In this essay, I will apply the psychoanalytic approach to Wuthering Heights, aiming to analyse the main characters of the novel using some aspects of Freud’s psychoanalysis theory, namely fear of abandonment, repression, and Oedipus complex. Moreover, I will discuss how the environment influences the behaviour of the characters throughout the novel. But before starting the analysis, I would firstly give a brief introduction to the theory of psychoanalysis and then introduce the aspects used in this essay.
Table of Contents
- Psychoanalytical Reading of Wuthering Heights
- Freudian Approach to the Main Characters
- Introduction to Psychoanalysis
- The Topography of the Mind
- The Structure of Personality
- Repression
- Fear of Abandonment
- Oedipus Complex
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay explores the main characters of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights through the lens of psychoanalysis, specifically focusing on Sigmund Freud's theories of repression, fear of abandonment, and the Oedipus complex. It aims to analyze the characters' personalities and their states of mind, while also examining how their environments influence their behaviors.
- The impact of childhood experiences on personality development
- The influence of social and cultural factors on individual behavior
- The dynamics of love, hate, and revenge in interpersonal relationships
- The psychological effects of repression and trauma
- The manifestation of Freudian concepts like the Oedipus complex in literary characters
Chapter Summaries
The essay begins by providing an overview of Freud's psychoanalysis theory, including his topographical model of the human mind and his structural model of personality. This section discusses the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious levels of the mind, as well as the id, ego, and superego. The author then focuses on three specific aspects of Freud's theory relevant to the analysis of Wuthering Heights: repression, fear of abandonment, and the Oedipus complex.
The essay further delves into the concept of repression, a defense mechanism used to push unwanted thoughts, feelings, and memories out of consciousness. The author emphasizes how this mechanism relates to the storage of traumatic experiences in the unconscious. The essay then discusses abandonment anxiety, the intense fear of being separated from loved ones, highlighting its potential roots in early childhood experiences.
Finally, the essay introduces the Oedipus complex, Freud's theory that every male child goes through a phase where they develop sexual desires for their mother and view their father as a rival. The essay explores the complexities of this complex in both male and female individuals.
Keywords
The key terms and concepts explored in this essay include psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, repression, fear of abandonment, Oedipus complex, Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë, Victorian era, love, hate, revenge, and social class. These terms are crucial in understanding the psychological motivations and behaviors of the main characters within the novel.
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- Ibrahim Al Shaaban (Autor:in), 2022, A psychoanalytical reading of "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1192776
