In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it seems that something is wrong in the state of Denmark when the protagonist, Hamlet, is approached by the ghost of the deceased 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, while protecting his mother, so that old King Hamlet will escape purgatory. Nevertheless, throughout the play, Hamlet's vendetta continually continues due to the Oedipus complex created by Sigmund Freud who states: "In the young man, Oedipus' conflict arises from his natural love for his mother , which can gradually become sexual. Unfortunately for the boy, his father stands in the way of this love and the boy feels aggression and envy towards this rival, his father” (Stevenson). In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet's obsessive feelings toward his mother lead him to continually delay avenging his father's death, as insinuated by the infamous Oedipus complex. After encountering the ghost of the late King Hamlet, Hamlet discovers critical news that leads to a series of events. The ghost says: “It is reported that, sleeping in my orchard, a snake stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark is by process wrought from my grievously mistreated death: but know, noble youth, that the serpent that pricked thy father's life now wears his crown” (1.4 35-40). Shortly after he was young, he discovered his beloved. father was murdered by his uncle, Claudius, the ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his death, while avoiding harm to his mother, and in doing so, the late King Hamlet can escape from purgatory and rest.... .. middle of paper .. ....y is due to the Oedipus complex. Hamlet had seen Claudius as a rival competing for his mother's love and sexuality, but he is horrified by this incestuous attraction to his mother. This is why Hamlet cannot kill Claudius until his mother dies because he does not have to deal with this attraction. Ultimately, upon further reading, it is evident that Shakespeare intended the play to be the struggle between mother and son. Works Cited “Hamlet Criticism (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. Internet. 02March. 2010. .