Oedipal Relationship in Hamlet: A Deep Dive into Mother-Son Dynamics

This essay provides a detailed analysis of the Oedipal relationship between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude, in Shakespeare's tragedy. It examines the core conflict arising from Gertrude's marriage to Claudius and its profound impact on Hamlet's behavior and motivations. The essay explores Hamlet's disgust and distress, drawing on critical analyses to highlight the ambiguity of Gertrude's character and her role in King Hamlet's death. It delves into Hamlet's expressions of discontent, his comments on Ophelia, and his eventual quest for revenge, all fueled by his complex feelings towards his mother. The analysis considers Gertrude's reactions to the king's death and her inability to understand Hamlet's emotional state. The essay also discusses the implications of Gertrude's actions, considering whether she was involved in the plot against the king. Finally, the essay concludes that the relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet lacks transparency, while Hamlet's detest and aversion towards his mother's association with Claudius is clear.

Running head: ENGLISH ESSAY
ENGLISH ESSAY
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1ENGLISH ESSAY
Introduction
In the Shakespearean play Hamlet, the conflict between Hamlet and his mother Gertrude
draws equivalence to primary conflict of the story. In the tragedy play by Shakespeare, Gertrude
is Hamlet’s mother as well as the Queen of Denmark who was married to King Hamlet
represented by the Ghost in the play and subsequently has been wed to Claudius, his brother.
According to Gopinath and Abraham, her integrate associations to the central male characters
imply that she is a key figure within the narrative. Mosley has noted that in Shakespearean play,
Hamlet is motivated in order to avenge by the ghost with his discontentment after knowing the
marriage of Claudius and Gertrude. In Hamlet, Queen Gertrude’s culpability of King Hamlet’s
death has been a critical subject of discussion. The thesis statement of the following essay is “the
Oedipal Relationship between Mother and Son in Shakespearian tragedy play, Hamlet.”
Discussion
Hamlet has been distressed with his mother Gertrude’s marriage with Claudius. Drawing
relevance this argument Bourus has mentioned two critical events which are underlying factors
of Hamlet’s distress and discontentment as well as disgust in Act 1, thus forming a foundation of
the revenge plot. However, Shakespeare in his tragic play leaves the extent of Gertrude’s historic
association with Claudius highly ambiguous. Critical analysis of Shakespeare’s tragic narrative
by Gopinath and Abraham have revealed that drawing contradictions to her male equivalents,
Gertrude does not comprise any soliloquises and thus has denied the chance to exhibit her inner
thoughts, emotions as well as sentiments to the audience. For these underlying reasons, the true
characteristics of Gertrude’s character as well as enthusiasm has been viewed as highly
indistinct.

2ENGLISH ESSAY
The most continuing characterisation of Gertrude as audaciously sensual as well as
shallow has been represented by Hamlet along with the Ghost. In the Shakespearean play,
Hamlet recurrently has been vocal about sexual orientation of his mother and has further
reflected high obsession regarding her physical bond with Claudius by unfolding their marital
bed as ‘incestuous sheets’ and as ‘an enseamèd bed. Such disappointment has been reflected
through Hamlet’s incongruity by showing grievance regarding Gertrude involving in a conjugal
association with Claudius within two months of his demise. Hall has noted in Act 1 of the play,
Hamlet says, “O most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not nor
it cannot come to good, But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue”. At this juncture,
Hamlet divulges his level of discomfort with his mother’s association which leads to his urge of
taking revenge. Nevertheless, at this point, the Ghost of King Hamlet appears to give him an
eventual purpose of avenging his death. The above evidences draw relevance to the above
analysis claiming that Hamlet’s mother’s association with Claudius led him to take revenge.
Through the Shakespearean tragedy play, Hamlet emphasizes in accomplishing the
purpose driven by discomfort towards Gertrude’s association with Claudius. However, the above
line aligns to the above statement whereby Gopinath and Abraham have argued that Hamlet
indulges in making social comment regarding women who exhibit pessimistic nature.
Comprehensive studies of Kadhim and Ali Ahmed have noted that Hamlet usually make those
explanations as well as observations to Ophelia, for instance, when he asks her to visit the
nunnery. These comments nonetheless, are triggered by his extensive level of apprehension
towards his mother. At the initial phase of the play, Hamlet sees Ophelia as a woman possessing
sincere and truthful characteristics. However, as per the view of Sharmin, such a view of Hamlet
on Ophelia has gradually been shaped by varying situational facets in the course of the play.

3ENGLISH ESSAY
These observations and comments have been regarded as reflection of his perception towards his
mother as apparent by Hamlet’s observation about Gertrude with Claudius.
Gopinath and Abraham have noted that in the play, Hamlet has shown utmost dedication
in seeking revenge of the death of his father whom he believes was brutally treated by the ones
he cared for. Furthermore, Hamlet eventually developed the feeling that Gertrude severely hurt
the king by not mourning during the king’s burial. At this point of analysis, Bourus has shed
light on Gertrude’s character to be of a loving mother but as a parent who exhibits high
ineptitude into her son’s behavioral pattern. However, while responding to Hamlet, Gertrude has
been observed to link the King’s death as a natural phenomenon and that it is common for all
men to breathe his last breath. Yet, at this juncture, it is imperative to note that Gertrude should
recognize it is not just any other individual who has died, she should realize; it's Hamlet's own
father! Also, when Gertrude asks Hamlet: If it be, Why seems it so particular with thee? At this
juncture, it can be stated that Hamlet has been highly distressed with Gertrude’s reaction towards
the King’s death that elevated greater level of anguish within Hamlet towards his mother.
On the contrary, Al-Ali and Hussein have observed the severe inability of Gertrude in
realizing the sensitive emotional level of her son. Here, the word "seems" will present Hamlet the
inkling that her mother, Gertrude has been attempting to put something out of sight (Hall). At
this point, Gertrude has the chance to raise certain queries of Hamlet regarding his implications
and face the issue. However, Gertrude’s character has been portrayed in the manner where it has
reflected that she is a woman who only wants to resolute every facet of her life and surroundings
without any profound thoughts or considerations. Nevertheless, by obtaining the insights of
Gertrude’s characteristics it can be conjectured whether Gertrude in actuality has been
attempting to conceal certain level of information regarding the massacre of the King.

4ENGLISH ESSAY
Conversely, in the second scene of Act II, there can be obtained evidence that Gertrude really has
no involvement in the plot. Here, Wenjing has noted that while, Hamlet show suspicion or
distrust regarding her mother being an accomplice with Claudius for plotting his father's murder-
“I doubt it is no other but the main, His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.” The above
line thus draws connection to the above line that Hamlet’s concern has been justified that raised
apprehension towards his mother.
On the other hand, Al-Ali and Hussein have shed light to another illustration of
Gertrude's lack of awareness that has been related to her powerlessness to understand that her
second marriage has the propensity to be perceived as adultery by those around her. However, at
this juncture, Bourus has argued that Gertrude’s approach is that if she and Claudius had only
waited longer before involving into a conjugal relationship in order to offer Hamlet with
substantial amount of time to grieve in order to obtain enhanced responses from Hamlet’s end.
Nonetheless, Mosley has noted that not only the character of Gertrude has been celebrated as a
central figure in the events which enthuse as well as compel the quest within Hamlet to seek for
revenge, but Gertrude has been highly involved in the actualisation of that revenge. Despite the
fact that her character can be perceived as passive for the foremost part of the tragedy play, it can
be seen in Act 5, Scene 2 that Gertrude has fully comprehended her spectacular and vivid
potential and ability. Authors have noted that Gertrude in the play takes her last breath with
severe grief and cries of ‘the drink, the drink!I am poisoned” (Gopinath, and Abraham).
However, through her cries she could distinguish Claudius as the offender. Such a climax in the
play gives Hamlet the transparency of intention along with the means as well as purpose for
revenge, which he has soliloquised over and conflicted throughout the play. Here, Al-Ali and
Hussein put his argument on the fundamental part of the Shakespearean play whereby Hamlet

5ENGLISH ESSAY
shift his intentions and show inclination towards her mother tends to reflect the highly
indecisiveness within Hamlet which gradually develops in the course of play (Bourus). The
above analysis sheds light on the way climax in the play gives Hamlet the transparency of
intention and further reflects an indecisive character of Hamlet.
Conclusion
Hence to conclude, the relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet has not reflected
utmost transparency throughout the play. However, on the other hand, it has been noted that
detest and aversion of Hamlet towards his mother’s association with Claudius has shown utmost
clarity. While, Hamlet in the play has been highly enthused to avenge his father’s demise by
Gertrude’s actions, there can be witnessed certain level of ambiguity and doubt whether it has
been the fault of his mother as viewed by him by showing trust towards Gertrude.

6ENGLISH ESSAY
References
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Characterization of Shakespeare's Gertrude." Linguistics and Literature Studies 3.3 (2015): 91-
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Gopinath, Mohan, and Dolphy Abraham. "The Role of Guilt In Hamlet: Leadership
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Hall, J. Christopher. "A Narrative Case Study of Hamlet and the Cultural Construction of
Western Individualism, Diagnosis, and Madness." Journal of Systemic Therapies 35.2 (2016): 1-
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Kadhim, Hana Abdullah, and Mahmoud Ali Ahmed. "The Impact of the Two Murdered Fathers
on Madness and Death of Hamlet and Ophelia." (2017).
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of Authority and Filial Duty in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Diss. 2017.
Palumbo, Kara. The Role of Christian Doctrine in Shakespeare’ s Hamlet. Diss. The
Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY., 2016.

7ENGLISH ESSAY
Sharmin, Sonia. "The Tragedy of Sexuality in Hamlet." Annals of Language and Literature 2.3
(2018): 25-32.
Wenjing, Chen Alexandra. The Role of Women in Thomas Ostermeier's Production of" Hamlet".
Diss. Freie Universitaet Berlin (Germany), 2016.