Psychoanalytic Approaches to Literature

1. Psychoanalytic Approaches to Literature Structure of the Mind, Child Development & Oedipus Complex Dream and Sexual Symbols Psychological Diseases

2. Three Premises • 1. most of the individual's mental processes are unconscious. • 2. all human behavior is motivated ultimately by what we would call sexuality. The prime psychic force--libido, or sexual energy. • 3. Because of the powerful social taboos attached to certain sexual impulses, many of our desires and memories are repressed.

3. unconscious • --cannot be pointed at; can only be "diagnosed." • --the reverse of consciousness • Making itself manifest through "gaps"-- unintended lapses in memory, slips of tongue, puns and dreams

4. Superego morality p. repository of conscience & pride reason and morality circumspection protect society Id pleasure p. repository of libido instinct and passion self-satisfaction Structure of our Psyche • Ego • reality p • Intermediary • protect individual

5. Child development • oral stage anal stage phallic stage latent period genital stage What is happening in this process ... is a gradual organization of the libidinal drives . . . • Oedipus complex and gendering process • With Oedipus complex starts the process of socialization

6. oral stage (sucking) anal stage (withholding, expulsion) phallic stage (castration complex) latent period genital stage Auto-eroticism Oedipus complex (positive and negative constellation) puberty Child development (2)

7. Oedipus complex in Boys Positive constellation: identifies with Father, loves Mother Negative constellation: identifies with Mother and loves Father Oedipus complex in Girls loving Mother loving Father Loving Father and identifying with Mother. Child development (2)

8. Oedipus complex & its resolution Transitional Objects (Object-Relation Theory) Child development (3): Beyond Freud Pre-Oedipal Symbiosis (Identification with Mother)

9. Key Issues in Freud’s Oedipus complex • Recognition of Father’s authority • Development from bi-sexuality to heterosexuality • The influence of sexuality, parents and childhood on our personality • Are we born to be destructive and aggressive? Is sexuality the source of our energy?

10. Examples of Freud’s Oedipus complex • Sons and Lovers • Peter Pan • Leonardo • “Araby”