Comparing Midlife Crisis Denial, Depression, And...

Midlife crisis Denial, Depression, and Displacement in Shakespeare â€Å"Hamlet† A popular twentieth-century Swiss-American psychiatrist named Elisabeth Kà ¼bler-Ross believes that once an individual experiences a loss they exhibit five distinct stages of grieving. Kà ¼bler-Ross model can be broken down into five stage: they are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Kà ¼bler-Ross believes when a person experiences a death, they have these emotional responses assuring the process of healing. In an article on the Elizabeth Kà ¼bler-Ross foundation site, Professor Allan Kellehear explains, â€Å"These â€Å"stages† [may] overlap, occur together, or even that some reactions are missed altogether† (Kellehear). Hamlet â€Å"destructive behavior [that]†¦show more content†¦An example in regards to this can seen in Act I. when Claudius is having a discussing with Gertrude, his council, Voltemand, Cornelius, and Hamlet about how they have all experienced a great loss with the passing of their beloved â€Å"Old Hamlet†. Cl audius uses an apathetic tone while meaning the union between Gertrude and himself â€Å"mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage, / In equal scale weighing delight and dole, / Taken wife; nor have we herein barr’d†(Act I. scene ii. 12-14). This strikes a nerve with Hamlet; he is in denial that his mother Gertrude is moving on with her life so soon after his father s’ death. Hamlet is in disbelief that Gertrude stays married to Claudius; even he told her that he is suspicious that Claudius murdered his father. This causes Hamlet to life in denial, causing him not to be able to come to terms with his father’s death. Hamlet struggles, emotionally, realizing that he cannot continue to live in denial anymore. Afterwards Hamlet experiences anger towards his mother, which is another stage in Kà ¼bler-Ross theory of grieving. In the Act III, scene i Hamlet struggles with the emotions, knowing Claudius. Hamlet tries to rationalize that perhaps the ghost is the devil messing with his mind, or it could be his melancholy acting up (III. i. 579-582). Hamlet s anger continues when he presents this information to his mother. He tells her it is not too late, she can leave Claudius, he tells her â€Å"Confess yourself to heaven, / Repent