... overt. Of course, Claudius is not Hamlet's father but his stepfather. Hamlet idealizes and adores his real father. These facts do not deter the psychological interpreters. Perhaps the concept of masculine protest is as, applicable to the playas the Oedipal conflict. Hamlet feels that Gertrude is weak; worse, he feels implicated in her weakness. Much of the play dwells on Hamlet ... 's feelings of weakness and inferiority, and his aggressive behavior at the end may be interpreted as masculine protest. D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers explore the influence of a possessive mother on her sons...

• Word Count: 4216
• Approx Pages: 17
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School