Oedipus Complex in Literature and Media

Lately in professor Halberstam’s lectures, we have been talking about the Oedipus complex and sexual development stages. The Oedipus complex focuses on the psychosexual stages that Freud claims all children go through. During one of these stages (the phallic stage) Freud suggests that the child develops a strong sexual desire for the parent of the opposite sex and a hatred toward the parents of the same sex. However, the child will eventually realize that they can’t have sexual relations with that parent, and will turn to the parent of the same sex for guidance.

Knowing this, I wanted to provide information about how we are subconsciously reminded of the Oedipus complex through literature and the media. We will often times will see a young girl who has a strong relationship with her father, or sometimes even a negative relationship with her mother or stepmother. The same goes for boys who have a strong relationship with their mother or possibly a negative relationship with their father or stepfather. A perfect example can be seen in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet hates his uncle for killing Hamlet’s father and marrying his mother. However, Hamlet mysteriously procrastinates his revenge on his uncle because of the impossibly complicated psychodynamic situation in which he finds himself. Hamlet unconsciously identifies with his uncle for carrying out Hamlet’s own wishes of the Oedipus complex (to be rid of the father and be with the mother). Therefore it is hard for him to bring about his revenge. Hamlet's actions are one of many examples that can be seen throughout literature and the media.