This paper deals with the status of contrabands in American society and the racial prejudice, they must cope with. In a second step, the Freudian concept of 'displacement' will be discussed and connected to Freud’s findings about the super-ego. Finally, the findings of the previous chapters will be used to look at the primary text "My Contraband" by Louisa May Alcott in more detail. The choice of words, especially the choice of colours, is worth taking a closer look at. Further textual evidence will also be discussed in order to look at what image of her contraband the nurse is producing and why she does so.
"My Contraband" is certainly a story about race. However, it is not a story about racial prejudice and stereotypes. Quite on the contrary, it is a story about interracial sexuality. Although this interpretation might go a little too far, it certainly offers a quite uncommon view on the African American. Baym et al. admits that "My Contraband"only offers suggestions about such a possibility, for example a relationship between the two races.
As we see the story world through the first-person narrator’s eyes, we get access to Miss Dane’s perceptions and thoughts. Miss Dane is a nurse and in the short story has the task to look after a wounded captain. When she enters the captain’s sickroom for the first time she gets to see not only her patient but also the contraband who has been housed in the adjoining room. The first description of her impressions of him is very straightforward. She tells the reader that she feels decidedly more interested in the black man than in the white.
Being attracted to a 'black' person and admitting this as clearly as in this passage is most likely to meet strong opposition in the society Miss Dane lives in. Although the reader can clearly see that Miss Dane does not show signs of racial prejudice, she still accepts the distribution of roles that the American society dictates. When she asks a favour of him she wants to offer comfort as a friend but instead merely gives an order as a mistress,
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Contraband: Social Status and Racial Prejudice
3. Miss Dane: Reality and (Day)dreams
4. White Blacks and Black Whites – Identifying ‘Displacement’
5. Concluding Discussion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This work aims to analyze how the protagonist Miss Dane in Louisa May Alcott’s short story "My Contraband" employs the psychoanalytic defense mechanism of "displacement" to reconcile her internal feelings toward a black man with the restrictive racial prejudices and social hierarchies of 19th-century America.
- Historical status of "contrabands" and racial prejudice during the American Civil War.
- Application of Freudian theory, specifically "displacement" and dream interpretation, to literary analysis.
- The symbolic use of color, light, and darkness in representing racial identities.
- Psychological justification of interracial attraction within a society defined by white supremacy.
- Deconstruction of cultural stereotypes regarding intelligence and masculinity in relation to race.
Excerpt from the Book
White Blacks and Black Whites – Identifying ‘Displacement’
Alas, it was the darkest hour before the dawn! – there was no star above, no light below but the pale glimmer of the lamp that showed the brother who had made him so desolate. Like a blind man who believes there is a sun, yet cannot see it, he shook his head, let his arms drop nervelessly upon his knees, and sat there dumbly asking that question which many a soul whose faith is firmer fixed than his has asked in hours less dark than this, –“Where is God?” (Alcott 1258)
What is striking in this passage is the extensive use of references towards light and darkness. The absence of stars, the absence of light and the blindness referred to all apply to ‘darkness’, whereas the “pale glimmer of the lamp” (1258) and the “sun” (1258) stand for light in general. What comes to the experienced reader’s mind first when reading the passage is certainly the idea of God bringing light to the Earth, as described in Gen. 1.3 (Ferber 115). This biblical concept goes well together with other textual evidence, such as the “faith” referred to or the question that the believer asks himself. However, such an interpretation of this passage can hardly seem sufficient. A reasonable step is to look in more detail at what functions the light in this passage have.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the analytical focus on "interracial sexuality" in "My Contraband" and outlines the psychoanalytic approach, specifically the use of Freud’s "displacement," to explain Miss Dane’s perceptions.
2. The Contraband: Social Status and Racial Prejudice: This chapter provides the historical context of the term "contraband" and explores the prevailing racial ideologies, including white supremacy and stereotyping, that defined the American social climate during the Civil War era.
3. Miss Dane: Reality and (Day)dreams: This section details the theoretical framework of Freudian displacement, defining it as a psychological defense mechanism where psychic energy is redirected, and argues for its relevance in interpreting Miss Dane’s internal psychological conflicts.
4. White Blacks and Black Whites – Identifying ‘Displacement’: This chapter conducts a close textual analysis of specific passages from the story, demonstrating how Miss Dane uses displacement to reframe the protagonist’s racial identity through color symbolism and character attributes.
5. Concluding Discussion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that Miss Dane uses displacement to construct a fantasy identity for the contraband that aligns with her own ideals, while suggesting areas for further research regarding dream-like structures in the narrative.
Keywords
My Contraband, Louisa May Alcott, displacement, psychoanalytic reading, Sigmund Freud, American Civil War, contraband, racial prejudice, white supremacy, symbolism, dream-content, interracial sexuality, identity construction, 19th-century literature, literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the short story "My Contraband" by Louisa May Alcott, focusing on how the female protagonist, Miss Dane, processes her attraction to a black man within the constraints of mid-19th-century American racial prejudice.
Which central themes are explored in the study?
The study centers on the intersection of race, slavery, and psychological defense mechanisms, specifically exploring how cultural stereotypes and social roles influence the internal psyche of the protagonist.
What is the primary research goal or question?
The primary goal is to demonstrate that Miss Dane uses the psychological process of "displacement" to reframe her perceptions of the contraband’s identity, allowing her to reconcile her personal feelings with societal racial norms.
Which scientific method is utilized for the analysis?
The analysis employs a psychoanalytic approach, utilizing Sigmund Freud’s theories—specifically the concept of "displacement" and the distinction between dream-thoughts and dream-content—as a tool for literary interpretation.
What core topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the historical definition of "contrabands," the psychoanalytic theory of displacement, and a detailed close reading of textual passages that demonstrate the character's use of color symbolism and mental projection.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include "displacement," "My Contraband," "Louisa May Alcott," "psychoanalytic reading," "racial prejudice," and "symbolism."
How does the author interpret the specific use of light and darkness in the story?
The author argues that light and darkness are not merely aesthetic choices but are used by Miss Dane to symbolize and displace "blackness," associating darkness with the trauma of slavery rather than the individual, and projecting "whiteness" onto the contraband’s character to make him acceptable.
What role does the "gray army-blanket" play in the analysis?
The gray blanket is interpreted as a symbolic middle ground between black and white, suggesting that the contraband is caught in a state of transition trapped by the legacy of slavery, as gray was the color associated with the Confederacy.
- Citation du texte
- Sven Klees (Auteur), 2017, 'Displacement' in Louisa May Alcott's "My Contraband", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/950025
