The Oedipus Complex

Is it true all men are mamma's boys and jealous of their fathers for being with their mothers? Sigmund Freud, a noted psychologist, thought so. The theory based on a supposedly subliminal and a regular male craving to get in bed with his mother is called the Oedipus Complex.

Hamlet is an excellent example of this complex. Although Hamlet did not actually get in bed with his mother, he spoke of incestuous wishes. Well, where is the real harm in that? Hamlet states in his first soliloquy "Must I remember? why, she would hang on him, As if increase of appetite had grown" (part 1, scene 2). He speaks of his mother hanging all over his father, which is a first sign of jealousy, any teenager can spot that. Now that his father is dead, there is only his uncle to stand in the way. His father is seeking revenge throughout the play, perhaps because Hamlet is relieved he is dead and no longer in his way. This is one symptom of the Oedipus Complex, that Hamlet would be jealous and have hatred toward his father for being with his mother. Yet, there are some sightings in the novel that make some believe Hamlet does not have this complex.

When Hamlet says "O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourn'd longer, --married with my uncle" (part 1, scene 2). When Hamlet said this he was angry with his mother. How dare she not mourn for her husband and go off and marry his father's brother. Someone with the Oedipus Complex would not care about that; Hamlet would have been happy that she did not mourn his father. Although this seems all nice and dandy, Hamlet slipped up at the end of his talk to his father's ghost saying "She married; O most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (part 1,scene 2). Apparently, Hamlet was thinking about himself and his mother when he made these statements because Hamlet's father and mother did not have incestuous sheets for her and Hamlet's uncle to jump into. Hamlet obviously has this complex, but again, at least he did not sleep with his mom, he only thought about it.

Oedipus, Oedipus, Oedipus, poor, poor, Oedipus. Sad story, really. A story about Oedipus' mother's