Sigmund Freud

Definition

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a method for treating mental illness and understanding human behavior through the exploration of the unconscious mind. His theories about the mind, dreams, and repression have had a profound influence on literature, particularly in how characters and narratives can embody psychological conflict and the uncanny. Freud's ideas about the uncanny, in particular, emphasize how familiar objects or situations can evoke feelings of unease when they become strange or distorted.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Freud introduced the idea that human behavior is largely influenced by unconscious desires and childhood experiences.
2. His work on dreams proposed that they are a form of wish fulfillment, revealing hidden thoughts and desires.
3. Freud's concept of the uncanny relates to the familiar becoming unfamiliar, creating a sense of eeriness that resonates in literature.
4. The Oedipus complex is one of Freud's most controversial theories, suggesting that children have unconscious desires for their opposite-sex parent.
5. Freud's theories have been both influential and critiqued, impacting psychology, literature, art, and cultural studies throughout the 20th century.

Review Questions

• How does Freud's concept of the uncanny contribute to our understanding of characters in 18th and 19th-century literature?
  • Freud's concept of the uncanny helps readers understand characters in literature as embodiments of psychological conflict. In many works from this period, characters may experience a sense of dislocation or fear when confronted with familiar situations that turn strange. This feeling can reveal deeper anxieties about identity, societal norms, and repressed desires, making the uncanny a useful lens through which to analyze character motivations and development.
• Discuss how Freud's theories on repression might apply to protagonists in classic literature of the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Freud's theories on repression highlight how protagonists often struggle with their hidden desires and fears, which can manifest in their actions or relationships. Characters may grapple with societal expectations or moral dilemmas that lead them to suppress certain emotions or urges. This internal conflict can drive narratives forward, creating tension as these repressed elements seek expression, ultimately leading to transformative moments in their journeys.
• Evaluate the impact of Freud’s ideas on contemporary interpretations of supernatural elements in 18th and 19th-century literature.
  • Freud's ideas have significantly shaped contemporary interpretations of supernatural elements by framing them as manifestations of repressed fears and desires. In many texts from this period, supernatural occurrences can be seen as symbolic representations of inner turmoil or societal anxieties. By analyzing these elements through a Freudian lens, scholars can uncover deeper meanings behind ghostly apparitions or uncanny events, revealing how they reflect characters' psychological struggles while also commenting on broader cultural tensions.

Related terms

Psychoanalysis: A therapeutic approach developed by Freud that involves exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings to understand and treat psychological issues.

Uncanny: A concept in Freud's essay that describes the unsettling feeling when something familiar becomes strange or eerie, often evoking a sense of discomfort.

Repression: A psychological defense mechanism identified by Freud where unwanted thoughts and memories are pushed out of conscious awareness, often leading to anxiety or conflict.