Approaches to LiteratureApproaches to LiteratureWeek 8Week 8

The Psychological ApproachThe Psychological ApproachInterpretation on 3 textbooks & 4 Interpretation on 3 textbooks & 4 extra worksextra worksReference: Reference: Miss Julie, The Glass Miss Julie, The Glass Menagerie, The Streetcar Named Menagerie, The Streetcar Named Desire, and Desire, and 追憶似水年華追憶似水年華Clips of Clips of 追憶似水年華追憶似水年華

Professor: Hsin-chun TuanProfessor: Hsin-chun Tuan段馨君段馨君

The Psychological Approach:The Psychological Approach:FreudFreud

I. Aims and Principles:I. Aims and Principles:

Benefit--can afford many profound clues Benefit--can afford many profound clues toward solving a work’s thematic and toward solving a work’s thematic and symbolic mysteries,symbolic mysteries,

Flaw--can seldom account for the beautiful Flaw--can seldom account for the beautiful symmetry of a well-wrought poem or of a symmetry of a well-wrought poem or of a fictional masterpiece.fictional masterpiece.

A. Abuses and A. Abuses and Misunderstandings of the Misunderstandings of the Psychological ApproachPsychological Approach

Aristotle: definition of tragedy as Aristotle: definition of tragedy as combining the emotions of pity and terror combining the emotions of pity and terror to produce catharsisto produce catharsis

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

His followers: Jacques LacanHis followers: Jacques Lacan

Abused Freudian insights through Abused Freudian insights through oversimplification and distortionoversimplification and distortion

B. Freud’s TheoriesB. Freud’s Theories

Unconscious aspects of the human psycheUnconscious aspects of the human psyche

Underneath the surface of the iceberg is Underneath the surface of the iceberg is the subconsciousthe subconscious

UnconsciousUnconscious

Motivated by sexual impulsesMotivated by sexual impulses

Desires & memories are repressedDesires & memories are repressed

Id, ego, & superegoId, ego, & superego

Freud’s TheoriesFreud’s Theories

The foundation of Freud’s The foundation of Freud’s contribution to modern psychology is contribution to modern psychology is his emphasis on the unconscious his emphasis on the unconscious aspects of the human psyche.aspects of the human psyche.

Like iceberg, the human Like iceberg, the human mind is structured so mind is structured so

that its great weight and that its great weight and density lie beneath the density lie beneath the

surface (below the level surface (below the level of consciousness)of consciousness)

Freud’s second Freud’s second major premise major premise is that all is that all human human behavior is behavior is motivated motivated ultimately by ultimately by what we would what we would call sexuality.call sexuality.

Freud in 1931 with his chow dogs in Freud in 1931 with his chow dogs in Potzieinsdorf,near Vienna. Potzieinsdorf,near Vienna. He was known He was known

as 'The Clock Man',because he lived his life to as 'The Clock Man',because he lived his life to

such a tight timetable.such a tight timetable.

Freud’s third premise is that because Freud’s third premise is that because of the powerful social taboos attached of the powerful social taboos attached to certain sexual impulses, many of to certain sexual impulses, many of our desires and memories are our desires and memories are repressed ( that is, actively excluded repressed ( that is, actively excluded from conscious awareness).from conscious awareness).

Several corollaries of Freudian Several corollaries of Freudian theorytheory

The The idid is the is the reservoir of libido, reservoir of libido, the primary source the primary source of all psychic of all psychic energy. It fulfills the energy. It fulfills the primordial life primordial life principle, which principle, which Freud considers to Freud considers to be the pleasure be the pleasure principle.principle.

Freud’s assignment of Freud’s assignment of the mental processes to the mental processes to three psyche zones: the three psyche zones: the

idid, the , the egoego, and the , and the superegosuperego..

Ego is the rational Ego is the rational governing agents of governing agents of the psyche. Though the psyche. Though the ego lacks the the ego lacks the strong vitality of the strong vitality of the id, it regulates the id, it regulates the instinctual drives of instinctual drives of the id so that they the id so that they may be released in may be released in nondestructive nondestructive behavioral patterns.behavioral patterns.

Acting either directly or Acting either directly or through the ego, the through the ego, the superego serves to superego serves to repress or inhibit the repress or inhibit the drives of the id, to block drives of the id, to block of and thrust back into of and thrust back into the unconscious those the unconscious those impulses toward impulses toward pleasure that society pleasure that society regards as regards as unacceptable.unacceptable.

The other regulating agent, The other regulating agent, that which primarily that which primarily

functions to protect society, functions to protect society, is the is the superegosuperego..

Whereas the id is Whereas the id is dominated by the dominated by the pleasure principle pleasure principle and the ego by and the ego by the reality the reality principle, the principle, the superego is superego is dominated by the dominated by the morality morality principle. principle.

II. The Psychological II. The Psychological Approach in PracticeApproach in Practice

A. A. HamletHamlet: The Oedipus Complex: The Oedipus Complex

MisogynyMisogyny

Reason of hesitation: incest and parricideReason of hesitation: incest and parricide

Want his mom, not Ophelia nor other womenWant his mom, not Ophelia nor other women

““Get thee to a nunnery”Get thee to a nunnery”

The psychological The psychological Approach in PracticeApproach in Practice

Ernest Jones points out that Hamlet as a Ernest Jones points out that Hamlet as a psychoneurotic who suffers from manic-psychoneurotic who suffers from manic-depressive hysteria combined with an depressive hysteria combined with an abuliaabulia– all of which may be traced to the – all of which may be traced to the hero’s severely repressed Oedipal feelings.hero’s severely repressed Oedipal feelings.

The usual oedipal triangle of The usual oedipal triangle of mother, son, and father has been mother, son, and father has been

altered by the addition of altered by the addition of Claudius in Place of Hamlet's Claudius in Place of Hamlet's

original father.  No wonder original father.  No wonder Hamlet looks disturbed.  (from the Hamlet looks disturbed.  (from the

Branagh version)Branagh version)

the character of the ghost the character of the ghost and Claudius are dramatic and Claudius are dramatic projections of Hamlet’s projections of Hamlet’s own conscious-own conscious-unconscious ambivalence unconscious ambivalence toward the father figure. toward the father figure. The ghost represents the The ghost represents the conscious ideal of conscious ideal of fatherhood. His view of fatherhood. His view of Claudius represents Claudius represents Hamlet’s repressed Hamlet’s repressed hostility toward his father hostility toward his father as a rival for his mother’s as a rival for his mother’s affection.affection.

Richard Dadd's 1840 Richard Dadd's 1840 oil painting of the oil painting of the

closet scene. closet scene.

B. B. Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

Rebellion Against the FatherRebellion Against the Father

Huck’s detestable father as the denominator Huck’s detestable father as the denominator of social authority.of social authority.

Escape the oppressive tyranny and cruel Escape the oppressive tyranny and cruel restraints of the superegorestraints of the superego

Between land & waterBetween land & water

Between the conscious and the unconsciousBetween the conscious and the unconscious

Death and rebirthDeath and rebirth

Rebellions Against the Father Rebellions Against the Father in in Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

Miss Watson and pap Finn Miss Watson and pap Finn both represent social and both represent social and legal morality. In the light legal morality. In the light of such authority both of such authority both Miss Watson and pap Finn Miss Watson and pap Finn may be said to represent may be said to represent the superego. In this the superego. In this sense, it is to escape the sense, it is to escape the oppressive tyranny and oppressive tyranny and cruel restraints of the cruel restraints of the superego that Huck and superego that Huck and Jim take flight on the river. Jim take flight on the river.

In the novel, both Miss Watson In the novel, both Miss Watson and pap Finn represent and pap Finn represent extremes of authorityextremes of authority

Lacking a real mother, Lacking a real mother, Huck finds his Huck finds his symbolic mother in symbolic mother in the river; in Freudian the river; in Freudian terms, he returns to terms, he returns to the womb. From this the womb. From this matrix he undergoes a matrix he undergoes a series of symbolic series of symbolic deaths and rebirths, deaths and rebirths, punctuated punctuated structurally by the structurally by the episodes on land.episodes on land.

Mark Twain’s great novel has Mark Twain’s great novel has this in common withthis in common with Hamlet Hamlet: : both are concerned with the both are concerned with the theme of rebellion– with a theme of rebellion– with a

hostile treatment of the father hostile treatment of the father figure.figure.

C. C. Frankenstein, orFrankenstein, orThe Modern PrometheusThe Modern PrometheusPrometheus Manqué: The Monster UnboundPrometheus Manqué: The Monster Unbound

Rebellions against the restrictions of Rebellions against the restrictions of patriarchal authoritypatriarchal authority

The Father must die, either symbolically or The Father must die, either symbolically or literallyliterally

Projection of his creator’s idProjection of his creator’s id

The monstrous consequences of libidinous The monstrous consequences of libidinous obsession, unchecked by ego and obsession, unchecked by ego and ungoverned by superegoungoverned by superego

D. “Young Goodman D. “Young Goodman Brown”Brown”

Id versus superegoId versus superego

Traumatic experience for the youthTraumatic experience for the youth

Allegorical meaningsAllegorical meanings

Village—consciousness—superegoVillage—consciousness—superego

Forest—the unconscious—idForest—the unconscious—id

stick symbolizes the uncontrollable phallusstick symbolizes the uncontrollable phallus

““nature”: synonymous with “sin”nature”: synonymous with “sin”

Young Goodman Brown: Id Verses Young Goodman Brown: Id Verses SuperegoSuperegoThe village is a place The village is a place of light and order, of light and order, both social and both social and spiritual order. Brown spiritual order. Brown leaves Faith behind leaves Faith behind the town at sunset the town at sunset and returns to Faith and returns to Faith in the morning. The in the morning. The journey into the journey into the wildness is taken in wildness is taken in the night. the night.

Illustration of Brown Illustration of Brown entering the heart of entering the heart of

darknessdarkness

The village, as a place The village, as a place of social and moral of social and moral order is analogous to order is analogous to Freud’s superego, Freud’s superego, conscience, the conscience, the morally inhibiting morally inhibiting agent of the psyche; agent of the psyche; the forest, as a place the forest, as a place of wild, untamed of wild, untamed passions and terrors, passions and terrors, has the attributes of has the attributes of the Freudian id. the Freudian id.

As mediator between these As mediator between these opposing forces, Brown resembles opposing forces, Brown resembles

the poor ego, which tries to effect a the poor ego, which tries to effect a healthy balancehealthy balance

III. Other Possibilities and III. Other Possibilities and Limitations of the Limitations of the

Psychological ApproachPsychological Approach

If accept the premises—difficult to refuteIf accept the premises—difficult to refute

Impact upon modern writingImpact upon modern writing

Upon modern literary criticismUpon modern literary criticism

Danger: Freud’s theory is not the only Danger: Freud’s theory is not the only approach to literary analysisapproach to literary analysis

Though it’s useful, not only limited in Though it’s useful, not only limited in this approach—still learn morethis approach—still learn more

LimitationsLimitations

Psychological Approach makes it very easy for Psychological Approach makes it very easy for the reader to treat the fictional characters as real the reader to treat the fictional characters as real human beings (best example: Hamlet)human beings (best example: Hamlet)

Analyzer is not omniscient: As Freud’s own Analyzer is not omniscient: As Freud’s own difficulty in analyzing his object (e.g. Dora) difficulty in analyzing his object (e.g. Dora) shows, sometimes in the process of analysis, the shows, sometimes in the process of analysis, the “analyzer” must also consider his/her own “analyzer” must also consider his/her own psychology and bias before applying this psychology and bias before applying this approach.approach.

Possibilities Possibilities

Freud’s hypothesis have been modified and Freud’s hypothesis have been modified and corrected, (therefore not deemed as absolute corrected, (therefore not deemed as absolute Truth) even within the discipline of psychology Truth) even within the discipline of psychology studies.studies.

For example, the current trend of the related For example, the current trend of the related science is in linking our mind/emotion to genetic science is in linking our mind/emotion to genetic and biophysical origins other than merely and biophysical origins other than merely psychological origins.psychological origins.

Limitations and Limitations and PossibilitiesPossibilities

The greatest danger of misusing psychoanalysis is The greatest danger of misusing psychoanalysis is to try applying it to everybody’s every action. This to try applying it to everybody’s every action. This oversimplifies the complexity of the human life.oversimplifies the complexity of the human life.

E.g. While Freud gave one of the most ingenious E.g. While Freud gave one of the most ingenious insight of insight of HamletHamlet in history. If we nail Hamlet’s in history. If we nail Hamlet’s every decision and trouble to Oedipus Complex every decision and trouble to Oedipus Complex then the play then the play HamletHamlet will lose most of its will lose most of its meanings and become just a family melodrama.meanings and become just a family melodrama.

We human beings often do things for more than We human beings often do things for more than one motivation. Psychoanalysis is not an “answer-one motivation. Psychoanalysis is not an “answer-for-all-questions”, it is Freud’s way to remind us for-all-questions”, it is Freud’s way to remind us that we don’t always understand ourselves, that that we don’t always understand ourselves, that there is always something hidden for we to search.there is always something hidden for we to search.

August Strindberg’s August Strindberg’s Miss JulieMiss Julie

Julie: . . . That reminds me of a dream I have Julie: . . . That reminds me of a dream I have now and then. I’ve climbed up on top of a pillar. now and then. I’ve climbed up on top of a pillar. I sit there and see no way of getting down. I get I sit there and see no way of getting down. I get dizzy when I look down, and I must get down, dizzy when I look down, and I must get down, but I don’t have the courage to jump. I can’t but I don’t have the courage to jump. I can’t hold on firmly, and I long to be able to fall, but I hold on firmly, and I long to be able to fall, but I don’t fall. And yet I’ll have no peace until I get don’t fall. And yet I’ll have no peace until I get down, no rest unless I get down, down on the down, no rest unless I get down, down on the ground! And if I did get down to the ground, I’d ground! And if I did get down to the ground, I’d want to be under the earth . . . Have you ever want to be under the earth . . . Have you ever felt anything like that?felt anything like that?

Contrast of the Dreams Contrast of the Dreams in in Miss JulieMiss Julie

Jean: No. I dream that I’m lying under a high Jean: No. I dream that I’m lying under a high tree in a dark forest. I want to get up, up on tree in a dark forest. I want to get up, up on top, and look out over the bright landscape, top, and look out over the bright landscape, where the sun is shining, and plunder the bird’s where the sun is shining, and plunder the bird’s nest up there, where the golden eggs lie. And I nest up there, where the golden eggs lie. And I climb and climb, but the trunk’s so thick and climb and climb, but the trunk’s so thick and smooth, and it’s so far to the first branch. But I smooth, and it’s so far to the first branch. But I know if I just reached that first branch, I’d go know if I just reached that first branch, I’d go right to the top, like up a ladder. I haven’t right to the top, like up a ladder. I haven’t reached it yet, but I will, even if it’s only in a reached it yet, but I will, even if it’s only in a dream!dream!

Tennessee Williams’ sTennessee Williams’ sThe Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerie

Characters: Amanda Wingfield (the mother), Laura Characters: Amanda Wingfield (the mother), Laura (her daughter), Tom (her son), Jim O’Connor (the (her daughter), Tom (her son), Jim O’Connor (the gentleman caller)gentleman caller)

While Amanda keeps the pretenseWhile Amanda keeps the pretense

Laura and Tom can no longer sustain their illusionsLaura and Tom can no longer sustain their illusions

Reality: no success for Tom and no marriage for Reality: no success for Tom and no marriage for LauraLaura

Imaginative world of glass animals whose fragility Imaginative world of glass animals whose fragility and uniqueness replicate Laura’s ownand uniqueness replicate Laura’s own

The Streetcar Named The Streetcar Named DesireDesire

Pretense and realityPretense and reality

Fragile and brutalFragile and brutal

RapeRape

InsaneInsane

ImaginationImagination

DesireDesire

sexualitysexuality

普魯斯特的長篇小說普魯斯特的長篇小說追憶似水年華追憶似水年華

全書七卷 法文原版三千頁 中文兩百萬字全書七卷 法文原版三千頁 中文兩百萬字

敘述者”我” 藉文學創作再現昔日時光敘述者”我” 藉文學創作再現昔日時光

愛上阿爾貝蒂娜—尋找不告而別的她愛上阿爾貝蒂娜—尋找不告而別的她

法國第三共和國時期法國第三共和國時期

《在斯萬家那邊》《在斯萬家那邊》 ---- 瑪德蘭小蛋糕浸茶喝瑪德蘭小蛋糕浸茶喝

無意識回憶 無意識回憶 (la mémoire involontaire)(la mémoire involontaire)

《在蓋爾芒特家那邊》《在蓋爾芒特家那邊》 ---- 貴族的冷酷與自私貴族的冷酷與自私

《復得的時間》《復得的時間》 ---- 沉靜面對死亡沉靜面對死亡 , , 作品永恆時間作品永恆時間