Chapter 6: Psychological Approaches

1. Chapter 6: Psychological Approaches A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature

2. Chapter 6 I. Aims and Principles A. Abuses and misunderstandings of the psychological approach • The approach is abused when it is made an exclusive approach

3. Chapter 6 B. Freud’s Theories • Theory of the unconscious (id, ego, superego) • Most of what we do is motivated by the unconscious, especially sexually (libido) • Phallic and yonic symbols • Child development • Oedipus complex, fixation

4. Chapter 6 C. Other Theories • Inspired by Freud, Jacques Lacan developed his own version of the unconscious • Symbolic Order & Realm of the Father • Realm of the Mother • Mirror Stage

5. II. Psychological Approach in Practice A. Hamlet: the Oedipus Complex • Theory of Ernest Jones, Norman N. Holland on Hamlet’s misogyny and ambivalence toward father figures B. Rebellion against the father in Huckleberry Finn • Huck’s rejection of parental authority parallels his rejection of values of his society, especially racism, slavery, and religion; river as maternal symbol; Jim as androgynous; story of the child as victim (betrayal-of-innocence theme)

6. C. Prometheus Manqué: The Monster Unbound • Novel’s subtitle points to Oedipal struggle, but revenge turns on Victor’s entire family D. “Young Goodman Brown”: Id over Superego • Theme of innocence betrayed; allegory, symbolism, ambiguity; town = superego, Brown = ego, forest = id; obsession, taboos; Brown is not a mature man

7. E. Sexual Imagery in “To His Coy Mistress” • From teasing wit to brutal assault F. Morality Principle Over Pleasure Principle in “Everyday Use” • Narrator = ego; Dee = id; Maggie = superego