Chapter5Psychoanalytic criticism

Beginning Theory Peter Barry

Presentation Outline

Introduction Sigmund Freud

› Theories› critics

Jacques Lacan› Theories› critics

Q&A

Introduction

What does Psychoanalytic criticism do?› They use psychoanalysis techniques in the

interpretation of literature. What does Psychoanalysis do?

› Psychoanalysis aims to cure mental disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind.

Sigmund Freud(I)

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939),Austrian Unconscious Three levels of the personality

› Super-ego >> conscience› Ego >> consciousness› Id >> unconscious

Sublimation Libido

Sigmund Freud (II)

Screen memory› A trivial or inconsequential memory to

obliterate a more significant one. Freudian slip Dream work

› Displacement - association› Condensation

Critics‘penis envy’ >negative views on woman

What Freudian critics do?

1. Stressing the distinction between conscious and unconscious.

2. Uncovering the unconscious motives of characters.

3. Seeing in the literary work an embodiment of classic psychoanalytic conditions.

Jacques Lacan(I)

Jacques Lacan (1901-1981),French psychoanalyst

‘The nucleus of our being’ Unconscious is structured like a

language Descartes ’I think, therefore I am.’

› Lacan ’I am where I think not.’ Reject the conventional view of

characterization in literature

Jacques Lacan (II)

Unconscious is the ‘kernel of our being,’

Language exist as a structure before the individual enters into it.

Imaginary

Mirror stage

symbolic

no distinction between self and other

6-8 monthesUnified, being separate from the worldLanguage

systemThe beginning of socialization

What Lacanian critics do?

What Lacanian critics do1. They pay close attention to unconscious

motives and feelings. They search out those of the text itself. This is another way of defining the process 'deconstruction’

2. They demonstrate the presence in the literary work of Lacanian symptoms or phrases.

3. They treat the literay text in terms of a series of broader Lacanian orientations.

4. They see the literary text as an enactment of Lacanian views.