In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it seems that something is wrong in the State of Denmark as the protagonist, Hamlet, is approached by the ghost of the late King Hamlet. During this meeting, Hamlet discovers vital information about the king's brother, Claudius, who married the king's widow, Queen Gertrude. With this information in mind, the Ghost advises Hamlet to kill King Claudius, protecting his mother, so that old King Hamlet can escape purgatory. However, throughout the play Hamlet's revenge is continually prolonged due to the Oedipus Complex created by Sigmund Freud who states: "in the young male, the Oedipus conflict derives from his natural love for the mother, which can progressively become sexual . Unfortunately for the boy, his father hinders this love, so the boy feels aggression and envy towards this rival, his father” (Stevenson). In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet's obsessive feelings towards his mother lead him to endlessly delay revenge for his father's death, as insinuated in the infamous Oedipus Complex. After encountering the ghost of the late King Hamlet, Hamlet discovers crucial news that leads to a series of events. The Ghost states: “It is well known that, while I was sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark is for a forged trial of my death rudely insulted: but know, thou noble youth, the serpent that stung thy father's life Now wears his crown” (1.4 35-40). Soon after his youth discovers his beloved father has been murdered by his uncle Claudius, the Ghost orders Hamlet to avenge her death by avoiding harming his mother, and by doing so, the late King Hamlet can escape from purgatory and rest... half of the paper.. ....y is due to the Oedipus Complex. Hamlet had seen Claudius as a competing rival for his mother's love and sexuality, but is horrified by this incestuous attraction to his mother, which is why Hamlet cannot kill Claudius until his mother's death as he does not have to deal with this attraction. Ultimately, upon closer reading it is evident that Shakespeare intended the play to be the struggle between mother and son. Works Cited "Critique of Hamlet (vol. 44)". ENotes: Literature study guides, lesson plans, and more. Web.04 March 2010. .Meyer, Michael. Bedford's introduction to literature. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2008. 1689-90. Print.Stevenson, David B. “Psychosexual Development.” The Victorian Web: An Overview. Network. 02 March. 2010. .