According to the psychodynamic perspective on personality, what does Claudius's reaction to the murder of Gonzago in Shakespeare's Hamlet most reveal about his character?

• A. It demonstrates his rational decision-making and lack of emotional response.
• B. It shows his ability to repress traumatic memories without any psychological consequences.
• C. It indicates his complete denial of any wrongdoing and absence of moral awareness.
• D. It exposes his unconscious guilt and anxiety over his own crime, reflecting internal conflict.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the psychodynamic perspective on personality, which emphasizes unconscious processes, internal conflicts, and the influence of early experiences on behavior and emotions.
2. Step 2: Recognize that Claudius's reaction to the murder of Gonzago in Hamlet is a key moment that reveals his inner psychological state, particularly his unconscious feelings.
3. Step 3: Analyze how Claudius's behavior during the play-within-a-play reflects his unconscious guilt and anxiety, as the performance mirrors his own crime and triggers an emotional response.
4. Step 4: Connect this reaction to the concept of internal conflict in psychodynamic theory, where unconscious guilt creates tension between different parts of the psyche (e.g., id, ego, superego).
5. Step 5: Conclude that Claudius's reaction reveals his unconscious guilt and anxiety, rather than rational decision-making, repression without consequences, or denial without moral awareness.