Freudian (Psychoanalytic)
Literary Criticism
Henry Harris
Samantha Cannon
Madeleine Black
Maria Pecoraro
Definition
Psychological critics look at the psychological
motivations of the characters or of the authors
themselves
Critics also point out the sexual implications of
symbols and imagery.
Focus on pinpointing characters id, superego,
ego
Questions Asked
Are the characters actions influenced by sexual desire (id)?
Are the symbols associated with sex?
Are the characters actions influenced by the id, ego, or superego?
Are the symbols representing the author’s or characters’ sexual repressions?
How do the suppressed wants, needs, and memories force their way through
symbolically in dreams and writing?
What exact text represents a symbolic expression of the author’s sublimated
wants and needs?
What conclusions can be drawn about the work of the author based on the
Freudian analysis of the text?
Advantages
Helps to understand the deeper meaning of works of literature in
reference to the Freudian concepts
Knowing something about a writer’s physiological make-up can give us
insight into their work
Do certain symbols represent sexual implications?
Understand why characters act a certain way due to their id, ego, and
superego
Understand the suppressed wants, needs, and memories that may
force their way through symbolically in dreams and writing
Text represents a symbolic expression of the author’s sublimated
wants and needs
Conclusions can be drawn about the work of the author based on the
Freudian analysis of the text
Disadvantages
Neglecting to view the work of literature as a piece of
art because its contains themes and symbols that could
be interpreted as representing sex
Critics tend to see sex in everything, exaggerating the
aspect of it
May misinterpret author’s message because of the
symbols and themes that could represent sex
Examples in Literature
D.H. Lawrence: Sons and Lovers
(1913)
http://www.online-literature.com/dh_lawrence/sons_lovers/
Sophocles: Oedipus Rex (ca. 427 BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King
William Shakespeare: Hamlet
(ca. 1601)
http://everything2.com/title/Oedipus+complex
Examples in Real Life
Music
Candy Shop
Laffy Taffy
Love Game
Movies/Music Video
She Wolf
North By Northwest
Television
Applying Information
In psychology class
How the ego, superego, and id dictate characters’
actions
In history class
Oedipus Complex
Newspaper
Imagery
Sources Used
http://homepage.newschool.edu/~quigleyt/vcs/psychoanalysis-intro.pdf
http://www.thetravelpeach.com/europe-vacations/austria/sigmund-freud.jpg
http://backgrounds.mysitemyway.com/wp-content/Userfiles/Galleries/polkadots-and-squares/polka-dots-and-squares-003697-medium-gold.jpg
http://backgrounds.mysitemyway.com/wpcontent/Userfiles/Galleries/foliage-swirls/foliage-swirls-000181-ripe-apricot.jpg
http://www.online-literature.com/dh_lawrence/sons_lovers/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King
http://everything2.com/title/Oedipus+complex
http://www.enotes.com/sons-lovers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King
http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/hamlet/summary/hamlet_summary.
htm