Apply the theories in Freud’s Totem and Taboo to a reading of Shakespeare’s
Hamlet.
Only two sources needed are attached. Direct quotes and in-text citations with page numbers are required to illustrate points. Refrain from re-narrating the plot.
Discuss the “longing for the father” evident in the figure of Hamlet. Freud remarked that
“Totemic religion arose from the filial sense of guilt, in an attempt to allay that feeling
and to appease the father by deferred obedience to him” (1168). Is there perhaps a
repressed crime of patricide at work here? How would this be related to the presence of
the ghost of Hamlet’s father? Make sure to make use of Freud’s explanation of the
genesis of ghosts and the related mechanism of projection. What is it that is haunting
Hamlet? Responsibility? Vengeance? Guilty conscience?
“Totemic religion arose from the filial sense of guilt, in an attempt to allay that feeling
and to appease the father by deferred obedience to him” (1168). Is there perhaps a
repressed crime of patricide at work here? How would this be related to the presence of
the ghost of Hamlet’s father? Make sure to make use of Freud’s explanation of the
genesis of ghosts and the related mechanism of projection. What is it that is haunting
Hamlet? Responsibility? Vengeance? Guilty conscience?
Freud also speaks of the need to displace hostile feelings toward the father onto a
substitute for him. Is this evident in the play? Is there also a repressed desire for the father
to be vulnerable? Are there echoes of Christian themes at work here?
substitute for him. Is this evident in the play? Is there also a repressed desire for the father
to be vulnerable? Are there echoes of Christian themes at work here?
How does the play displace the incest taboo? Recall that Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle. This
means that Claudius killed his own brother and married his sister-in-law. How can one
interpret Hamlet’s hostility toward his mother in this context? Are there permutations
here of the oedipal problem?
means that Claudius killed his own brother and married his sister-in-law. How can one
interpret Hamlet’s hostility toward his mother in this context? Are there permutations
here of the oedipal problem?
Please discuss, as well, the function of tragedy here. Remember that, in order for a
tragedy to function, the reader must be able to identify with the protagonist. In literary
theory, the protagonist is called the “hero”, but this does not have the connotation of
heroism, or of heroic acts. The protagonist (hero) is also supposed to have a character
flaw that precipitates his fall. What aspects of the hero is the implied reader supposed to
identify with? What is Hamlet’s character flaw? What is he ultimately unsuccessful at
doing? What is subliminally communicated to the reader?
tragedy to function, the reader must be able to identify with the protagonist. In literary
theory, the protagonist is called the “hero”, but this does not have the connotation of
heroism, or of heroic acts. The protagonist (hero) is also supposed to have a character
flaw that precipitates his fall. What aspects of the hero is the implied reader supposed to
identify with? What is Hamlet’s character flaw? What is he ultimately unsuccessful at
doing? What is subliminally communicated to the reader?
Use the techniques of repetition, displacement, and condensation to aid
in the analyses here.
in the analyses here.
Remember that we are dealing with metacultural themes here, writ large, that reflect the
human condition, and that are to be illuminated from a psychoanalytic perspective. The
text is thus to be read not as a product of authorial intent, but as a cultural artifact.
human condition, and that are to be illuminated from a psychoanalytic perspective. The
text is thus to be read not as a product of authorial intent, but as a cultural artifact.
And also, pay attention to the phrases in the text. Analyze them as allusions in the form
of displacements and condensations (and other psychoanalytic mechanisms, as
appropriate). One good example is when Hamlet says, “more than kin, and less than
kind”. Your analysis should focus on the symbolic details in the text.
of displacements and condensations (and other psychoanalytic mechanisms, as
appropriate). One good example is when Hamlet says, “more than kin, and less than
kind”. Your analysis should focus on the symbolic details in the text.