Freudian (Psychoanalytic) Literary Criticism

Henry Harris Samantha Cannon Madeleine Black Maria Pecoraro

Definition

Psychological critics look at the psychological motivations of the characters or of the authors themselves Critics also point out the sexual implications of symbols and imagery.

Focus on pinpointing characters id, superego, ego

Questions Asked

Are the characters actions influenced by sexual desire (id)?

Are the symbols associated with sex?

Are the characters actions influenced by the id, ego, or superego?

Are the symbols representing the author’s or characters’ sexual repressions?

How do the suppressed wants, needs, and memories force their way through symbolically in dreams and writing?

What exact text represents a symbolic expression of the author’s sublimated wants and needs?

What conclusions can be drawn about the work of the author based on the Freudian analysis of the text?

Advantages

Helps to understand the deeper meaning of works of literature in reference to the Freudian concepts Knowing something about a writer’s physiological make-up can give us insight into their work Do certain symbols represent sexual implications?

Understand why characters act a certain way due to their id, ego, and superego Understand the suppressed wants, needs, and memories that may force their way through symbolically in dreams and writing Text represents a symbolic expression of the author’s sublimated wants and needs Conclusions can be drawn about the work of the author based on the Freudian analysis of the text

Disadvantages

Neglecting to view the work of literature as a piece of art because its contains themes and symbols that could be interpreted as representing sex Critics tend to see sex in everything, exaggerating the aspect of it May misinterpret author’s message because of the symbols and themes that could represent sex

Examples in Literature D.H. Lawrence: Sons and Lovers (1913)

http://www.online-literature.com/dh_lawrence/sons_lovers/

Sophocles: Oedipus Rex (ca. 427 BC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King

William Shakespeare: Hamlet (ca. 1601)

http://everything2.com/title/Oedipus+complex

Examples in Real Life

Music Candy Shop Laffy Taffy Love Game Movies/Music Video She Wolf North By Northwest Television

Applying Information

In psychology class How the ego, superego, and id dictate characters’ actions In history class Oedipus Complex Newspaper Imagery

Sources Used

http://homepage.newschool.edu/~quigleyt/vcs/psychoanalysis-intro.pdf

http://www.thetravelpeach.com/europe-vacations/austria/sigmund-freud.jpg

http://backgrounds.mysitemyway.com/wp-content/Userfiles/Galleries/polka dots-and-squares/polka-dots-and-squares-003697-medium-gold.jpg

http://backgrounds.mysitemyway.com/wp content/Userfiles/Galleries/foliage-swirls/foliage-swirls-000181-ripe-apricot.jpg

http://www.online-literature.com/dh_lawrence/sons_lovers/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King http://everything2.com/title/Oedipus+complex http://www.enotes.com/sons-lovers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/hamlet/summary/hamlet_summary.

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