You strike me as a genuinely sharp, thoughtful and insightful person, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the analysis of Hamlet. Thank you, keep it up 🫶
Through these quotes Hamlet : “A bloody deed- almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother.”, Gertrude : “As kill a king?”, and Hamlet : “Ay, lady, it was my word.”, did Hamlet tried to reveal the truth that Claudius killed King Hamlet ? And did Gertrude noticed that Claudius killed King Hamlet ?
It almost seems like Hamlet's idealisation of his late father results in him taking on his perceived expectations of stepping into the role his father once had. It does not help that the ghost (his father) is laying it on thick, with the high expectations, even from beyond the grave. And so Hamlet sees himself as having to play the man in his relationship with his mother and therefore detests her relationship with Claudius. He then develops this misogynistic viewpoint, as women happens to be an obstacle he faces when attempting to fulfil his perceived duty passed down from his father who passed on without much warning. What's worse is that this affects Ophelia as well as she is a woman, that Hamlet may have loved very dearly once and was forced to painfully discard from his heart in replacement for his duty. What could have been a very romantic love story (or love beyond the classes) then became a tragic love story. All in all, the actual villain in this play may very well be Hamlet's father /the ghost because of the number of deaths that resulted from Hamlet's "duty" of revenge. Why are fathers just so problematic in this play ??? :/
Thanks for the thoughtful comments. You make some good points. I'm always careful when trying to pinpoint blame in tragedies, though. It's almost always VERY complex.
Good point. Hamlet cries later, off-stage, suggesting he's not a sociopathic monster. But at this moment, he's pretty riled up, and his mission to confront his mother overrides all else. Gertrude, too, I'd say is overwhelmed by Hamlet's lunatic ravings. Shakespeare also has to conveniently forget about Polonius so that the big Oedipal scene can proceed.
Hi Soyy. Good question. Hmm. At the surface level, Hamlet laments what he sees as the corruption of his family unit by Gertrude. Remember, he is an underdeveloped adult. That kind of normal love can co-exist with subconscious pathological desires. Psychological complexes don't make much rationale sense. And of course, he doesn't know he has it. The core of it is Hamlet is jealous of Claudius for doing what he himself wanted to do (subconsciously). Also out of jealousy, he wants his mom to remain sexless, faithful to his father (to maintain childhood family unit) and to him (to satisfy Oedipal desires). I explain in more detail here, including a bit about the original Oedipus story: ua-cam.com/video/YBYJhyTRbD8/v-deo.htmlsi=cgL3ZUCrA-2JvqTH
i love u i have a levels soon and these videos are saving meeeee
Thanks, Sophia. Glad you find them useful. Good luck!
You strike me as a genuinely sharp, thoughtful and insightful person, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the analysis of Hamlet. Thank you, keep it up 🫶
Thanks, Olivia. Glad you like the videos:)
Through these quotes Hamlet : “A bloody deed- almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother.”, Gertrude : “As kill a king?”, and Hamlet : “Ay, lady, it was my word.”, did Hamlet tried to reveal the truth that Claudius killed King Hamlet ? And did Gertrude noticed that Claudius killed King Hamlet ?
That’s a key question, Nicholas. And fascinating. Here’s what I think: ua-cam.com/video/HuYE0KVnmfM/v-deo.html
It almost seems like Hamlet's idealisation of his late father results in him taking on his perceived expectations of stepping into the role his father once had. It does not help that the ghost (his father) is laying it on thick, with the high expectations, even from beyond the grave. And so Hamlet sees himself as having to play the man in his relationship with his mother and therefore detests her relationship with Claudius. He then develops this misogynistic viewpoint, as women happens to be an obstacle he faces when attempting to fulfil his perceived duty passed down from his father who passed on without much warning. What's worse is that this affects Ophelia as well as she is a woman, that Hamlet may have loved very dearly once and was forced to painfully discard from his heart in replacement for his duty. What could have been a very romantic love story (or love beyond the classes) then became a tragic love story.
All in all, the actual villain in this play may very well be Hamlet's father /the ghost because of the number of deaths that resulted from Hamlet's "duty" of revenge. Why are fathers just so problematic in this play ??? :/
Thanks for the thoughtful comments. You make some good points. I'm always careful when trying to pinpoint blame in tragedies, though. It's almost always VERY complex.
I can't believe Hamlet and his mother keep talking and minimise the death of Polonius.
Good point. Hamlet cries later, off-stage, suggesting he's not a sociopathic monster. But at this moment, he's pretty riled up, and his mission to confront his mother overrides all else. Gertrude, too, I'd say is overwhelmed by Hamlet's lunatic ravings. Shakespeare also has to conveniently forget about Polonius so that the big Oedipal scene can proceed.
Great video, thanks :)
Thanks, Lakshmi. Glad you like it.
could you explain a little more how hamlet would have the oedipal complex if he spends so much time being upset that she moved on from his father?
Hi Soyy. Good question. Hmm. At the surface level, Hamlet laments what he sees as the corruption of his family unit by Gertrude. Remember, he is an underdeveloped adult. That kind of normal love can co-exist with subconscious pathological desires. Psychological complexes don't make much rationale sense. And of course, he doesn't know he has it. The core of it is Hamlet is jealous of Claudius for doing what he himself wanted to do (subconsciously). Also out of jealousy, he wants his mom to remain sexless, faithful to his father (to maintain childhood family unit) and to him (to satisfy Oedipal desires). I explain in more detail here, including a bit about the original Oedipus story: ua-cam.com/video/YBYJhyTRbD8/v-deo.htmlsi=cgL3ZUCrA-2JvqTH
@@5QShakespeare thank you for your response!! this perspective is fascinating! i will be sure to read more about it
Do. And let me know what you discover:) @@soyy4571
Thanks, you rock!!
Thanks Michele:)