Psychoanalytic Criticism Originated In The Work Of Austrian

Psychoanalytic criticism originated in the work of Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Freud discovered that most of our actions are motivated by psychological forces over which we have very limited control. One of Freud’s most important contributions to the study of the psyche is his theory of repression: the unconscious mind is a repository of repressed desires, feelings, memories, wishes and instinctual drives. A principal element in Freud’s theory is his assignment of the mental processes to three psychic zones: the id, the ego and the superego. Freud’s theories have launched what is now known as the psychoanalytic approach to literature. Looking at Heart of Darkness from this approach, Heart of Darkness explores something more†¦show more content†¦In the novel, Conrad draws an image of Africa as the â€Å"other world,† the antithesis of a civilized Europe, a site where man’s accumulated years of education and sophistication are confr onted by a striking savagery. The story opens on the River Thames, calm and peaceful. It then moves to the very opposite of the Thames, and takes place on the River Congo. However, It’s not the flagrant difference between the two that perplexes Conrad but the underlying allusion of intimate relationship, of â€Å"common ancestry,† since the Thames was itself a dark place, but one that has managed to civilize, to enlighten itself and the world, and is now living in the light. The peaceful Thames, however, runs the terrible risk of being stirred by its encounter with its â€Å"primordial relative, the Congo;† it would witness the reflection of its own forsaken darkness and would hear the sounds that echo its remote gloomy history. The Thames would fall victim to the ghastly reminiscences of the irrational frenzy of the primitive times (Achebe 262-3). Marlow, a man of discipline and justice, was expecting such values to exist elsewhere. They became a kind of psychological expectations. Marlow discovers that not all men share his belief in an orderly, fundamentally good society. His journey is full of elements of absurdism, elements that hint at a world that is suddenly irrational and out of focus. Marlow is fascinated by theShow MoreRelatedHeart of Darkness in the Light of Psychoanalytic Theories.4599 Words   |  19 PagesPsychoanalytic Criticism Psychoanalytic criticism originated in the work of Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who pioneered the technique of psychoanalysis. Freud developed a language that described, a model that explained, and a theory that encompassed human psychology. His theories are directly and indirectly concerned with the nature of the unconscious mind. Through his multiple case studies, Freud managed to find convincing evidence that most of our actions are motivated by psychologicalRead MoreEssay about Heart of Darkness: Psychoanalytic Criticism4502 Words   |  19 PagesHeart of Darkness: Psychoanalytic Criticism Psychoanalytic criticism originated in the work of Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who pioneered the technique of psychoanalysis. Freud developed a language that described, a model that explained, and a theory that encompassed human psychology. His theories are directly and indirectly concerned with the nature of the unconscious mind. Through his multiple case studies, Freud managed to find convincing evidence that most of our actions are motivatedRead MoreWith Time, All Things Change1800 Words   |  8 Pagesunrealistic infatuation with Daisy Buchanan and idealization of his American Dream. Literary criticism is a broad term used to define the different theories in which a reader can critique literary works. It began with formalism in the 1920 s and has evolved into many different theories that cover gender studies, historicism, deconstruction, etc. Psychoanalytic theory originated from the Austrian psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, who pioneered the technique of psychoanalysis (Rivkin Ryan, p.389)Read MoreFreudian Psychology: Main Ideas3015 Words   |  13 PagesFreudian Psychology: The Main Ideas Psychoanalysis is Sigmund Freud’s work, thought to be created between 1900 and 1939, which still is a very vibrant thread in history and psychology today. According to Sigmund Freud the unconscious mind is a reservoir of repressed impulses and desires in your mind, while you may be completely awake you are still unaware of the mental processes that are taking place. Though the repressed impulses control the way we think, act, and above all feel. Freud also