第九週

指導老師：鄭惠芳 教授

教育部現代公民核心能力課程計畫 :西洋經典選讀

Introduction to Western Classics

第 9 週的課程內容規劃

《哈姆雷特》和伊底帕斯情結Hamlet and Oedipus Complex 介紹文學批評史中《哈姆雷特》與 奧國心理分析大師佛洛伊德的跨領域連結

。 簡短觀看 [Discovery 偉大之書系列]

佛洛伊德的夢的解析[DVD] Great Books: Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams。

討論主題 : 討論主題 :1. 《哈姆雷特》中呈現的親屬倫理關係與其

以伊底帕斯情結詮釋的趣味及廣受爭議的合理性。

2. 佛洛伊德的伊底帕斯情結與倫理的衝突 2. 心理學與文學中的家庭倫理

參考書籍

1.Freud, Sigmund.

The Interpretation of Dreams. Translated by A. A. Brill. New York: Modern Library, 1994

參考書籍2. Stearns, Marshall W. “Hamlet and Freud.” College English 10.5 (Feb. 1949): 265-72. 3. Searle, Leroy F. “The Conscience of the King: Oedipus, Hamlet and the Problem of Reading.” Comparative Literature 49.4 (1997): 316-43.4. Holland, Norman N. “Freud on Shakespeare.” PMLA 75.3 (1960): 163-73.5. Weller, Philip. “Freud’s Footprints in Films of Hamlet.” Literature Film Quarterly 25.2 (1997): 119-24.

觀看 [Discovery 偉大之書系列 ]佛洛伊德的夢的解析 [DVD] Great

Books: Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams (20 minutes)

Pay attention to * Freud’s background * Oedipus complex

Oedipus ComplexOedipus Complex

Let’s learn about Oedipus firstLet’s learn about Oedipus firstOedipus the KingOedipus the King (ancient Greek: (ancient Greek: Oidipous Tyrannos; Oidipous Tyrannos; Latin Latin

title title Oedipus Rex)Oedipus Rex)Greek tragedy by SophoclesGreek tragedy by Sophocles around 430 BCaround 430 BC

Oedipus--King of Thebes Oedipus--King of Thebes Laius--King of ThebesLaius--King of ThebesQueen Jocasta Queen Jocasta Oracle—the child would kill his fatherOracle—the child would kill his fatherOedipus becomes (adopted) son of King Oedipus becomes (adopted) son of King

Polybus of Corinth Polybus of Corinth OracleOracleOedipus leaves CorinthOedipus leaves Corinth

A deadly pestilence A deadly pestilence Creon, Jocasta's brother, returns with an Creon, Jocasta's brother, returns with an

oracle: Laius' murderer should be oracle: Laius' murderer should be banished from the citybanished from the city

Tiresias, blind seer Tiresias, blind seer

Jocasta retells an old prophecy--her son Jocasta retells an old prophecy--her son should kill his fathershould kill his father

Oedipus who thought he was son of King Oedipus who thought he was son of King Polybus of Corinth has killed his father and Polybus of Corinth has killed his father and married his mother. He even fathered married his mother. He even fathered children by his incestuous marraige.children by his incestuous marraige.

To see or not to seeTo see or not to see

Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx: Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx: ""What walks on four legs in the morning, What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three in the two legs at noon, and three in the evening?evening?““

Tiresias, blind seer, sees Tiresias, blind seer, sees Oedipus has eyes but can’t see Oedipus has eyes but can’t see Oedipus blinds himselfOedipus blinds himself

Greek Myth and New FameGreek Myth and New Fame

Famous Greek play Famous Greek play New attention brought by Freud around New attention brought by Freud around

the beginning of 20th centurythe beginning of 20th century

Picture of Freud from Wikipedia

Introduction to Freud

Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939), An Austrian neurologist and psychologist Founder of psychoanalysis Freud developed theories about the

unconscious and repression Psychoanalysis was made into a

treatment by using conversation or communication between a patient and a psychoanalyst.

Superego

Ego

Id

A book for the 20th century?

The Interpretation of Dreams Publication year: 1899 Publication year: 1900 in the book

Unconscious and One’s Life

Repressed sexual drive Trauma—past and present

Excerpt from The Interpretation of Dreams

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is rooted in the same soil as Oedipus Rex. But the whole difference in the psychic life of the two widely separated periods of civilization, and the progress during the course of time, of repression in the emotional life of humanity, is manifested in the differing treatment of the same material. In Oedipus Rex the basic wish-phantasy of the child is brought to light and realized as it is in dreams; in Hamlet it remains repressed, and we learn of its existence—as we discover the relevant facts in a neurosis—only through the inhibitory effects which proceed from it. (163)

Freud’s Explanation of Hamlet’s Inaction

Claudius, “who did away with his [Hamlet’s] father and has taken his father’s place with his mother” is “the man who shows him [Hamlet] in realization the repressed desires of his own childhood” (164).

Ernest Jones (1879 – 1958)

First English to practice psychoanalysis Founder and president in the 1920s and 1930s of British Psycho-Analytical Society. • Active and influential in the • International Psychoanalytic Association.

Picture from Wikipedia

Jones—Wizard of Freud

Jones was biographer of Freud Maddox, Brenda was biographer of

Jones. Maddox called Jones “Freud’s wizard”

Book: Brenda Maddox, Freud’s Wizard: Ernest Jones and the Transformation of Psychoanalysis. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo P, 2006.

Mainstream? Oedipus complex: mainstream interpretations for

Shakespeare’s Hamlet since the twentieth century

Marshall W. Stearns wrote in his 1949 paper: “The large group of critics who are loosely termed

‘Shakespearean scholars’ are virtually united in ignoring Freud’s forty-nine-year old comments on Hamlet as well as the more recent developments in the field of psychoanalysis” (265).

He argues that “The time is passing when a critic of literature in general and of Hamlet in particular can win the respect of an intelligent audience by refusing to deal with Freudian thought” (265).

Detour?

Leroy F. Searle says that Hamlet’s Oedipal nature is only a “detour’ much “traveled” (325).

Chinese Reception of FreudChinese Reception of FreudAccording to a contemporary Chinese scholar, Wang According to a contemporary Chinese scholar, Wang Ning, in “Confronting Western Influence: Rethinking Ning, in “Confronting Western Influence: Rethinking Chinese Literature of the New Period” (published in Chinese Literature of the New Period” (published in Autumn 1993), even though Freud’s theory had Autumn 1993), even though Freud’s theory had influence in China after its first introduction in the influence in China after its first introduction in the early twentieth century, due to “political and early twentieth century, due to “political and ideological” reasons, it was “silent” in China from ideological” reasons, it was “silent” in China from 1949 to 1978, and even “severely criticized.” 1949 to 1978, and even “severely criticized.” From: Ning, Wang. “Confronting Western Influence: From: Ning, Wang. “Confronting Western Influence: Rethinking Chinese Literature of the New Period.” Rethinking Chinese Literature of the New Period.” New Literary HistoryNew Literary History 24.4 (Autumn 1993): 905-26. 24.4 (Autumn 1993): 905-26. Ning Wang is Dean of Comparative Literature and Ning Wang is Dean of Comparative Literature and Cutural Research Institute,Tsinghua University and Cutural Research Institute,Tsinghua University and Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages, Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages, Tsinghua University. Tsinghua University.

Reinterpret the Closet scene: Reinterpret the Closet scene: Act 3 Scene 4Act 3 Scene 4

SCENE IV. The Queen's closet.SCENE IV. The Queen's closet. Enter QUEEN Gertrude and POLONIUSEnter QUEEN Gertrude and POLONIUS LORD POLONIUSLORD POLONIUS He will come straight. Look He will come straight. Look

you lay home to him:you lay home to him:Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with,with,And that your grace hath screen'd and stood And that your grace hath screen'd and stood betweenbetweenMuch heat and him. I'll sconce me even here.Much heat and him. I'll sconce me even here.Pray you, be round with him.Pray you, be round with him.HAMLETHAMLET [Within] Mother, mother, mother! [Within] Mother, mother, mother!

QUEEN GERTRUDEQUEEN GERTRUDE I'll warrant you, I'll warrant you,Fear me not: withdraw, I hear him coming.Fear me not: withdraw, I hear him coming.POLONIUS hides behind the arrasPOLONIUS hides behind the arras

Enter HAMLETEnter HAMLETHAMLETHAMLET Now, mother, what's the matter? Now, mother, what's the matter?

QUEEN GERTRUDEQUEEN GERTRUDE Hamlet, thou hast Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.thy father much offended.HAMLETHAMLET Mother, you have my father Mother, you have my father much offended.much offended.

QUEEN GERTRUDEQUEEN GERTRUDE Come, come, you answer Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.with an idle tongue.HAMLETHAMLET Go, go, you question with a wicked Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.tongue.QUEEN GERTRUDEQUEEN GERTRUDE Why, how now, Hamlet! Why, how now, Hamlet!HAMLETHAMLET What's the matter now? What's the matter now?QUEEN GERTRUDEQUEEN GERTRUDE Have you forgot me? Have you forgot me?HAMLETHAMLET No, by the rood, not so: No, by the rood, not so:You are the queen, your husband's brother's You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife;wife;And--would it were not so!--you are my mother.And--would it were not so!--you are my mother.

QUEEN GERTRUDEQUEEN GERTRUDE Nay, then, I'll set those to Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak.you that can speak.HAMLETHAMLET Come, come, and sit you down; you Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge;shall not budge;You go not till I set you up a glassYou go not till I set you up a glassWhere you may see the inmost part of you.Where you may see the inmost part of you.QUEEN GERTRUDEQUEEN GERTRUDE What wilt thou do? thou What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me?wilt not murder me?Help, help, ho!Help, help, ho!LORD POLONIUSLORD POLONIUS [Behind] What, ho! help, [Behind] What, ho! help, help, help!help, help!HAMLETHAMLET [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!ducat, dead!Makes a pass through the arrasMakes a pass through the arras

Interpretation of the sceneInterpretation of the sceneHamlet is rude to his mother.Hamlet is rude to his mother.Hamlet does not like the Queen’s second Hamlet does not like the Queen’s second marriage?marriage?Hamlet thinks the man behind the arras is Hamlet thinks the man behind the arras is Claudius?Claudius?Hamlet is hesitant most of the time. Hamlet is hesitant most of the time. Olivier’s movie says Hamlet is a man of Olivier’s movie says Hamlet is a man of “inaction.” But this is the one time that he “inaction.” But this is the one time that he kills on impulse. kills on impulse. Is the rudeness and the impulsive act Is the rudeness and the impulsive act signs of Hamlet’s Oedipus complex? signs of Hamlet’s Oedipus complex?

Questions to PonderDiscussion: 15 minutes

Character Analysis1. Is Hamlet an admirable character?

How would you interpret his “to be or not to be” line. Is he a man incapable of action? Is he a filial son who is troubled deeply by the ghost’s words?

Women in the Play

2. Is Gertrude to be blamed for her hasty marriage?

Is the marriage an incest? Why nobody is against the marriage

except Hamlet? If a widower remarries . . .

Revenge and Ethics

3. What is the relationship between Hamlet’s revenge and ethics?

Consider the duty of a filial son. Consider Hamlet’s position as a

usurped prince. Consider Hamlet’s relationship to his

mother. The person he targets is his stepfather.

An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth: negative influence?

4. Is Hamlet propagating the idea of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?

Consider whether the play is the play endorsing violence.

Scapegoats

5. Who are the scapegoats in the play and what you do think about them?

Alternative Perspectives

6. From your perspective, what other options does Hamlet have?

All the questions on one pageChoose three for discussion

1. Is Hamlet an admirable character?2. Is Gertrude to be blamed for her hasty

marriage?3. What is the relationship between Hamlet’s

revenge and ethics? 4. Is Hamlet propagating the idea of an eye

for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?5. Who are the scapegoats in the play and

what do you think about them?6. From your perspective, what other options

does Hamlet have?