Hamlet

Abstract

The attempt to understand the psychological determinants of "Hamlet's" actions has a rich tradition in both theatrical and mental health literature. Hamlet is often described as having a psychotic decompensation. He is also sometimes perceived as a victim of a neurotic disintegration caused by his inability to solve Oedipal conflict brought about by his father's death. However, does the content of the play bear evidence of any of these hypotheses? What image of Hamlet's inner world can be built on the basis of drama text? How can we perceive the history of Hamlet today? Who is Hamlet in a world liberated from the framework of unambiguous theories and cognitive constructs? What might our understanding of Hamlet be in a globalizing world, with no dominant concept of human psychological development, the revolution of theory of attachment, the influence of feminism, or evolutionary psychology? Who will be the Hamlet of the Time of the Pandemic? Can the story of the young Danish prince still be a source of important reflection for us also about ourselves?.