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  🧠 Hamlet Through the Lens of Psychoanalytic Theory ⚡ 1. The Oedipus Complex Sigmund Freud’s most famous application of psychoanalysis to literature is his interpretation of Hamlet through the Oedipus complex —a child's unconscious sexual desire for the opposite-sex parent and jealousy toward the same-sex parent. Freud’s Argument : Hamlet harbors unconscious desires for his mother, Queen Gertrude . His disgust toward Claudius , who has married Gertrude, is fueled by repressed jealousy —Claudius has done what Hamlet secretly wished to do. Thus, Hamlet’s inability to act (i.e., kill Claudius) stems from repressed guilt —Claudius has fulfilled Hamlet’s own forbidden wish. Freud argued: "The loathing which should drive him to revenge is replaced in him by self-reproaches, by scruples of conscience..." 🧩 2. Repression and the Unconscious Hamlet’s character is haunted by inner conflict —his thoughts, dreams, and madness (real or feigned) are cons...