Hamlet Quote
In the stage play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare the character Ophelia says “We know what we are but not what we may be.” While the quote itself could be up to interpretation, psychologist Abraham Maslow would have a field day with this quote. Maslow created a pyramid called the Hierarchy of Needs, which showed the importance of different types of needs in a person's lifetime. The quote said by the character of Ophelia perfectly translates into the studies of Abraham Maslow.
When Ophelia said “We know what we are,” according to Maslow, she could be referring towards the lower level of the Hierarchy of Needs. On the base level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs lies the most basic of human requirements. Such as physiological needs, safety, and love & belonging. Physiological needs are such basic needs like breathing, food, water, and sleep. Everyone knows we must do these things in order of survival. Safety needs are also very basic such as health, property, family, and employment. In order to stay alive we …show more content…
The last two subjects in the Hierarchy of Needs is esteem and self-actualization. Esteem is obtaining needs such as self-confidence, achievement, and respect from others. To gain confidence is very important but it also leads perfectly into self-actualization. Self-actualization is when a person can reach into themselves and find peace in themselves and others. To reach self-actualization one must need morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem-solving, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts. Maslow would react to this quote by suggesting that when Ophelia is saying “We know what we are,” she is referring to our most basic needs, that as humans we literality know what we are. But when she says “...but not what we may be.” Maslow could suspect Ophelia is referring to humans as a metaphor, that they as people have not yet reached
In the stage play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare the character Ophelia says “We know what we are but not what we may be.” While the quote itself could be up to interpretation, psychologist Abraham Maslow would have a field day with this quote. Maslow created a pyramid called the Hierarchy of Needs, which showed the importance of different types of needs in a person's lifetime. The quote said by the character of Ophelia perfectly translates into the studies of Abraham Maslow.
When Ophelia said “We know what we are,” according to Maslow, she could be referring towards the lower level of the Hierarchy of Needs. On the base level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs lies the most basic of human requirements. Such as physiological needs, safety, and love & belonging. Physiological needs are such basic needs like breathing, food, water, and sleep. Everyone knows we must do these things in order of survival. Safety needs are also very basic such as health, property, family, and employment. In order to stay alive we …show more content…
The last two subjects in the Hierarchy of Needs is esteem and self-actualization. Esteem is obtaining needs such as self-confidence, achievement, and respect from others. To gain confidence is very important but it also leads perfectly into self-actualization. Self-actualization is when a person can reach into themselves and find peace in themselves and others. To reach self-actualization one must need morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem-solving, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts. Maslow would react to this quote by suggesting that when Ophelia is saying “We know what we are,” she is referring to our most basic needs, that as humans we literality know what we are. But when she says “...but not what we may be.” Maslow could suspect Ophelia is referring to humans as a metaphor, that they as people have not yet reached