Psychoanalytic Criticism

Psychoanalysis seeks to understand how human mental and psychological development occurs how the human mind works the causes and hopefully the cures for psychological problems

This information can be used to analyze literature using one of three approaches: Psychoanalysis of the author Psychoanalysis of the character(s) Psychoanalysis of the audience

According to Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) a neurologist and physiologist believes that the unconscious play a large part in how we act, think, and feel. The activity of the unconscious is through our dreams.

Freud developed a method of treating emotional and psychological disorders. During psychoanalysis, Freud had his patients talk freely in a patient- analyst setting about their early hood experiences and dreams.

When we apply these same methods to our interpretations of works of literature, we engage in:

Throughout his life Freud developed various models of the human psyche: Dynamic model: Asserting that our minds consist of the conscious (the rational) and the unconscious (the irrational).).
Economic model: 1. The pleasure principle 2. The reality principle

Typographical model: Freud separates the human psyche in three parts: Conscious preconscious unconscious Also he divides the psyche into: The psyche
Id: desire, the pleasure
principle

Ego: self, the reality

principle

Superego:
conscience, morals, the perfection principle (ego ideal)

Freuds Pre-Oedipal development: It is divided into three human development stages:

1. The oral: as infants when we suck our mothers breast to be fed, our sexuality is activated. 2. The anal: The anus becomes an object of pleasure when children learn the delights of defecation and express their anger and excitement in discovering their independence from their mothers. 3. Phallic stage: A childs sexual desires are directed toward the genitals

 Carl G. Jung (1875- 1961) Jung believed that Freud was too focused on sexuality as a motivating force. Jung argued that the unconscious could also be a source of creativity and that more than sexual imagery appears in dreams. He was the first to suggest that archetypes affect the way we respond to external elements.

 Northrop Frye (1912- 1991) Frye borrows Jungs ideas about myths and archetypes and develops a systematic approach called archetypal or mythic criticism. He declares that myth possesses the deepest imagery and abstract meaning. He comprised tragedy and comedy as possible kind of stories.

 Jacques Lacan (1901- 1981) Similar to Freud, Lacan believes that the unconscious greatly affects our conscious behavior. For Lacan, the human psyche consists of three parts: the imaginary order the symbolic order the real order.

Assumptions

Freud declares that the literary work is indeed the authors dream or fantasy.

Psychoanalytic critics believe we can unlock the hidden meanings.

Methodologies
For several decades after its introduction, psychoanalytic criticism focused mainly on the author.

Psychobiography a method of analysis begins by amassing biographical information about the author through biographies, personal letters, lectures

Individual characters within a text now became the focus as well as the audience and the reader.
The character becomes the creation of the author and the recreation of the reader. The reader plays a major role in interpreting a work.

Freud wrote several important essays on literature, which he used to explore the psyche of authors and characters, to explain narrative mysteries, and to develop new concepts in psychoanalysis.

 For example: Hamlet has been interpreted as having a sexual fixation with his mother due to his interest in her sexuality. Hamlet cannot avenge his uncle (despite killing others without much thinking) because he is guilty of wanting to commit the same crime himself Has an Oedipus complex, and wish to do away with his father; thus, uncle has merely done what Hamlet wished to do.