The exploration of human nature is an endeavor that has been going on for thousands of years. It is a vast psychological study that also extends to artistic activities in dramatic works. Oedipus the King and Hamlet are two plays that are excellent examples of this. In both works, the characters' traits, the motivations behind their actions, and their reactions to circumstances connect them directly to the theories of the Victorian psychologist Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud was the man who pioneered psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious thoughts and intrinsic desires of the individual. Freud theorized that there are three fundamental parts of the personality: the id, the ego and the superego. The id is completely unconscious and is dictated by the pleasure principle. The pleasure principle requires immediate pleasure without any consequences. It is the most primitive aspect of the human mind. The ego is the part of the personality that has incorporated reality into both the id and the superego. Through the reality principle, the ego will suppress the desires of the id until the appropriate moment, while drawing the moral lines imposed by the superego. The Superego is the place where human consciousness is located. Whether unconscious or conscious, this is where personal feelings of right and wrong are found. All three parts are important as they are what makes the mind human. During the developmental stages, morality is learned from the child's parents, but as the child becomes an adult, personal experiences also play into the superego. While the id craves pleasure, the superego feels guilty and strives for the approval of authority. These three components are the foundation of Freud's developmental theories, particularly the Oedipus Complex at the center of the paper. darker traits they had observed in real people. Knowing this and remembering the different time stamps on each piece of writing, it is easy to see how Sigmund Freud's theories are applicable and reasonable. Works Cited Stevenson, David B. “Psychosexual Development.” The Victorian Web: An Overview. The Victorian Web, 1992. Web. March 2, 2011. "Dr. Freud's Hamlet." Index of /. Network. March 1, 2011. "Freudian Perspective on Hamlet." DocShare: a new way to share documents online. Network. March 1, 2011. .Hibbison, Eric. "Oedipus against Hamlet." Home Page English 112 VCCS Litonline. 2003. Web. 4 March. 2011. .