Which of the following statements best represents Lacan's view of Ophelia in his essay, "Desire and the Interpretation of Desire in 'Hamlet'" ?
Correct answer: C. Hamlet desires Ophelia, but only when she is unattainable.
- A. Hamlet desires his mother, not Ophelia.
- B. Hamlet desires revenge, not Ophelia.
- C. Hamlet desires Ophelia, but only when she is unattainable.
- D. Hamlet desires attaining the throne of Denmark, of which Ophelia is a symbol.Collect Classic Novels
Explanation
Lacan's reading links Hamlet's desire for Ophelia to the structure of desire itself: what is desired becomes most powerful when it is absent or unattainable. Thus option c captures the psychoanalytic interpretation better than simple revenge or political ambition.
Last updated
Practise Literary Criticism
268 free Literary Criticism MCQs from English Literature, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask English Literature questions like this
English Literature is on 2 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
Related questions
A critic argues that in John Milton's "Samson Agonistes," the shearing of Samson's locks is symbolic of his castration at the hands of Delilah. What kind of critical approach is this critic using ?
A critic examining John Milton's "Paradise Lost" focuses on the physical description of the Garden of Eden, on the symbols of hands, seed, and flower, and on the characters of Adam, Eve, Satan, and God. He pays special attention to the epic similes and metaphors and the point of view from which the tale is being told. He looks for meaning in the text itself, and does not refer to any biography of Milton. He is most likely a critic ?
A critic examining Pope's "An Essay on Man" asks herself: How well does this poem accord with the real world? Is it accurate? Is it moral? She is most likely a critic?
A critic of Thomas Otway's "Venice Preserv'd" wishes to know why the play's conspirators, despite the horrible, bloody details of their obviously brutish plan, are portrayed in a sympathetic light. She examines the author's life and times and discovers that there are obvious similarities between the conspiracy in the play and the Popish Plot. She is most likely a critic ?
"A long poem is a combination of short poems." Who has held the above opinion ?