Ever since Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis theory, its applicability has been extended beyond therapy to literature. In the interpretation of dreams, Sigmund Freud coins the term the oedipus complex in reference to the greek mythology of Oedipus the king. The application of psychoanalysis to myth is treated by Dowden with scepticism and he states that the only significance of the psychoanalytic approach is in its recognition of how fundamental the images that recur in the myth are (Dowden, 1992, p.23). This essay will argue that Dowden’s treatment of the theory of psychoanalysis is valid but needs to be supplemented with a more comprehensive view of psychoanalysis and the various arguments for scepticism towards psychoanalysis. Dowden’s treatment of the theory of psychoanalysis focuses on the application of dream interpretation to myth and it’s related flaws. He refers to the freudian method of dream analysis as using dreams to “disclose the hidden operations of the unconscious mind … [through] symbolism, disposition, or projection” (Dowden, 1992, p.23). In this sense, it is reasonable to extend psychoanalysis to other products of human imagination such as myth. Dowden criticizes this approach to interpreting myth by raising several major problems. Firstly, he speculates that both psychoanalyst and classist tend to be inapt at psychoanalyzing myths. Secondly, he warns against analyzing the characters in the myth as though they are real in flesh. Thirdly, he dismisses
Sigmund Freud was a neurologist that made many contributions to the world of psychology. In fact, he is the founder of psychoanalysis which involves psychological theories and therapies that help explain certain mental disorders in humans. Many of his ideas and theories can be identified throughout pieces of literature, even from centuries ago. For example, many examples of Freud’s theories can be found in ancient literature. Two pieces of ancient literature specifically that exemplify concepts relating to psychoanalysis are Euripides Medea, and ___ Agamemnon. When reading these two pieces of literature through a psychoanalytic lens, it helps explain the character’s behaviors and experiences that they endure because of what Freud called the preconscious, or the unconscious mind.
Psycho-analysis, the brain child of Sigmund Freud, is an attempt to conceive an entirely new field of science based on the constructs set forth by its creator, it deals with all manners of the human psyche, from the human ego, to our dreams, and to our unconscious and conscious minds. In his work, “Revision of the Theory of Dreams” Freud’s unwavering persistence to cement psycho-analysis, and his method of dream interpretation, as an established science becomes apparent. He implies that only a psycho-analysist is capable of correctly analyzing dreams, and in making this implication he commits a series grievous mistakes, he overestimates the value of the psycho-analyst’s interpretation and the values of the associations which the dreamer makes during the process, he then, in accordance with his newfound science and procedure, attempts to pass off these supposed analyses as definitive fact. These mistakes are a result of Freud’s own ego, in his desperation to prove the validity of his science he forgets about human nature and its impacts on the unconscious mind, which he claims to know much of, and the subjectivity of all interpretation.
The point of view of which Freud interprets and examines the manifest of dreams content to obtain their latent meaning is of a professional psychologist and clinical observer who looked for a way to explain how our minds work and how the individual psychology functions. He based his work on clinical experiences and clinical neurosis of the matter of his own interpretations to be able to confirm his theories as a proven fact. The result Freud gets from the patients he observes and interpretation of their dreams are stereotyped to the complete human condition.
Oedipus Rex, an ancient Greek tragedy authored by the playwright Sophocles, includes many types of psychological phenomena. Most prominently, the myth is the source of the well-known term Oedipal complex, coined by psychologist Sigmund Freud in the late 1800s. In psychology, “complex” refers to a developmental stage. In this case the stage involves the desire of males, usually ages three to five, to sexually or romantically posses their mother, and the consequential resentment of their fathers. In the play, a prince named Oedipus tries to escape a prophecy that says he will kill his father and marry his mother, and coincidentally saves the Thebes from a monster known as the Sphinx. Having unknowingly killed his true father Laius during his
Sigmund Freud, the preeminent, 19th century, European neurologist and psychologist, designed a theory he labelled “psychoanalysis,” a theory which would transcend all borders and integrate itself deeply into many facets of society. In fact, an American named Kate Chopin, wrote a book entitled The Awakening, which was published at the turn of the 19th century, in which this theory played an integral role in expressing the complexity, relevance, and growth of the main character. The express importance of the main character displaying a Freudian psych is pertinent even in the modern time because it allows us to view the application of his theories around the time of their conception, trace
After a friend told me about some weird dreams he had been having I decided to research the meaning of dreams. I will focus on Sigmund Freud’s idea that understanding our dreams can help us to understand ourselves, and live a much happier and fulfilled life. Freud was known as “the father of psychoanalysis” and in 1899 he wrote his most famous work, The Interpretation of Dreams, and
Sigmund Freud has been heralded as one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century. He is renowned for his discoveries about the human mind, particularly dreams, fantasies, and the role of the unconscious. Even though many of his theories were (and are) viewed as controversial, his ideas revolutionized the way people think about themselves. The potency of his notions have permeated almost every discipline, including literature, art, and medicine. This paper will examine the life, the influences, and the impact of Sigmund Freud. It will begin by discussing who he is, his personal history, and then talk about his role in the development of psychoanalysis. Next it will discuss some of the individuals who greatly inspired Freud.
One very famous, significant leader who left a famous legacy was Sigmund Freud who helped thousands of people with mental illness with his psychoanalysis theories, by talking and being straight forward into the point on how a person can overcome their illness, he once said, “If you want to live a life be prepared for death” . Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1886 in Germany and died on September 23, 1939 and was an Austrian neurologist. During the years he was working he became famous by becoming “The Father of Psychoanalysis.” Freud was known as the father of psychoanalysis because not only did he create a treatment for psychopathology, he also developed therapeutic techniques and made a huge analysis of dreams. He was a leader because his work inspired other psychologists to use his theories, to this day and made more treatments exist.
Literary theory is a body of ideas and methods used in interpreting literature. By literary theory we refer to the different theories developed in order to retrieve meanings from literary work. According to Culler “Theory in literary studies is not an account of the nature of literature or methods for its study...It’s a body of thinking and writing whose limits are exceedingly hard to define.” (in Culler, p. 3;as cited Chakraborty, n.d.). There are a few schools of literary theory, but this paper will analyze and discuss the psychoanalytic approach of Freud and Lacan as opposed to the liberal humanist idea of analysis.
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, is predominantly recognized as one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century. Freud gave a broad perspective on things involving dreams, religion, and cultural artifacts while still focusing on different states of the mind, such as unconsciousness. Freud also relied on a local sexual repression issue to create theories about human behavior. His theories and ideas of psychoanalysis still have a strong impact on psychology and early childhood education today. Freud’s most important claim is that with psychoanalysis he had invented a new science of the mind, however, remains the subject of copious critical debate and controversy.
Sigmund Freud created strong theories in science and medicine that are still studied today. Freud was a neurologist who proposed many distinctive theories in psychiatry, all based upon the method of psychoanalysis. Some of his key concepts include the ego/superego/id, free association, trauma/fantasy, dream interpretation, and jokes and the unconscious. “Freud remained a determinist throughout his life, believing that all vital phenomena, including psychological phenomena like thoughts, feelings and phantasies, are rigidly determined by the principle of cause and effect” (Storr, 1989, p. 2). Through the discussion of those central concepts, Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis becomes clear as to how he construed human character.
Psychoanalysis in literary criticisms is a criticism that is an idea of an unconscious area within the human mind. It emphasized the role of unconscious in determining human behavior. In here, childhood experiences is very important. Dreams are also important, in a way, that it is interpreted to know what is the message the unconscious area wants the conscious one to know.
The Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud (1865 – 1939) had been a tremendous cultural influence during the twentieth century, especially during its first half. Freud’s path-breaking work The Interpretation of Dreams came out in 1900, at the fag-end of the Victorian period. Subsequently, Freudian theories and ideas were employed to trace novel interpretations of pre-existing as well as newer literary texts. In the 1970s Freud’s thought was revised by Jacques Lacan from a linguistic standpoint. It was also during this time that the deconstructionist approach – the strategy employed by the poststructuralist school – was popularised by Jacques Derrida. This approach proposes to read a text against itself, bringing out its inherent
Sophocles’ “Oedipus’’ is a renowned tragedy which hasn’t lost its bite even to this day. It has multiple alternate titles including “Oedipus the King’’ and “Oedipus Tyrannous”. In the play Oedipus, king of Thebes, having heard that his city is being ravaged by fire and plague, sends his brother-in-law Creon to find a remedy from the oracle of Apollo at Delphi. When Creon returns Oedipus commences to investigate the death of his predecessor, Laius, and discovers through various accounts that he himself was the one who had unknowingly killed Laius and then wed his own mother, Jocasta. In reaction to this news, Oedipus is mortified to the fullest extreme - mutilating his eyes, and leaving the court. Jocasta commits suicide, and the tragedy takes its full course. Sigmund Freud, a renowned father of modern psychology, cerebrates this, as in his view his psychoanalysis illuminated the relevancy and power of the play, rather than the other way around. Sophocles is able to reflect the edifications of psychoanalysis in “Oedipus”.
other possibilitites. Breton began to use ideas from the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud to help treat his patients – in particular Freud’s ‘Interpretations of Dreams’ from 1900. In this book, Freud proposed the idea of the unconscious mind and the irrational things which stem from it – slips of the tongue, dreams, strange meetings and weird. Like the