins%an.


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. TH! P"#$H%&% $A& APP(%A$H

) P(A$T $!

A. Hamlet: The %edipus $omple*

A"though :!eud hi%se"f %ade so%e a "ications of his theo!ies to a!t and

"ite!atu!e$ it !e%ained fo! an Eng"ish disci "e$ the s#choana"#st E!nest ?ones$ to !ovide

the fi!st fu""5sca"e

s#choana"#tic t!eat%ent of a %a@o! "ite!a!# wo!2. ?ones4s amlet and Oedipus,

o!igina""# ub"ished as an essa# in The #merican ournal o Psychology in ,>, $ was

"ate! !evised and en"a!ged.

?ones bases his a!gu%ent on the thesis that Ha%"et4s %uch5debated de"a# in

2i""ing his unc"e$ C"audius$ is to be e& "ained in te!%s of inte!na" !athe! than e&te!na"

ci!cu%stances and that the 7 "a# is %ain"# conce!ned with a he!o4s unavai"ing fight

against what can on"# be ca""ed a diso!de!ed %ind.7 In his ca!efu""# docu%ented essa#

?ones bui"ds a high"# e!suasive case histo!# of Ha%"et as a s#choneu!otic who suffe!s

f!o% %anic5de !essive h#ste!ia co%bined with an abulia +an inabi"it# to e&e!cise

wi"" owe! and co%e to decisions-(a"" of which %a# be t!aced to the he!o4s seve!e"#

!e !essed 'edi a" fee"ings. ?ones oints out that no !ea""# satisf#ing a!gu%ent has eve!

been substantiated fo! the idea that Ha%"et avenges his fathe!4s %u!de! as 3uic2"# as !acticab"e. Sha2es ea!e %a2es C"audius4s gui"t as we"" as Ha%"et4s dut# e!fect"# c"ea!

f!o% the outset(if we a!e to t!ust the wo!ds of the ghost and the g"oo%# insights of the

he!o hi%se"f. 1he fact is$ howeve!$ that Ha%"et does not fu"fi"" this dut# unti" abso"ute"#

fo!ced to do so b# h#sica" ci!cu%stances(and even then on"# afte! Be!t!ude$ his

%othe!$ is dead. ?ones a"so e"ucidates the st!ong %isog#n# that Ha%"et dis "a#s

th!oughout the "a#$ es ecia""# as it is di!ected against ' he"ia$ and his a"%ost h#sica"

!evu"sion to se&. A"" of this adds u to a c"assic e&a% "e of the neu!otica""# !e !essed'edi us co% "e&.

1he a%biva"ence that t# ifies the chi"d4s attitude towa!d his fathe! is d!a%ati8ed in the

cha!acte!s of the ghost +the good$ "ovab"e fathe! with who% the bo# identifies- and

C"audius +the hated fathe! as t#!ant and !iva"-$ both of who% a!e d!a%atic !o@ections of

the he!o4s own conscious5unconscious a%biva"ence towa!d the fathe! figu!e. 1he ghost

!e !esents the conscious idea" of fathe!hood$ the i%age that is socia""# acce tab"e*

See$ what a g!ace was seated on this b!ow*


12/13

H# e!ion4s cu!"s$ the f!ont of ?ove hi%se"f$

An e#e "i2e Ma!s$ to th!eaten and co%%and$

A station "i2e the he!a"d Me!cu!#

New5"ighted on a heaven52issing hi""

A co%bination and a fo!% indeed$

9he!e eve!# god did see% to set his sea"$

1o give the wo!"d assu!ance of a %an* 1his was #ou! husband. +I"".iv-

His view of C"audius$ on the othe! hand$ !e !esents Ha%"et4s !e !essed hosti"it# towa!d

his fathe! as a !iva" fo! his %othe!4s affection. 1his new 2ing5fathe! is the s#%bo"ic

e! et!ato! of the ve!# deeds towa!d which the son is i% e""ed b# his own unconscious

%otives* %u!de! of his fathe! and incest with his %othe!. Ha%"et cannot b!ing hi%se"f to

2i"" C"audius because to do so he %ust$ in a s#cho"ogica" sense$ 2i"" hi%se"f. His de"a#

and f!ust!ation in t!#ing to fu"fi"" the ghost4s de%and fo! vengeance %a# the!efo!e be

e& "ained b# the fact that$ as ?ones uts it$ the 7thought of incest and a!!icide co%bined

is too into"e!ab"e to be bo!ne. 'ne a!t of hi% t!ies to ca!!# out the tas2$ the othe!

f"inches ine&o!ab"# f!o% the thought of it7 +K;5K>-.

No!%an N. Ho""and neat"# su%%ed u the !easons both fo! Ha%"et4s de"a# and a"so fo! ou! th!ee5hund!ed5#ea! de"a# in co% !ehending Ha%"et4s t!ue %otives*

Now what do c!itics %ean when the# sa# that Ha%"et cannot act because of his 'edi us

co% "e& 1he a!gu%ent is ve!# si% "e$ ve!# e"egant. 'ne$ eo "e ove! the centu!ies

have been unab"e to sa# wh# Ha%"et de"a#s in 2i""ing the %an who %u!de!ed his fathe!

and %a!!ied his %othe!. 1wo$ s#choana"#tic e& e!ience shows that eve!# chi"d wants to

do @ust e&act"# that. 1h!ee$ Ha%"et de"a#s because he cannot unish C"audius fo! doing

what he hi%se"f wished to do as a chi"d and$ unconscious"#$ sti"" wishes to do* he wou"d be unishing hi%se"f. :ou!$ the fact that this wish is unconscious e& "ains wh# eo "e

cou"d not e& "ain Ha%"et4s de"a#. +,


13/13

cu"%inates in the bitte! %isog#n# of his outbu!st against ' he"ia$ who is devastated at

having to bea! a !eaction so who""# out of !o o!tion to he! own offense and has no idea

that in !evi"ing he! Ha%"et is !ea""# e& !essing his bitte! !esent%ent against his %othe!7

+?ones >=-. 1he fa%ous 7Bet thee to a nunne!#7 s eech has even %o!e siniste! ove!tones

than a!e gene!a""# !ecogni8ed$ e& "ains ?ones$ when we unde!stand the atho"ogica"

deg!ee of Ha%"et4s conditions and !ead 7nunne!#7 as E"i8abethan s"ang fo! b!othe".

1he unde!"#ing the%e !e"ates u"ti%ate"# to the s "itting of the %othe! i%age

which the infanti"e unconscious effects into two o osite ictu!es* one of a vi!gina"

Madonna$ an inaccessib"e saint towa!ds who% a"" sensua" a !oaches a!e unthin2ab"e$

and the othe! of a sensua" c!eatu!e accessib"e to eve!#one. . . . 9hen se&ua" !e !ession is

high"# !onounced$ as with Ha%"et$ then both t# es of wo%en a!e fe"t to be hosti"e* the

u!e one out of !esent%ent at he! !e u"ses$ the sensua" one out of the te% tation she

offe!s to "unge into gui"tiness. Misog#n#$ as in the "a#$ is the inevitab"e !esu"t. +>K5>;-

A"though it has been attac2ed b# the anti5:!eudians and occasiona""# dis a!aged as

7obso"ete7 b# the neo5:!eudians$ ?ones4s c!itica" tou! de fo!ce has neve!the"ess attained

the status of a %ode!n c"assic. 76oth as an i% o!tant se%ina" wo!2 which "ed to a

conside!ab"e !e5e&a%ination of amlet, and as an e&a% "e of a tho!ough and inte""igent

a "ication of s#choana"#sis to d!a%a$7 w!ites C"audia C. Mo!!ison$ 7?ones4s essa#stands as the sing"e %ost i% o!tant :!eudian stud# of "ite!atu!e to a ea! in

A%e!ica . . .7 +,K

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