Psychoanalytic Analysis of James Thurber's ‘The Unicorn in the Garden’
by: Jahnese Domingo-Asuncion, Ph.D.
Teacher-in-Charge, ELIT 106 Literary Criticism
Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in English Class
Mariano Marcos State University
College of Teacher Education
Laoag City
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About this Reading Material:
This reading material is a combination of expository and analysis work that delves into the
psychoanalytic depths of James Thurber's "The Unicorn in the Garden".
By applying psychoanalytic theory, this reading material generally aims to uncover hidden
meanings, explore character motivations, and understand the complexities of the human psyche as
portrayed in the selected work.
In addition, this analysis serves as a model for students to emulate as they craft their own
literary criticism papers. Through this exploration, students can better understand psychoanalytic
theory and its application to literary analysis. Students can also develop a richer appreciation for
Thurber's masterful storytelling and unique contribution to the literary landscape.
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Introduction of the Author
James Grover Thurber (1894–1961), a renowned
essayist, artist, short-story writer, and playwright, is widely
considered the greatest American humorist of the twentieth
century. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Thurber's early life was
marked by both joy and hardship. Despite financial
struggles, his childhood was filled with happiness until a
childhood accident left him blind in one eye. This isolating
experience led him to seek refuge in a world of fantasy, a
theme that would later permeate his writing. ( Bochynski, P.,
2017).
Thurber's name became synonymous with American
humor, and his contributions to The New Yorker solidified
his legacy. His most famous story, "The Secret Life of Walter
Mitty," captures his signature style, showcasing the
humorous adventures of an ordinary man whose wild
fantasies take him on extraordinary journeys ( Mambrol, N.
2020, June 24). Thurber's comedic talent extended beyond
the written word, as he achieved success in the theater with his play The Male Animal and a one-man show
based on his own writings. His work even inspired a critically acclaimed television series.
Thurber's career reached a pivotal point when he was hired as managing editor of The New Yorker in
1925. Although his managerial skills proved lacking, his talent as a writer shone through, and he became a
staff writer alongside E. B. White ( Bochynski, P., 2017) . Together, they shaped the magazine's iconic "Talk of
the Town" section, establishing its high literary standards and sophisticated conversational style that made it
a global phenomenon.
While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly Thurber’s major styles his writing is often characterized by these
prominent elements ( Mambrol, N. 2020, June 24):
1. Domestic Comedy: Thurber's stories frequently revolve around middle-class domestic situations,
often drawing inspiration from his own tumultuous first marriage. He masterfully captures the
everyday conflicts and frustrations between men and women, often portraying men as timid and
befuddled by strong, capable women (Mambrol, N. 2020, June 24). This "battle of the sexes" theme
is a recurring element in his work.
2. Satire and Parody: Thurber's humor is often biting and satirical, poking fun at societal norms,
human foibles, and the anxieties of modern life. He uses exaggeration, irony, and absurdity to
highlight the absurdity of everyday situations and the contradictions of human behavior. He also
employed parody, as seen in his collaboration with E.B. White on "Is Sex Necessary?", a humorous
take on popular sex and psychology books of the time. ( Bochynski, P., 2017).
3. Surrealism and Fantasy: Thurber's stories often incorporate elements of surrealism and fantasy,
reflecting his own tendency to escape into a world of imagination (Mambrol, N. 2020, June 24).
He uses fantastical elements and dream-like sequences to explore the inner lives of his characters
and the complexities of the human psyche. This is evident in stories like "The Secret Life of Walter
Mitty," where the protagonist escapes his mundane reality through vivid daydreams.
Major Precepts of Psychoanalytic Criticism in Literature
Psychoanalytic criticism, a branch of literary theory rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud and further
developed by thinkers like Jacques Lacan and Carl Jung, offers a powerful lens for exploring the psychological
depths of literature. By delving into the unconscious motivations, desires, and conflicts that drive both authors
and characters, this approach reveals hidden meanings and interpretations within the text, ultimately
deepening our understanding of the complexities of literary works and the human psyche.
Psychoanalytic literary critics are particularly interested in how key psychoanalytic concepts manifest
within a story. They examine how the author uses these concepts to shape the narrative, develop characters,
advance the plot, and ultimately contribute to the overall theme of the work. The following are these key
concepts:
1. The Unconscious: The unconscious, that realm beyond conscious awareness, exerts a profound
influence on our thoughts, feelings, and actions. As Sigmund Freud famously stated, "The
unconscious is the biggest circle which includes inside it the smallest circle of the conscious. All
conscious has a preliminary step in the unconscious. While the unconscious can stop at this step
and still claim the complete value of a psychic activity." This concept is central to psychoanalytic
literary criticism, where critics seek to uncover the hidden motivations, desires, and fears that drive
characters, exploring their actions, relationships, and inner conflicts within the text. They look for
evidence of these unconscious motives, seeking to understand how they shape the narrative and
the characters' experiences.
2. The Author's Psyche: They may explore the author's personal life and experiences to understand
how their own unconscious influences their writing, though this approach has been criticized for
its potential to overemphasize the author's psychology
3. Symbolic Language: They analyze the text for symbolic language, interpreting imagery, metaphors,
and motifs as expressions of unconscious desires and anxieties.
4. Repression: This is the process of pushing unwanted or traumatic experiences into the
unconscious, where they remain hidden from conscious awareness.
5. Sublimation: This involves channeling repressed desires or impulses into socially acceptable
activities or expressions, often through art or creativity.
6. Projection: This key concept in psychoanalysis, is a defense mechanism where individuals
unconsciously attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to others. This
allows them to avoid confronting their own inner conflicts and anxieties. For example, someone
harboring anger might project it onto others, accusing them of being angry instead of
acknowledging their own feelings. Projection helps psychoanalysts understand the unconscious
motivations and conflicts driving a patient's behavior.
7. Id, Ego, and Superego: Freud proposed a tripartite model of the psyche, with the id representing
primal instincts and desires, the ego mediating between the id and the external world, and the
superego representing internalized moral values and social norms.
8. Oedipus Complex: This refers to a child's unconscious desire for the parent of the opposite sex
and rivalry with the parent of the same sex, often manifesting in complex relationships and
conflicts within the text.
9. Libido: This refers to the psychic energy associated with sexual desire and pleasure, often seen as
a driving force behind human behavior.
10. Dream Work: Freud believed dreams were symbolic expressions of repressed desires and conflicts,
offering insights into the unconscious mind. Psychoanalytic critics may analyze literary works as if
they were dreams, seeking hidden meanings and symbolism.
11. Archetypes: Jung introduced the concept of archetypes, universal patterns of behavior and
imagery found across cultures and throughout history. These archetypes, such as the hero, the
mother, or the shadow, can be found in literary works, revealing deeper psychological truths and
universal themes.
Psychoanalysis in "The Unicorn in the Garden"
The Unicorn in the Garden” written by James Thurber. is one of the most famous of his humorous
modern fables. It first appeared in The New Yorker 1939; and was first collected in his book Fables for Our
Time and Famous Poems Illustrated (Harper and Brothers, 1940) Thurber (1894 – 1961) was a famous US
cartoonist, humorist, journalist, playwright and children’s book author. He was best known for his cartoons
and short stories published mainly in The New Yorker magazine.
Summary of "The Unicorn in the Garden"
The Unicorn in the Garden is about a man and his wife. One morning the man sees a unicorn in the
garden eating flowers. Positively excited he goes upstairs to the bedroom where his wife is still asleep and
tells her what he has seen. She ridicules him, telling him that a unicorn is a mythical beast and does not exist,
she then calls him an idiot. When he persists, she threatens to send him to an institution for mentally ill
patients.. He persists, and she summons the authorities. They come and listen to the woman, but when she
tells them about a golden horn, they force her into a straitjacket. They ask the returning husband if he has
told his wife about a unicorn. He tells them, using the same words his wife has used before, that he has not.
Thus they take the wife away instead, leaving a happy husband back alone. Read the full story in Annex A.
Per Paragraph Analysis of "The Unicorn in the Garden"
Paragraph 1:
Once upon a sunny morning a man who sat in a breakfast nook looked up
from his scrambled eggs to see a white unicorn with a golden horn quietly cropping
the roses in the garden. The man went up to the bedroom where his wife was still
asleep and woke her. “There’s a unicorn in the garden,” he said. “Eating roses.” She
opened one unfriendly eye and looked at him.
Paragraph 1 shows the elements of the unconscious and dreamwork.
The man sitting and eating his breakfast 'alone' suddenly saw a unicorn in the
garden. Outrightly, readers know that this is just an imagination. Unicorns are
mythical beings; hence, they cannot just appear suddenly in one’s garden.
The presence of the unicorn in the man's garden can be viewed through the
lens of dream work, a concept in psychoanalysis that suggests dreams (or in
this case, the narrative) are symbolic expressions of unconscious thoughts
and desires. The unicorn's unexpected appearance may represent repressed
emotions or wishes.
However, contradictory to reality, this dream happens in the morning,
not at nighttime. Hence, it can be said that the character is ‘daydreaming,’
which is a psychological case. Daydreaming is a sign of a strong resurfacing
of the unconscious. In the context of the story where the man encounters a
unicorn in his garden on a sunny morning, it may indeed appear contradictory to reality, as such fantastical
elements are typically associated with dreams or nighttime settings. The notion that the character could be
'daydreaming' is a valid interpretation, suggesting that his encounter with the unicorn may be a product of
his imagination rather than a physical reality. Daydreaming, considered a form of spontaneous and unguided
thinking that occurs while one is awake, can offer insight into the workings of the unconscious mind. In
psychoanalytic terms, daydreams can serve as a window into repressed desires, fears, or unresolved conflicts
that manifest in the conscious mind during these moments of reverie. The act of daydreaming can allow
suppressed thoughts and emotions to resurface, providing a glimpse into the depths of the unconscious
psyche.
Aside from the unconscious and dreamwork,
Paragraph 1 indicates the presence of symbolic
language, a manifestation of unconscious thoughts,
desires, and emotions. This is a way for the
unconscious mind to communicate with the
conscious mind through indirect and often disguised
means. Symbolic language and imagery in
psychoanalysis often refer to libido, sex, and desires.
This is because Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis,
believed that the unconscious mind is driven by
powerful, often repressed, sexual drives. Symbolic
language allows the unconscious mind to express
these repressed sexual desires in a disguised and less
threatening way. This is a defense mechanism, protecting the conscious mind from the anxiety of confronting
these desires directly.
In the Paragraph 1, several symbolic elements can be interpreted as about repressed desires and
libido. They are as follows:
1. White Unicorn with a Golden Horn
The white unicorn with a golden horn, a symbol often associated with purity and magic, takes
on a deeper meaning in a psychoanalytic context. Its horn, a clear example of phallic symbolism,
which represents male sexuality, potency, and power, can signify idealized and unattainable
desires. In psychoanalysis, symbols that are elongated and sharp refer to patriarchal or male
dominance (phallic symbol).
This interpretation aligns with the man's repressed desires, stemming from his unhappy
marriage where he feels unable to exert his dominance or assert his masculinity. The appearance
of the unicorn in his garden, a fantastical intrusion into his mundane reality, suggests that these
repressed desires are seeking expression, even in the early hours of the morning. The unicorn, a
symbol of power and dynamism, stands in stark
contrast to his perceived lack of agency in his
relationship, highlighting the tension between his
idealized self and his current reality.
2. Roses
In psychoanalytic interpretation, roses often
symbolize femininity, beauty, and the feminine
principle. This contrasts with phallic symbolism, which
represents masculinity and potency. Roses, with their
petals forming a concave shape, can be seen as a visual
contrast to the phallic symbol, which is typically
represented as a convex shape. This contrast reinforces the idea of opposing genders and their
associated symbolic representations. Roses are
often associated with qualities traditionally
attributed to women, such as beauty, grace, love,
and passion. These qualities align with the feminine
principle in psychoanalytic theory. Hence in the
story, the unicorn represents the male sex; while the
roses represent the female.
3. Eating Roses
The unicorn's act of eating the roses can be interpreted in several ways. It could symbolize a
desire for the feminine, a longing for connection, or even a subconscious attempt to consume or
possess the feminine energy represented by the roses.
Roses are often associated with love and desire, and
the unicorn's act of eating them could signify the
satisfaction or fulfillment of these repressed desires.
This interpretation is further emphasized by the
juxtaposition of the unicorn, a mythical creature,
engaging in a mundane yet symbolic act. This suggests
that the man in the story is longing for love, attention,
and physical intimacy from his wife, desires that are
perhaps not being met in his current relationship.
4. Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs, as a breakfast food, are often associated with simplicity, comfort, and routine.
However, when viewed symbolically in the context of the man's sudden encounter with a unicorn
in the garden, the act of looking up from his scrambled eggs to witness such a fantastical sight
can suggest a disruption of the ordinary, mundane routine. The scrambled eggs, typically a familiar
and stable breakfast item, may symbolize the man's sense of order or predictability being
overturned by the unexpected appearance of the unicorn.
Hence, in psychoanalytic terms, chaos or disorder can be linked to feelings of confusion,
uncertainty, or a lack of control. The scrambled eggs, with their disordered and mixed-up
appearance, could symbolize the disruption of the man's sense of normalcy or the introduction of
chaos into his everyday life. This chaotic element could reflect inner turmoil, conflicting emotions,
or a sense of futility in the face of the unknown or the surreal.
The presence of scrambled eggs in the scene can also juxtaposed with the sighting of a white
unicorn with a golden horn, which can create a sense of futility or disorientation for the man. The
act of looking up from his scrambled eggs to witness such an extraordinary sight may symbolize
his realization of the limitations of his everyday existence or the futility of trying to make sense of
the surreal or fantastical.
5. Wife's Reaction
The wife's unfriendly eye and her response to the man's revelation about the unicorn in the
garden could also hold symbolic significance. Her reaction may symbolize resistance
or discomfort with acknowledging or confronting these repressed desires or
fantasies. The contrast between the man's excitement over the unicorn and the wife's
unfriendly demeanor adds a layer of tension and potential conflict related to the
expression of desires within the relationship.
Paragraph 2
“The unicorn is a mythical beast,” she said, and turned her back on him. The
man walked slowly downstairs and out into the garden. The unicorn was still there;
now he was browsing among the tulips. “Here, unicorn,” said the man, and he pulled
up a lily and gave it to him. The unicorn ate it gravely. With a high heart, because
there was a unicorn in his garden, the man went upstairs and roused his wife again.
“The unicorn,” he said,”ate a lily.” His wife sat up in bed and looked at him coldly.
“You are a booby,” she said, “and I am going to have you put in the booby-hatch.”
Paragraph 2 vividly portrays the ongoing dreamwork and the unbroken flow of the man's unconscious
mind. Despite the wife's disapproval, his daydream about the unicorn remains undisturbed. Surprisingly, her
rebuke seems to reinforce his conviction in its existence,
blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
The persistent presence of the unicorn in the garden,
even after the wife's dismissal, indicates the man's unwavering
connection to his daydream. His active interaction with the
unicorn, offering it a lily, underscores his deep engagement
with the fantasy. Even the wife's threat of the "booby-hatch"
fails to sway his belief in the unicorn, highlighting the resilience
of his daydream.
This narrative showcases the enduring power of the unconscious mind and the strength of daydreams
to provide solace and escape from the challenges of everyday life. The man's unwavering faith in the unicorn,
despite his wife's skepticism, hints at his profound longing for connection, enchantment, or a reprieve from
the harsh realities of his marriage. If anything, the wife's rejection only fuels his retreat into this fantastical
realm, emphasizing the allure and significance of his inner world.
In addition, the man in the second paragraph demonstrates a lack of ego function. In the context of
psychoanalysis, the ego is the part of the personality that mediates between the id's primal desires and the
superego's moral constraints. It helps us
navigate reality, make decisions, and maintain
a sense of self-awareness.
The man's behavior in the second
paragraph demonstrates a significant lack of
ego function because he fails to engage in
reality testing. Despite the unicorn's fantastical
nature and his wife's disbelief, he readily
accepts its presence, suggesting a reliance on
fantasy and daydreaming as a defense
mechanism to avoid confronting the realities
of his marriage and his own emotions. This
indicates a lack of self-awareness, as he appears oblivious to how his clinging to the unicorn fantasy might
be perceived as a sign of immaturity or weakness. Such a lack of ego function points to potential psychological
issues, including difficulty with reality testing, an inability to cope with difficult emotions, and a possible need
for deeper psychological exploration. His retreat into fantasy, rather than facing the challenges of his
marriage, suggests a potential for emotional instability.
The story uses different types of flowers as reflected in Paragraph 2. All these with concave shapes –
like roses, tulips, and lilies – emphasize the feminine principle. These flowers,
traditionally associated with beauty and grace, suggest the man's desire for
connection and love. He offers these
flowers to the unicorn, a fantastical
creature that represents his idealized
desires. This action shows that he's
seeking connection with the feminine,
perhaps reflecting his longing for a more fulfilling relationship with his
wife. However, the unicorn accepts the flowers, while his wife rejects
them, highlighting the man's unmet needs in his marriage. The unicorn,
representing his ideal, responds positively, but his wife remains cold and
distant. The use of these flowers adds a layer of meaning to the story,
showing the man's yearning for connection and the feminine principle,
which he doesn't find in his current relationship (repressed desires).
It can also be seen in Paragraph 2 that the wife is an agent of repression. The wife's actions and words
create an environment where the man feels unable to express or explore his desires openly. Her rebuke
contributes to his repression through a combination of
dismissiveness, lack of validation, and a threat of
punishment. Her cold response, "You are a booby," and her
threat to have him institutionalized dismiss his experience
and his attempt to share his fantasy, creating a sense of
shame and discouragement. Her refusal to acknowledge or
validate his experience with the unicorn reinforces the
feeling that his desires are not worthy of attention or respect.
Furthermore, her threat of institutionalization adds a layer of
fear and anxiety, suggesting that his desires are not only
unacceptable but could lead to negative consequences.
While the man's repression is ultimately his own internal process, the wife's actions create a hostile
environment that discourages him from exploring and expressing his desires. This reinforces his need to
retreat into fantasy and further fuels his isolation.
Lastly, the wife's use of the terms "booby" and "booby-hatch" in Paragraph 2 carries significant
symbolic meaning within the psychoanalytic framework. The term "booby" suggests childishness, immaturity,
and a lack of intelligence, aligning with the wife's view of the man's belief in the unicorn as irrational and
fantastical. It implies that he is unable to engage with reality and is stuck in a childlike state. The "boobyhatch," a term for a mental institution, symbolizes the suppression of desires and the confinement of the
unconscious. The wife's threat to have him institutionalized represents her attempt to control his fantasies
and prevent him from exploring his inner world, suggesting a fear of his desires and a desire to keep them
repressed. Furthermore, the wife's use of these terms reflects a power dynamic in the relationship. By labeling
him as a "booby" and threatening to have him confined, she asserts her dominance and seeks to control his
behavior and his access to his own desires. Overall, the wife's use of these terms represents a rejection of the
man's inner world and an attempt to repress his desires. It highlights the conflict between his need to explore
his unconscious and the constraints imposed by his relationship. The "booby-hatch" symbolizes not only a
place of confinement but also a place where individuality and imagination are suppressed.
Paragraph 3
The man, who had never liked the words “booby” and “booby-hatch,” and
who liked them even less on a shining morning when there was a unicorn in
the garden, thought for a moment. “We’ll see about that,” he said. He walked
over to the door. “He has a golden horn in the middle of his forehead,” he
told her. Then he went back to the garden to watch the unicorn; but the
unicorn had gone away. The man sat down among the roses and went to
sleep.
The third paragraph of the story is significant as it portrays the man's internal conflict,
particularly his struggle with the repression of his desires and his ID. This conflict is vividly illustrated
through his reaction to his wife's dismissive and threatening remarks. His rejection of negative labels,
like "booby" and "booby-hatch," reveals his discomfort with feeling belittled and confined, especially
in the presence of the unicorn. This underscores his resistance to being marginalized and controlled
by his wife's words.
His immediate emotional response to these labels, driven by his ID, reflects his primal instincts
and desires for autonomy and self-worth, seeking immediate gratification without regard for social
norms. His unease with the negative labels and his defiance against his wife's attempts to control
him showcase his instinctual drive, rooted in the ID, to maintain autonomy and self-worth amidst
external pressures.
The ID, as described by Sigmund Freud, represents the part of the unconscious mind that
operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of primal instincts and desires
without regard for social norms or consequences. This paragraph highlights the man's struggle to
balance his instinctive need for self-assertion with the pressures of his relationship and the societal
expectations that attempt to repress his desires.
However, when the man responds in Paragraph 3 with "We'll see about that" and describes
the unicorn to his wife, he shows a moment of assertiveness and defiance. This indicates his refusal
to be silenced or diminished, asserting his own perspective and challenging his wife's attempt to
repress his desires. This part of Paragraph 3 demonstrates a glimmer of EGO functioning. While he
still believes in the unicorn, he is acknowledging his wife's reality and engaging with her on some
level. He is not completely retreating into fantasy. With his ego functioning comes self-assertiveness.
His response shows a willingness to stand up for himself and his beliefs, even if they are
unconventional. He is asserting his own perspective and challenging his wife's attempt to control
him. While this is a small act of defiance, it could also be seen as a defense mechanism. By engaging
with his wife and asserting his own perspective, he might be trying to maintain some control over
the situation and avoid being completely overwhelmed by her negativity.
While this moment is brief and doesn't necessarily indicate fully developed ego function, it
suggests that man is not entirely devoid of ego. It hints at the possibility of him developing more
self-awareness and potentially challenging his wife's dominance in the future, a foreshadowing of
the next events in the story.
While the man briefly displays a flicker of ego function by asserting himself with "We'll see
about that," his actions at the end of Paragraph 3 reveal a retreat back into his unconscious and a
preference for fantasy over reality (dream). His decision to return to the garden to watch the unicorn,
despite its absence, suggests a continued connection to the fantastical world of magic and beauty.
This retreat into his inner world, symbolized by his choice to sit among the roses and fall asleep,
allows him to escape the harsh realities of his marriage and indulge in his fantasies. It reflects a
temporary respite from the conflicts and constraints of his waking life, highlighting his preference
for the dreamlike world of the unicorn over the challenges of his relationship.
Overall, Paragraph 3 captures the man's internal struggle, his defiance in the face of
repression, his continued connection to the fantasy world represented by the unicorn, and his retreat
into a dreamlike state as a means of coping with the challenges of his reality.
Paragraphs 4 and 5
As soon as the husband had gone out of the house, the wife got up and
dressed as fast as she could. She was very excited and there was a gloat in her eye.
She telephoned the police and she telephoned a psychiatrist; she told them to hurry
to her house and bring a strait-jacket. When the police and the psychiatrist arrived
they sat down in chairs and looked at her, with great interest.
“My husband,” she said, “saw a unicorn this morning.” The police looked at the
psychiatrist and the psychiatrist looked at the police. “He told me it ate a lilly,” she
said. The psychiatrist looked at the police and the police looked at the psychiatrist.
“He told me it had a golden horn in the middle of its forehead,” she said. At a solemn
signal from the psychiatrist, the police leaped from their chairs and seized the wife.
They had a hard time subduing her, for she put up a terrific struggle, but they finally
subdued her. Just as they got her into the strait-jacket, the husband came back into
the house.
Paragraphs 4 and 5 in the story highlight the escalating conflict between the husband and
the wife, revealing themes of control, power dynamics, and the manipulation of reality. Several
psychoanalytic concepts are featured in these paragraphs.
The first concept is projection. The wife's actions of immediately contacting the police and a
psychiatrist, and her insistence on the use of a strait-jacket, reflect a form of projection. She projects
her own fears and desires for control onto her husband, using external authorities to enforce her
version of reality and restrain his behavior. An offshoot of her projection is defense mechanisms.
The wife's rapid escalation to involve the authorities and her insistence on the husband's supposed
delusions demonstrate the use of defense mechanisms. She employs aggression, denial, and possibly
displacement to protect herself from confronting the underlying issues in her marriage. This comes
in bad taste because it results in reality distortion. The wife's manipulation of reality, as she fabricates
a narrative about the unicorn sighting and her husband's supposed delusions, showcases a distortion
of reality. This distortion serves her need to maintain control and assert dominance over her husband
by painting him as mentally unstable.
Moreover, the use of the strait-jacket as a symbolical language reflects authoritarian control.
The use of a strait-jacket, the involvement of the police and a psychiatrist, and the wife's
manipulation of the situation demonstrate themes of authoritarian control and the exertion of power
over others. The wife's actions reveal a desire to dominate and subdue her husband, highlighting a
power struggle within the relationship.
Paragraphs 4 and 5 depict a tumultuous interaction between the husband and wife,
characterized by manipulation, control, and the distortion of reality. The escalating conflict,
culminating in the wife's drastic actions and the husband's return to a chaotic scene, underscores
the complexity of their relationship and the underlying psychological dynamics at play.
In addition, Paragraphs 4 and 5 reflects the wife’s internal morality which can represent
SUPEREGO. In essence, the wife believes in the following:
1) She is entitled to control her husband and dictate his behavior.
2) Fantasy and imagination are signs of weakness.
3) External authorities are the ultimate arbiters of truth and order.
However, her SUPEREGO is flawed. Based on her actions and words, the wife's internal
morality seems to be driven by a distorted belief in control and dominance, likely influenced by her
own interpretation of societal norms and expectations. Her warped sense of morality fuels her
actions, creating a toxic dynamic in their relationship.
She prioritizes control over her husband and the situation, believing that her dominance is
necessary to maintain order and stability. This belief stems from a potentially distorted
understanding of societal expectations about gender roles and power dynamics in relationships. She
also views her husband's belief in the unicorn as a sign of weakness and instability, believing that
reality is a rigid construct that should not be challenged or questioned. This rigid view of reality
might stem from a fear of uncertainty or a need for predictability. In addition, she relies on external
authority figures like the police and psychiatrist to enforce her version of reality and control her
husband's behavior. This reliance on outside forces suggests a lack of trust in her own judgment and
a belief that external validation is necessary to establish truth. All of these make her a good candidate
as antagonist in the novel, even if the husband shows signs of mental disability.
Paragraphs 6 and 7
“Did you tell your wife you saw a unicorn?” asked the police. “Of course
not,” said the husband. “The unicorn is a mythical beast.” “That’s all I wanted
to know,” said the psychiatrist. “Take her away. I’m sorry, sir, but your wife
is as crazy as a jaybird.”
So they took her away, cursing and screaming, and shut her up in an
institution. The husband lived happily ever after.
The resolution unfolds in the last two paragraphs of the story (Paragraphs 6 and 7) with a
twist that reveals the power dynamics and the consequences of the wife's manipulation.
The psychoanalytic concept of repression is evident in Paragraphs 6 and 7. The husband's
denial of telling his wife about the unicorn and labeling it as a mythical beast reflects a form of
repression. “Of course not,” said the husband. “The unicorn is a mythical beast.”
Through this statement, he avoids (represses) acknowledging his true desires and
experiences, choosing to conform to societal norms and dismiss the fantastical element. This also
shows that his EGO is working, and he is conforming to the SUPEREGO.
Due to the statement of the husband, SUPEREGO works through external validation
represented by the police and psychiatrist. They represent external authority figures enforcing
societal norms. Their decision to take the wife away and label her as "crazy" reflects a reinforcement
of societal standards and a judgment of deviation from the accepted reality. “That’s all I wanted to
know,” said the psychiatrist. “Take her away. I’m sorry, sir, but your wife is as crazy as a jaybird.”
The use of "jaybird" to describe the wife's mental state is a significant symbolic language
choice in the story. While it might seem like a simple, even comical, descriptor, it carries deeper
implications, particularly in the context of psychoanalysis. First is because of the bird’s
unconventional behavior. Jaybirds are known for their vibrant colors, noisy calls, and sometimes
erratic behavior. This aligns with the wife's actions and her defiance of societal norms. She is
portrayed as someone who doesn't conform to the expected role of a submissive wife and instead
actively seeks to control her husband and disrupt the status quo. The second reason is that the
behavior of the jaybird is often misunderstood or unaccepted. Just as a jaybird might be seen as a
nuisance or an oddity, the wife's actions and beliefs are perceived as unusual and unacceptable by
her husband and the external authority figures. She is seen as someone who doesn't fit in with the
dominant culture and is labeled as "crazy" for defying conventional expectations.
The decision of the authorities to capture the wife shows the bad consequences of projection.
The wife's projection of her fears and desire for control onto her husband leads to her own
institutionalization. Her attempts to manipulate the situation backfire, showcasing how projection
can have real consequences when the reality is distorted.
The husband's "happily ever after" ending suggests a resolution to the conflict through the
removal of the wife. This resolution reflects a temporary escape from the turmoil and conflict within
the relationship, but it also raises questions about the true nature of happiness and the
consequences of repression and manipulation.
Paragraphs 6 and 7 highlight the consequences of manipulation, repression, and the
enforcement of societal norms within the context of the story. The resolution underscores the
complexities of power dynamics, control, and the impact of distorted realities on individual wellbeing and relationships.
Summary and Conclusion
"The Unicorn in the Garden" by James G. Thurber offers a compelling exploration of the
complexities of human behavior and relationships through the lens of psychoanalysis.
The story's central theme revolves around the clash between the unconscious and the
conscious, as embodied by the husband's repressed desires, symbolized by the unicorn, and the
wife's attempts to control and suppress them. This highlights the intricate interplay of power and
control within relationships, showcasing a range of Freudian concepts.
The husband's belief in the unicorn represents a yearning for fantasy, imagination, and a
world beyond the confines of societal norms. His wife, on the other hand, embodies a desire for
control and order, viewing her husband's belief as a sign of weakness and instability. This conflict is
further amplified by the characters' use of defense mechanisms. The husband engages in repression,
denying his belief in the unicorn to conform to societal expectations. The wife, meanwhile, utilizes
projection, attributing her own anxieties and desire for control to her husband, labeling him as
delusional.
The story also delves into the dynamics of power within the relationship, showcasing the
wife's attempt to assert dominance through manipulation and external authority figures. This reflects
the interplay between the id, ego, and superego, highlighting how societal norms and internalized
expectations can influence individual behavior and create conflict within relationships.
The symbolic language of the unicorn, representing the unconscious and the power of
imagination, further enriches the psychoanalytic interpretation. The open-ended narrative invites
multiple interpretations, prompting us to question the characters' motivations and the impact of
societal norms on their behavior.
Text
The Unicorn in the Garden – by James Thurber
1 Once upon a sunny morning a man who sat in a breakfast nook looked up from his scrambled
eggs to see a white unicorn with a golden horn quietly cropping the roses in the garden. The man
went up to the bedroom where his wife was still asleep and woke her. “There’s a unicorn in the
garden,” he said. “Eating roses.” She opened one unfriendly eye and looked at him.
2 “The unicorn is a mythical beast,” she said, and turned her back on him. The man walked slowly
downstairs and out into the garden. The unicorn was still there; now he was browsing among the
tulips. “Here, unicorn,” said the man, and he pulled up a lily and gave it to him. The unicorn ate it
gravely. With a high heart, because there was a unicorn in his garden, the man went upstairs and
roused his wife again. “The unicorn,” he said,”ate a lily.” His wife sat up in bed and looked at him
coldly. “You are a booby,” she said, “and I am going to have you put in the booby-hatch.”
3 The man, who had never liked the words “booby” and “booby-hatch,” and who liked them even
less on a shining morning when there was a unicorn in the garden, thought for a moment. “We’ll
see about that,” he said. He walked over to the door. “He has a golden horn in the middle of his
forehead,” he told her. Then he went back to the garden to watch the unicorn; but the unicorn had
gone away. The man sat down among the roses and went to sleep.
4 As soon as the husband had gone out of the house, the wife got up and dressed as fast as she
could. She was very excited and there was a gloat in her eye. She telephoned the police and she
telephoned a psychiatrist; she told them to hurry to her house and bring a strait-jacket. When the
police and the psychiatrist arrived they sat down in chairs and looked at her, with great interest.
5 “My husband,” she said, “saw a unicorn this morning.” The police looked at the psychiatrist and
the psychiatrist looked at the police. “He told me it ate a lilly,” she said. The psychiatrist looked at
the police and the police looked at the psychiatrist. “He told me it had a golden horn in the middle
of its forehead,” she said. At a solemn signal from the psychiatrist, the police leaped from their
chairs and seized the wife. They had a hard time subduing her, for she put up a terrific struggle,
but they finally subdued her. Just as they got her into the strait-jacket, the husband came back into
the house.
6 “Did you tell your wife you saw a unicorn?” asked the police. “Of course not,” said the husband.
“The unicorn is a mythical beast.” “That’s all I wanted to know,” said the psychiatrist. “Take her
away. I’m sorry, sir, but your wife is as crazy as a jaybird.”
7 So they took her away, cursing and screaming, and shut her up in an institution. The husband
lived happily ever after.