Psychoanalytic criticism adopts the methods of psychoanalysis developed by Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalytical criticism argues that literary texts, just like dreams, express the secret unconscious desires of the author. One may psychoanalyze a particular character within a literary work, but it is usually assumed that all such characters are projections of the author's psyche. William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is usually used with Freudian critics as every character can represent one of Sigmund Freud's theories.
             One such character from "Hamlet" that is well suited for this is Ophelia. Ophelia is not in the spotlight most of the time, nor do we see much of her, but that is whats most important about her. Shakespeare left many questions for the reader regarding Ophelia. It is never clear why she is doing one action during the play. For example, why does she go insane and delusional after her father is killed by Hamlet, almost like she is in her own world? Was she actually insane, or was she just pretending to be? Did she really love Hamlet? So many questions are left from the play that the reader must figure out for themselves.
             There are two Freudian theories that can apply well to Ophelia, Oedipus Complex and the Theory of Repression. Oedipus Complex "denotes the emotions and ideas that the mind keeps in the unconscious, via dynamic repression, that concentrate upon a boy's desire to sexually possess his mother, and kill his father." (Oedipus complex) The Theory of Repression "is the psychological attempt by an individual to repel one's own desires and impulses towards pleasurable instincts by excluding the desire from one's consciousness and holding or subduing it in the unconscious." (Psychological repression)
             It is not apparent that the Oedipus Complex could apply to Ophelia until her father dies and you start comparing her relationship with her father, to her relationship with other characte...