Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis: A Freudian criticism of three works of
literature
A Clockwork OrangeThe Picture of Dorian Gray
Atlas ShruggedA Clockwork Orange
Id, ego, and superegoDreamsFather figuresOedipus complexWhats it
going to be then, eh?Alex freely acts out all desires, giving his
id complete control.His superego fails to punish him because he
sees no wrong in what he is doing.Music fuels violence and vice
versa.
Dreams are the royal road to the unconsciousDreams that he loses
his power wish fulfillment of keeping power.Dream comes true when
droogs turn on him.In jail, he dreams of music and violence, his
two passions that are now taken away.In prison, he dreams of Ludwig
van in form of castration complex.
RehabilitationBehavior modification program combines violent
images with a physically sick feelingEgo changes because his
relationship to reality is driven by physical sickness in relation
to violenceSuperego still craves violence, but ego suppresses the
urge to avoid feeling illBecomes a Clockwork Orange, alive on the
outside, yet mechanical inside
ReintegrationAlex cannot defend himself because the thought of
violence makes him ill.Sees F. Alexander as father figureOedipus
complex fulfilled Alex raped and killed F. Alexanders wife.F.
Alexander seeks revenge by using Alex then driving him to attempt
suicide.
I Was Cured All Right.Alex envisions his tainted ego leaving his
body and new, fresh ego entering, freeing him to act out his ids
desires.The ultimate wish fulfillment of regressing into his
original state.
The Picture of Dorian GrayThe UncannyId, Ego, SuperegoOedipus
Complex
The Faustian bargain transfers evidence of Dorians age and
misdeeds to the portrait.The picture becomes uncanny because it is
essentially Dorians soul manifested in a physical painting.
If I would be always young, and the picture grow oldI would give
my soul for that.The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield
to itActs out all the fantasies of his idSuperego dissolves because
he has no conscious and his self-ideal resides in the pictureEgo is
transferred to the portrait because anything that would normally
bring him pain is evident in the painting
He has been twenty-one nearly half a centuryHe has no need for a
superego .Society continues to accept him despite his horrid acts
because he remains young and beautiful.The reader lives out the
fantasy of being forever young.
A Schism of the SoulBasil (father figure) is horrified at the
portrait and Dorian, realizing hes done something wrong, kills
him.Has no ego or superego so he destroys the painting. Because the
portrait contains those essential parts, Dorian dies.
Atlas Shrugged
The perfect man?Sex is not an animal instinct.Does repression
cause everything?
Who is John Galt?
The archetypal manGalt is in absolute control of himself, thus
has successfully repressed all desires.Characters view sex as a
recognition and sharing of values.
"So you think that money is the root of all evil? Have you ever
asked what is the root of money?" Wealth and values versus living
life through alms, altruism, and socialism.Possible repressions
results in overly passionate views.
ConclusionAll human motivations and behaviors can have
psychoanalytical interpretations.The explanations are not always
correct, but can me made to fit most circumstances.
FIN
