literary theories: psycoanalytical theory
analysis of act 1 and 2 according to psycoanalytical theory
what is psycoanalytical theory?
pscyconanalytical theory or literary critcism refers to method, concept, that was influenced by the psychoanalysis started by Sigmund Freud. this method consits in analysing the literary work from a mind point of view, in other words this means that the work is analyse by the thoughts or actions that involved a mental view point.
i had choose this point of view to analyse major events in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare from act 1 to act 2.
in act 1 scene 2 the story starts in the court where Claudius and his wife gertrude, are making an speech to the people there, by the time Claudius decides to end the speech he refers to Hamlet. Hamlet starts talking and we can see the hate from Hamlet to Claudius, because of the death of his father. analysing this i think Hamlet is devastated because his mother married Claudius brother of the biological father of Hamlet and the fact that she did it to soon. He remembers his father and do not accept this marriage.
further in in act 1 scene 3 we can see Laertes talking to Ophelia about Hamlet, Ophelia lives Hamlet but her brother Laertes doesnt aprove this, so he starts warning her sistr about Hamlet and that he is a prince and he will be use by the king and queen whenever thay need him even if it is to marry another princess just to join forces. Ophelia is quiet and Laertes is strongly advicing her that Hamlet is no the one for her. Lartes doesnt want to see her sister bieng hurt, although it is ironic because at the point she is happy, not only Laertes said this also Polonius her father. but there is an interest point to mark here; even though importan family figures are warning her about Hamlet, she is too in love to care about their words. this is caused by the strong emotion of love that blocks all other thoughts and it leads to believe that what Ophelia thinks is the right thing.
by the end of act 1 scene 4 and 5, Hamlet encouters a ghost that ends up to be his father, Old Hamlet. Hamlet listen carully to whay his father says, and his words are huge, stating that Claudius killed him in a horrible way. Hamlet just hate Claudius because he married her mother too soon and because they were not respecting Old Hamlet memmory, but now Hamlet was right there were something wrong about Clauidus and now he has confirme it. but because the proofs comes form a ghots it is hard to believe that so he must fin a way, that way is madness. later on inthe play he aproach that characters by faking madness at the right time, he knew how to manipulate peoples mind. this strategy comes form the talk with the ghost and when he learned the truth his unconcius brain secretely develops a way to fin out the truth. Hamlet it is hugely dissapointed byt this and more angry that ever. his thoughts about the new king were right but in a way all that information and just him knowing it could lead him to be crazy.
in act 2 scene 1 and 2 we can appreciate how Hamlet is being clever about the whole situation, faking madness at the right time. we can see this when Hamlet approach Ophelia in a strange way, Hamlet knew what dangers could be brought upon his beloved Ophelia so he thought that the best way to keep her out of this situation is push her away so she can be saved. further on Clauidus suspects about Hamlet so her send two of the friends of Hamlet to gather information about this "madness" when the two friends talk to Hamlet to find out what he is really up to Hamlet fake real madeness, he was clever because he didnt reveal any of his plans to this guys so he managed to kept it secret. he use his ability to conquer others minds and use reverse psycology to gain access to everyones mind.
