Two Normal Characters Ending Up in a Psychological Field

8/19/2019 Two Normal Characters Ending Up in a Psychological Field

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Avila 1

Pablo C. Avila

ENG102H.0845

Prof. John Silva

3 June 2008

To Nor!al Chara"#er$ En%in& '( in a P$)"holo&i"al *iel%

The %ifferen# (er$(e"#ive$ an% $#)le$ a $#or) "an have are $o!e#i!e$ (u++lin& #o !an) rea%er$,

(rovo-in& a nu!ber of revie$, "ri#i"al e$$a)$, an% even %o"#oral %i$$er#a#ion$ #ha# in#en% #o

e(lain ha# $o!e#i!e$ "anno# be e(laine% in onl) one a). The$e #)(e$ of $#orie$ are #he one$

#ha# $#ar# i#h a "o!!on an% un%er$#an%able $e##in& bu# en% u( in an un"lear one. /n Henr)

Ja!e$$ The Turn of #he S"re, for in$#an"e, #he &overne$$ arrive$ #o a ne hou$e here her

($)"holo&i"al (roble! ill be evi%en# #hrou&h her $i&h#$ of &ho$#$. An%, in Joao Gui!arae$

o$a$ The Thir% an- of #he iver, #he $on e(erien"e$ a #ri( #o #he in$anene$$ %ue #o #he

a"#ion$ of hi$ fa#her ho &oe$ on a #ri( #o #he river an% $#a)$ #here i#h no a((aren# rea$on.

The$e #o "hara"#er$, #hou&h "rea#e% an% (re$en#e% in %ifferen# (erio%$ of #i!e, have !an)

#hin&$ in "o!!on, #he) bo#h &o fro! a $ane $#a&e #o an in$ane $#a&e u$in& #he nu!ber of even#$

#ha# are #o be anal)+e% in or%er for #he rea%er #o un%er$#an% ha# #he $#or) i$ abou#.

The Thir% an- of #he iver

The evolu#ion of Joao Gui!arae$ o$a a$ a ri#er "an be foun% in hi$ $#or) The Thir%

an- of #he iver, be"au$e i# re(re$en#$ hi$ &oin& fro! #ra%i#ionali$! #o a ($)"holo&i"al fiel%.

Gui!arae$ o$a a$ born on June 2, 1608 in Cen#ral ra+il an%, in 1625, en#ere% !e%i"al


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Avila 2

$"hool in elo Hori+on#e, ra+il 7in"en# 19. Hi$ fir$# #hree or-$: The ;)$#er) of Hi&h!ore

Hall, ;a&!a, an% Sa&arana, "an be %e$"ribe%, in Jon S. in"en#$ o(inion, a$ #o be abou#

ru$#i"$ fro! #he ra+ilian hin#erlan% 729. Thi$ -in% of ri#in& a$ a "hara"#eri$#i" in

Gui!arae$$ or-$, hoever, a #urnin& (oin# ill #a-e (la"e in 1658, hen he $uffere% a near<

fa#al hear# a##a"- 7in"en# =9. Then, rea%er$ "an fin% Gui!arae$$ "han&e of $#)le in #he #i#le of

hi$ boo- Pri!eira$ E$#>ria$, (ubli$he% in i#$ ori&inal Por#u&ue$e in 16=2, an% (ubli$he% in

En&li$h a$ The Thir% an- of #he iver an% ?#her S#orie$ in 16=8 7in"en# =9. Thi$ i$ hi$ four#h

boo-, bu# #he #i#le Pri!eira$ E$#>ria$@fir$# $#orie$@!ar-$ a ne be&innin& for hi$ ri#in&. A$

in"en# o(ine$, frien%$ "lai! #ha# #he $everi#) of #he hear# a##a"- he $uffere% in 1658 "han&e%

hi$ ou#loo- of life an% on ri#in& 7=9. /# i$ #rue, #here i$ a "lear "han&e of %ire"#ion hen

a%%re$$in& #he rea%er i#hin The Thir% an- of #he iver, here #he "hara"#eri+a#ion of #he

$on, ho i$ al$o #he narra#or, en#er$ in#o a ue$#ionin& fiel% be"au$e he $#ar#$ #o feel "onfu$e% an%

%i$#urbe% af#er hi$ fa#her$ %e(ar#ure. Thi$ $#or) in (ar#i"ular %e!on$#ra#e$ ho Gui!arae$ $en%$

no# onl) a ne, bu# (u++lin& !e$$a&e #o #he rea%er !a-in& hi! rerea% #he $#or) #o &e# #he real

!e$$a&e i#hin a "hara"#er i#h a ($)"holo&i"al i$$ue.

The $onBnarra#or &oe$ fro! bein& an inno"en# -i% in #he be&innin& of #he $#or) #o an

unreliable an% #rouble% &u) b) #he en% of i#. Throu&hou# #he $#or), #he $on re(re$en#$ a

(er!anen# lin- be#een #he rea%er an% #he $#or) i#$elf be"au$e ever)#hin& #ha# #a-e$ (la"e i#hin

#he fa!il) i$ viee% #hrou&h hi$ e)e$. *ro! #he ver) be&innin&, he &ive$ an a!(le an% %e#aile%

%e$"ri(#ion of hi$ fa#her, fa#her a$ a reliable, la


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Avila 3

al$o (re$en#$ a fi&ure of a #)(i"al "hil% ho$e fa#her i$ abou# #o leave, he %e!on$#ra#e$ #hi$

behavior hen he a$-$, fa#her, ill )ou #a-e !e i#h )ou in #ha# "anoe 7Gui!arae$ 1609. /n a

$i#ua#ion li-e #hi$, an) "hil% oul% have li-e% #o &o i#h hi$ fa#her. The $onBnarra#or ba$e$ hi$

vie of hi$ fa#her in variou$ (eo(le of &oo% $en$e an% i# i$ (ar#i"ularl) #hi$ &oo% $en$e #ha#,

in #hi$ "a$e in referen"e #o o#her (eo(le, be&in$ in #he $on$ $(ee"h bu# i# %oe$n# en% u( i#h hi!

b) #he en% of #he $#or). Da#er on, #he fa#her &oe$ aa) an% %oe$ no# re#urn in !an) )ear$. ) #hi$

(oin#, #he $on &e#$ "onfu$e% be"au$e hi$ fa#her $#a)$ in #he !i%%le of #he river i#hou# &oin&

aa) nor "o!in& ba"-. /# i$ ri&h# #hen #ha# #he $on $#ar#$ #o &e# %i$#urbe% b) #he "ir"u!$#an"e$

7o!ano 6=9. /n referen"e #o #hi$ (oin#, o!ano on%er$, /$ i# (o$$ible #ha# he i$ !a%, #ha# he

"anno# a""ura#el) %i$#in&ui$h be#een reali#) an% #he hallu"ina#or) (ro%u"#$ of hi$ on

neuro$i$ 76=9. Gui!arae$$ $#or) (u++le$ #he rea%er be"au$e i# &oe$ fro! an un%er$#an%able

an% "o!!on $e##in& #o an un"lear, %ra!a#i", an% ue$#ionable en%: #hi$ "han&e in #he narra#ive

%e$i&n $u&&e$#$ a #ran$for!a#ion in #he narra#or hi!$elf 76=9. A$ #he $#or) #ran$"en%$, #he $on,

ho &ro$ u( an% i$ lef# alone a# ho!e be"au$e hi$ fa!il) ha$ !ove% ou#, he #hen &oe$ in#o a

(rofoun% la!en#a#ion be"au$e hi$ fa#her never "o!e$ ba"-. A$ he $a)$, / a$ a !an ho$e

or%$ ere all $orroful. h) %i% / feel $o &uil#), $o &uil#) a$ i# be"au$e of !) fa#her, ho

!a%e hi$ ab$en"e fel# ala)$, an% be"au$e of #he river


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Avila 4

$on. Thi$ (re$en"e of #he fa#her i$ "lear hen #he $on $a)$, ?ur fa#her never "a!e ba"-, He

ha%n# &one an)here 7Gui!arae$ 1609. Fe#, #he $on never lo$e$ "on#a"# i#h #he fa#her, ei#her

far or "lo$e #o #he fa!il). Af#er #he fa#her i$ &one, #he $on reveal$ #o #he rea%er #ha# he a"#uall)

-ee($ in #ou"h i#h hi$ fa#her, bu# #he fa!il) %oe$ no#, / ha% !a%e !)$elf re$(on$ible for

$#ealin& a bi# of foo% for hi! ever) %a), an i%ea #ha# ha% "o!e #o !e #he ver) fir$# ni&h# 71619.

) #hi$, #he $on %e!on$#ra#e$ #he $#ron& "onne"#ion he buil%$ be#een #he rea%in& i#$elf an% #he

rea%er be"au$e #he rea%er i$ folloin& #he fa#her$ a"#ion$ hi"h are "lo$el) !ani(ula#e% b) #he

$on. Thu$, i# i$ i!(or#an# #o %i$"over h) #he $on &oe$ fro! ra#ionali#) #o irra#ionali#). Hi$

"hara"#er &oe$ fro! a nor!al an% na#ural behavior #o an une(lainable one. /n o!ano$

o(inion, #he $on$ &ra%ual !ove!en# fro! ra#ionali#) #o irra#ionali#), fro! $ani#) #o in$ani#),

"an be folloe% #hrou&hou# #he narra#ion 76=9. The$e even#$ $#ron&l) affe"# #he $on be"au$e of

hi$ "lo$ene$$ #o hi$ fa#her af#er hi$ %e(ar#ure, he#her / an#e% #o or no#, !) #hou&h#$ -e(#

"ir"lin& ba"- an% / foun% !)$elf #hin-in& of fa#her 7Gui!arae$ 1629. Thi$ "lo$e rela#ion$hi(

ill #ra( #he $on in an unreliable $#a&e be"au$e b) #he en% of #he $#or) he %oe$ no# -no ha# #o

%o an% fail$ #o fin% hi$ fa#her, a# lea$#, hen %ea#h "o!e$ #o #he bo%), le# #he! #a-e !e an% (u#

!e in a re#"he% li##le "anoe, an% on #he a#er #ha# flo$ (a$# i#$ unen%in& ban-$, le# !e &o@

%on #he river, aa) fro! #he river, in#o #he river@#he river 716=9.

The Turn of #he S"re

A fra#ernal rivalr), a$ !en#ione% b) Pe#er ei%ler 7=9, be#een Henr) Ja!e$ an% hi$ ol%er

bro#her illia! !a) have been a "on$#an# i$$ue an% !a) have la#er "rea#e% a ($)"holo&i"al

even# in The Turn of #he S"re. Henr) Ja!e$ an% hi$ bro#her illia! ere reare% al!o$# a$

#in$. Henr) a$ born in 1843 in one of #he !o$# in#elle"#uall) (oerful fa!ilie$ in #he 'ni#e%


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Avila 5

S#a#e$ 7ei%ler 39. Thou&h he ro#e an% (ubli$he% earlier #han hi$ bro#her illia! %i% %e$(i#e

bein& )oun&er #han hi!, #here a$ a fra#ernal "o!(e#i#ion be#een #he$e #o bro#her$ #ha# !a)

have affe"#e% Henr)$ ri#in&. illia! be"a!e (o(ular an% al$o &aine% fa!e a$ a (ioneer in #he

($)"holo&) fiel% bu# he a$ ui#e ealou$ #ha# hi$ fa#her ha% (i"-e% Henr) a$ #he ee"u#or of hi$

la$# ill. ;oreover, illia! $a Henr)$ life a$ enviabl) free, in%e(en%en#, "rea#ive, an%

e"i#in& 79. Henr) never &o# !arrie% an% hi$ $in&lene$$ !a) have "oo(era#e% for hi$ ri#in&

be"au$e he %e%i"a#e% !ore #i!e #o i#, in "on#ra$# #o illia! ho $a hi$ ri#in& $#o((e% %ue #o

hi$ fa!il) an% #ea"hin& a"#ivi#). Never#hele$$, %e$(i#e #hi$ na#ural "o!(e#i#ion be#een #he$e #o

ou#$#an%in& au#hor$, #he) bo#h re!aine% ver) $u((or#ive #o ea"h o#her an% #he) bo#h finall)

$u""ee%e% in #heir (rofe$$ion$. A$ Pe#er ei%ler affir!$, /f one bro#her illia!I "an be $ai% #o

have e$#abli$he% #he $"ien"e of ($)"holo&) a$ a le&i#i!a#e $"ien"e of $#u%), #he o#her Henr)I "an

be $ai% #o have al#ere% #he %ire"#ion of fi"#ion an% li#erar) "ri#i"i$! in a)$ #ha# e are $#ill

learnin& #o a((re"ia#e 79. /# i$ #hi$ ne %ire"#ion a((lie% #o fi"#ion b) Henr), a$ ell a$ hi$

na#ural "o!(e#i#ion i#h hi$ bro#her, #ha# !a) have "rea#e% a ($)"holo&i"al i$$ue in The Turn of

#he S"re. illia! an% Henr) ha% a "lo$e rela#ion$hi( #ha# a$ refle"#e% in #heir ri#in&$,

illia! ro#e ($)"holo&) $o "learl) #ha# i# rea%$ al!o$# li-e fi"#ion, herea$ Henr) ro#e

fi"#ion $o "o!(lel) #ha# i# rea%$ al!o$# li-e ($)"holo&) 79. /# i$ #hi$ la$# (oin# #ha# al$o, %ue #o

#he na#ural "o!(e#i#ion, !a) &ive #he rea%er a "lue for be##er un%er$#an%in& ha# #he

($)"ho$eual h)$#eria in #he "hara"#er of #he &overne$$ i$ in The Turn of #he S"re.

/n Henr) Ja!e$$ The Turn of #he S"re, #he &overne$$ "a(#ure$ #he rea%er$ a##en#ion

i#h her $eual h)$#eria an% #he a) i# affe"#$ #he "hil%ren in her "har&e. The &overne$$ i$ a

o!an ho arrive$ #o a ne hou$e #o be in "har&e of #o -i%$, *lora an% ;ile$. She la#er re(or#$

#o $ee #he &ho$#$ of Pe#er uin# an% ;i$$ Je$$el. A$ #he $#or) &oe$ on, #he$e #o a((ari#ion$ $ee!


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Avila =

#o %ra a ($)"holo&i"al i$$ue #ha# ill !ar- #he &overne$$$ "hara"#er #hrou&hou# #he $#or). *ro!

#he be&innin&, for ea!(le, #he &overne$$ $#ar#$ #o %evelo( a $eual h)$#eria #ha#, %ue #o her la"-

of a !ale (ar#ner, !a-e$ her i!a&ine Pe#er uin#$ &ho$#. A$ S#anle) enner in hi$ e$$a) Ke%

hair, ver) re%, "lo$e


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Avila

The &overne$$ follo$ a (a#h fro! reliabili#) #o unreliabili#) in The Turn of #he S"re

%e!on$#ra#in& ho her ($)"holo&i"al %i$or%er #a-e$ her fro! a $ani#) $#a&e #o an in$ani#) one.

The fa"# of re(or#in& #he &ho$#$ of Pe#er uin# an% ;i$$ Je$$el !a-e$ #he rea%er on%er he#her

or no# #he &overne$$ i$ a reliable (er$on. hen $he re(or#$ #o have $een #he &ho$# of Pe#er uin#,

$he a$$ure$ ;r$. Gro$e believe$ her 729 bu# in #he $e"on% vi$ion, #hi$ #i!e of ;i$$ Je$$el$

&ho$#, #he &overne$$ lo$e$ ;r$. Gro$e$ "onfi%en"e be"au$e $he %oe$ no# believe on #he

&overne$$ an)!ore, for $he reali+e$ #ha# #he &overne$$ i$ u$# i!a&inin& #he$e vi$ion$ an%, in

fa"#, #here i$ no#hin& $he $ee$. Thi$ i$ "lear hen ;r$. Gro$e $a)$ She i$ n# #here, li##le la%),

an% nobo%)$ #here@an% )ou never $ee no#hin&, !) $ee#M 71039. Al$o, #he &overne$$ !a) &ive

a "lue #o #he rea%er i#hin #he lan&ua&e $he u$e$ hen %e$"ribin& #he fir$# vi$ion Pe#er uin#$

&ho$#, an% i#h a $ho"- !u"h &rea#er #han an) vi$ion ha% alloe% for@ was the sense that my

imagination had, in a flash, turned real 736, e!(ha$i$ !ine9. ) #hi$, #he rea%er !a) have an

i%ea abou# ho #he &overne$$ e(erien"e$ #he$e vi$ion$ #ha# rel) in her i!a&ina#ion onl). Thi$

fa"# !a) a""oun# in#o #he &overne$$$ unreliabili#) #ha# ill a""o!(an) her #hrou&hou# #he $#or).

/# $ee!$ #he$e #o a((ari#ion$ !a-e of #he &overne$$$ "hara"#er an unreliable (er$on ho, %ue

#o a ($)"holo&i"al (roble!, !a) "o!bine reliabili#) i#h unreliabili#).

*inall), bo#h $#orie$, Ja!e$$ The Turn of #he S"re an% Gui!arae$$ The Thir% ban- of

#he iver, offer #he rea%er an un%er$#an%able $e##in& a# #he be&innin&, bu# $u%%enl) &e# in#o a

fiel% of un"learne$$ %ue #o #he ($)"holo&i"al i$$ue. A$ e have $een in #he anal)$i$ of bo#h

"hara"#er$, #he $onBnarra#or an% #he &overne$$, #he (a#h fro! #he $ane #o #he in$ane, fro! #he

reliable #o #he unreliable, i$ evi%en# i#hin #he nu!ber of even#$ #ha# #a-e (la"e. The $on in The

Thir% ban- of #he iver, i$ affe"#e% b) hi$ fa#her$ a"#ion$ i#h no a((aren# rea$on an% #he) &e#

hi! %i$#urbe% an% unreliable for #he rea%er. Al$o, #he &overne$$ in The Turn of #he S"re, (u#$


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Avila 8

in#o evi%en"e her ($)"ho$eual h)$#eria hen, (i"#urin& a han%$o!e !an in her !in%, $he $ee$

#he &ho$# of Pe#er uin#. The$e #o "hara"#er$ have (re##) !u"h #he $a!e be&innin& an% #he

$a!e en% be"au$e #he rea%er i$ "onfu$e% abou# #heir $en$e of #ellin& #he #ru#h. Al$o, #he) !a)

have been influen"e% b) #he e(erien"e$ bo#h au#hor$ ha%, Gui!arae$$ hear# a##a"- an% Ja!e$$

"lo$ene$$ #o hi$ bro#her$ ($)"holo&i"al ri#in&, u$in& #he! #o have #he rea%er anal)+e in %e(#h

#he "hara"#er in or%er #o un%er$#an% #he i%ea of #he $#or).


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Avila 6

or-$ Ci#e%

ei%ler, Pe#er G. /n#ro%u"#ion. The Turn of #he S"re. ) Henr) Ja!e$. 2004. 2n% e%. o$#on S#.

;ar#in$. 3

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Two Normal Characters Ending Up in a Psychological Field