Ramberg

Chantell Ramberg ENGL 358-06; Steinmann Literary Analysis Assignment 3-22-13 The Bone People

Ive said no. I havent been raped or jilted or abused in any fashion. Theres nothing in my background to explain the way I am. Im the odd one out, the peculiarity in my family, because theyre all normal and demonstrative physically. But ever since I can remember, Ive disliked close contactcharged contact, emotional contact, as well as any overly sexual contact. I veer away from it, because it always feels like the other person is draining something out of me. I know thats irrational, but thats the way I feel (Hulme 325). Regardless of Kerewins rant, she speaks from a defensive place within her own unconscious. Analyzing Keri Hulmes novel, The Bone People, from a Freudian perspective helps the reader understand Kerewins actions, emotions, and behaviors through the many concepts of psychoanalysis revealing her unconscious desires and fears. Kerewin Holmes, a painter living alone in a tower by the beach in New Zealand, enjoys living a secluded way of life drinking and smoking with almost no human interaction in between. Attempting to keep this detached lifestyle, she unconsciously uses defenses and portrays anxieties and

Ramberg

core issues highlighted in Freuds work. Using this theory helps us interpret and better understand why our characters act the way they do, and find reason behind their eccentric ways of life. In the passage above, Kerewin blames her own reactions to affection on something that portrays her as tough and strong. Feeling as if something is draining her, enhances her need to feel as if she cannot be seen weak. She uses an excuse like this to blame all of her issues with intimacy on her inability to allow herself to be weak or feminine, letting someone else into her life. The faade she paints for herself is one that is strong, tough, and self defending, not needing anyone to take care of her or show her compassion to keep her content. She states her past has nothing to do with the way she is as a person, yet does not speak of her upbringing or experiences. Becoming immediately defensive after Joe simply asks an intimate question, shows her true avoidance of anything intimate in which she successfully hides herself, controlling the outcome with her rage. She settles down to state she is not interested in males or females, having no sexual drive at all, completely banning herself from any form of intimacy. Kerewin possess the sexual orientation of an asexual being, having a lack of sexual attraction to either sex (Bogaert 3). Knowing her feelings about sex and adoration are uncommon to the point of being bizarre to Joe, she tries to play the situation off as comical referring to herself as a neuter, another defense to change the tone of the conversation from serious to light and nonthreatening. Also highlighted in Sigmund Freuds extensive research is the outcome of the defense mechanism breaking down, exposing anxieties and core issues. Anxieties reveal the core issues that have developed as a person develops from childhood to adulthood. These

Ramberg

core issues entail fears, worries, or negative feelings about one s self controlling the way to handle disturbing circumstances (Tyson 16). According to Freud, Fear of Intimacy and Fear of Betrayal both stem from once having experienced a the mistrust or hurt received from a loved one. These fears cause someone that has experienced such trauma to keep people at an emotionally safe distance to keep our self safe. They may also not even attempt to be in a thriving relationship in fear that it will only end in disappointment and pain. The hidden emotion in the back of the mind of someone who has been deeply hurt from someone close to them, tries to find a way to keep them happy and safe from harm even if it means closing themselves off from love and prosperity. Another issue presented in Kerewin and Joes relationship is that of Kerewins non existent love life. Joe is openly passionate for Kerewin with no hesitation as to what he wishes would come of their friendly relationship. Kerewin does not show interest or flattery to his advances, again pushing anyone away that attempts at an intimate, loving relationship with her. She has an uncomfortable fear of closeness, preventing any type of failure that could possibly come from a moments weakness that would only result in pain and regret. It has become evident that Kerewin is also a virgin, with no desire to partake in any action to change her feelings towards sex, for it entails intimacy. She does not hide this fact, but is uneasy as Joe attempts to comfort her, stating its unimportance. Kerewin then changes the subject and requests they drink, again hiding her feelings and masking her emotions with the numbing effects of alcohol. The way she transforms from emotionally distraught to comical, shows her behavior as erratic and unstable, unveiling her own feelings about her sexuality.

Ramberg

Throughout Hulmes novel, Sigmund Freuds psychoanalytic lens can be used when studying the main characters Joe, Kerewin, and Simon. Freuds theory has evolved over the years, but his purpose has remained the same. Freud uses a psychoanalytic approach when explaining the behavior of individuals in regards to their experiences that have occurred throughout their lifetime. His theory is a way to help understand and focus on the behavioral problems of the human being, and to resolve them in a way that forces the individual to accept their own destructive actions (Tyson 12). As most people are unaware of these underlying problems they possess, they are even more surprised to find out that a traumatic relationship with a loved one during childhood can be the cause of problems occurring in the future. Freud speaks of the conflicts, wishes, needs, and even fears that are evident in the human conscious but hidden to the individual them self, in order to prevent the overpowering outcome that may proceed. This act of repression forces the undesirable away from reality and hides any possible feelings from the person involved; through psychoanalysis, Freud reveals the ability to understand the root of the issue and why certain elements are being pushed into the unconscious through fear or pure dread. Repressing memories or emotions can be seen through certain defenses a person puts forth due to a hidden conflict they are dealing with internally. These defenses can consist of many things, but are found in common ailments such as denial, displacement, and avoidance just to name a few. Denial would entail believing a problem does not even exist, allowing the individual to not deal with the emotional turmoil that can come along with an unpleasant occurrence. Displacement shifts negative attitude and feelings towards something or someone who does not deserve it, steering the blame away from whomever

Ramberg

or whatever it is meant for in fear of the reaction. Avoidance is used when they want the person or situation to be ignored all together, ensuring that there is no emotional stress. When we first meet Kerewin, she is living on her own with no family or close friends to interact with. She also seems to be content with this fact, showing her happiness of being alone at the water where she speaks to nature as if it can converse with her. She becomes very uneasy when she finds evidence that a human being other than herself has been on her land. She doesnt like children, doesnt like people, and has discouraged anyone from coming on her land (Hulme 18). Her negative feeling toward interaction with others portrays her evident issue with becoming even remotely close to other people in her area. This can be seen as an avoidance defense she is unconsciously using to keep people out of her life. As she does not openly state she is keeping her distance because of a previous issue, she obviously has experienced pain from someone close, forcing her unconscious mind to deny the possibility of having to endure the feeling again. Later in the text, Kerewin is slowly pulling herself out of the isolation she has entrapped herself in, becoming civil to neighbors, Joe and Simon. Though there is evidence she does care for them in some way, she is still uncomfortable with any type of affection and steers away from intimacy of any kind. She avoids her true feelings through her alcoholism that does nothing but keep her mind off of any type of memory valuable of showing a glimpse of her past, which is apparently not a pleasant memory to remember. Toward the end of the novel, Kerewin is alone and comes upon a stray cat. It is ironic that a stray animal is the only person other than herself that Kerewin commits herself to, bringing the cat home with her as a companion. She wishes seclusion upon herself so strongly that

Ramberg

she ignores all other forms of companionship to settle for a feline relationship. Allowing herself to become close to an animal is completely avoiding her real desire to be intimate with another human being, replacing her need for love with an animal that cannot hurt her. The defenses, anxieties, and core issues discussed are all Freuds explanations of why people will act in certain ways, either to control their own well being by hiding their true feelings, or not dealing with negative issues all together. Either way, Freuds theory gives an explanation to the bizarre actions people will unconsciously result to in order to be content with their own lives. The characters of The Bone People portray the prime example of people that are affected by their experiences and live their life unconsciously attempting to control their emotions and wellbeing. Kerewins character is complex and uncommon to say the least, but using Freuds theory, her behavior can be explained to help understand the reasons behind why she is the person she has become. Whatever occurred in Kerewins past is living through her unconscious through her decision making and demeanor she conveys as we get to know her character.

Ramberg
Work Cited

Bogaert, Anthony F., Toward a conceptual understanding of asexuality. Review of General Psychology. 10.3 (Sep. 2003): 241-250. EBSCOhost. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. Hulme, Keri. A Novel of The Bone People. New York: Penguin Group. 2010. Print. Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. New York: Routledge Group, Ed. 2. 2006. Print