Volume 04 Issue 11-2024
131
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
11
P
AGES
:
131-135
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
ABSTRACT
Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory revolutionized the understanding of the human psyche, influencing not only
psychology but also art and literature. This article explores the key components of Freud's theory, including the
unconscious mind, dream analysis, and the id, ego, and superego, and examines how these ideas are reflected in
literary works. Through detailed examples, it highlights how Freud's concepts shaped literary criticism and inspired
authors to delve into complex psychological themes. The article also discusses Freud’s impact on literary genres such
as modernism and surrealism, showcasing his enduring influence on narrative structure, character development, and
thematic exploration.
KEYWORDS
Sigmund Freud, Psychoanalysis, Literary criticism, Unconscious mind, Modernism, Surrealism, Dream analysis, Id, ego,
superego.
INTRODUCTION
Sigmund Freud, widely regarded as the father of
psychoanalysis, revolutionized the understanding of
the human psyche with his theories that bridged the
realms of psychology, philosophy, and art. His
exploration of the unconscious mind, dream analysis,
and the dynamic interplay between the id, ego, and
superego fundamentally altered how individuals
perceive themselves and their behavi
ors. Freud’s work
Research Article
Z. FREUD'S THEORY AND ITS REFLECTION IN LITERARY WORKS
Submission Date:
November 19, 2024,
Accepted Date:
November 24,2024,
Published Date:
November 29, 2024
Crossref doi
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps/Volume04Issue11-24
Eshmamatov Rustam Toshtemirovich
Independent researcher at Jizzakh State Pedagogical University, Uzbekistan
Journal
Website:
https://theusajournals.
com/index.php/ajps
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Volume 04 Issue 11-2024
132
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
11
P
AGES
:
131-135
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
illuminated the hidden forces driving human thoughts,
emotions, and actions, thereby providing profound
insights into the complexity of human existence. These
ideas transcended the boundaries of psychology,
permeating various disciplines, including literature,
which has long been a medium for exploring the
intricacies of human experience.
Literature, as a mirror to the human condition,
naturally
absorbed
and
reflected
Freud's
psychoanalytic theories. His concepts offered a new
lens for authors to construct narratives that delve into
the subconscious, challenge conventional notions of
morality, and dissect the intricacies of individual and
collective psyche. Freud’s emphasis on repressed
desires, childhood experiences, and symbolic
representations in dreams provided writers with a
framework to craft stories that resonate with the raw
truths of human life. Consequently, psychoanalysis
became a cornerstone for modern literary criticism and
interpretation, enriching both the creation and analysis
of texts.
This article delves into Freud's psychoanalytic theory
and its profound influence on literature. It explores
how Freud's key concepts
—
such as the Oedipus
complex, the symbolic nature of dreams, and the
tension between primal instincts and societal norms
—
have
shaped
narrative
techniques,
character
development, and thematic content in literary works.
By examining specific examples from literary history,
the article reveals how Freud’s insights inspired
authors to explore the depths of the human psyche,
grapple with existential questions, and address moral
dilemmas in their writing. Additionally, it discusses
Freud’s lasting legacy in modernist and surrealist
movements, which embraced his ideas to push the
boundaries of traditional storytelling, emphasizing
introspection, fragmentation, and psychological
realism. Through this analysis, the article seeks to
highlight Freud’s enduring impact on the literary world
and the ways his theories continue to inform and
transform literary practices.
Freud’s central contribution to psychology was the
concept of the unconscious mind, a repository of
thoughts, desires, and memories outside conscious
awareness. According to Freud, much of human
behavior is influenced by unconscious motives.
Literature often mirrors this idea by delving into hidden
motivations and suppressed desires of characters. For
example, Shakesp
eare’s Hamlet can be reinterpreted
through Freudian analysis, exploring the protagonist’s
unconscious Oedipal complex and inner conflict.
Freud divided the psyche into three components: the
id, ego, and superego. The id represents primal
instincts and desires, the ego mediates reality, and the
superego embodies moral and societal norms. Literary
works often dramatize the tension between these
forces, revealing characters’ inner struggles. In
Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov’s
Volume 04 Issue 11-2024
133
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
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2771-2273)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
11
P
AGES
:
131-135
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
internal conflict between his egotistical desire for
power (id) and his moral guilt (superego) reflects
Freud’s structural model.
Freud viewed dreams as a "royal road to the
unconscious," filled with symbols representing
repressed desires and unresolved conflicts. In
literature, dream sequences are frequently used to
explore characters’ inner worlds. Franz Kafka’s The
Metamorphosis offers a surreal narrative akin to a
dream, where the protagonist’s transformation into an
insect symbolizes his subconscious fears and
alienation.
Freud’s Influence on Literary Criticism
Freud’s groundbreaking theories fundamentally
reshaped the way literature is analyzed and
interpreted, leading to the development of
psychoanalytic literary criticism. This critical approach
delves into the psychological dimensions of literary
texts, focusing on the unconscious motives of
characters, the underlying influences on authors, and
the subjective experiences of readers. By applying
Freud’s insights, critics have uncovered deeper layers
of meaning in literature, revealing the complex
interplay between human psychology and creative
expression.
One significant aspect of Freudian literary criticism is
the analysis of characters. Freud’s theories allow critics
to interpret characters’ behaviors, desires, an
d fears as
manifestations of unconscious conflicts and repressed
emotions. For example, in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering
Heights, Heathcliff’s obsessive love for Catherine and
his destructive impulses can be understood through a
Freudian lens as expressions of unresolved childhood
trauma and repressed desires. Similarly, Hamlet’s
hesitation and existential dilemmas in Shakespeare’s
Hamlet have been interpreted as stemming from
unconscious conflicts, particularly the Oedipal
complex, which Freud famously identified as a pivotal
stage in human psychological development.
Another dimension of Freud’s influence lies in the
study of authorial psychology. Freud’s own analysis of
Leonardo da Vinci’s art provided a template for
exploring how an author’s personal experienc
es,
traumas, and subconscious fears shape their creative
works. For instance, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has
often been analyzed as a reflection of her personal
losses, including the death of her children and mother,
as well as her anxieties surrounding creation and
responsibility. Similarly, critics have examined Virginia
Woolf’s novels as psychological landscapes that mirror
her struggles with mental illness and her profound
introspection about identity and human relationships.
Freud’s theories also extended to the reader’s
interaction with the text, emphasizing how
unconscious responses shape the interpretation of
literary works. Reader-response criticism, influenced
by Freudian thought, explores how a reader’s own
Volume 04 Issue 11-2024
134
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
11
P
AGES
:
131-135
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
psychological experiences, desires, and repressions
influence their engagement with a text. For example, a
reader might project their personal fears or unresolved
conflicts onto a story, resulting in an interpretation
that is as much about the reader’s psyche as the
narrative itself. This dynamic underscores the
subjective nature of literary experience and the
profound connection between art and individual
psychology.
Freud’s emphasis on symbolism, particularly in dreams,
has also provided a valuable tool for literary criticism.
Critics analyze symbolic elements in texts, interpreting
them as representations of unconscious desires or
fears. For instance, the recurring imagery of decay and
disintegration in T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land can be
seen as symbolic of societal and personal anxieties
about death, loss, and the fragility of existence. By
applying Freud’s theories, critics uncover hidden layers
of meaning in literary works, transforming seemingly
straightforward narratives into complex explorations
of the human psyche.
Freud’s influence on l
iterary criticism is not confined to
individual texts but extends to entire genres and
movements. His ideas about the unconscious mind and
repressed desires have informed modernist and
surrealist literature, with writers and critics alike
embracing his methods to explore fragmented
realities, inner conflicts, and the blurred boundaries
between reality and imagination. In this way, Freud’s
psychoanalytic theories have become an enduring
framework for analyzing the psychological, emotional,
and symbolic dimensions of literature, enriching the
field of literary criticism and deepening our
understanding of human creativity.
Freud’s ideas deeply influenced modernist writers who
sought to break traditional narrative forms and delve
into the complexities of human consciousness. Stream-
of-consciousness techniques, pioneered by authors
like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf, reflect Freudian
concepts of free association and the flow of
unconscious thought. Joyce’s Ulysses exemplifies this,
portraying characters’ inner mo
nologues that reveal
hidden desires and anxieties.
The surrealist movement in art and literature
embraced Freud’s emphasis on the unconscious and
dream symbolism. Writers like André Breton and
Salvador Dalí used Freudian principles to craft surreal
narratives that blurred the boundaries between reality
and imagination. Breton’s Nadja explores themes of
desire and madness, drawing heavily on psychoanalytic
imagery.
Kafka’s works often reflect Freudian themes of
repression, guilt, and alienation. In The Trial, the
protagonist Josef K. is caught in a labyrinthine legal
system that mirrors the unconscious mind’s conflict
between societal expectations (superego) and
personal autonomy (id).
Volume 04 Issue 11-2024
135
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
04
ISSUE
11
P
AGES
:
131-135
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
Freudian analysis of Blanche DuBois in Williams’ play
reveals her repressed desires, trauma, and fragile ego.
Her descent into madness can be seen as a breakdown
of the ego’s ability to mediate between the id’s desires
and the superego’s moral constraints.
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory continues to shape
literary interpretation, offering a framework for
understanding the psychological depth of texts.
Contemporary novels, such as Ian McEwan’s
Atonement and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s
Tale, explore Freudian themes of memory, repression,
and trauma. Freud’s ideas also remain a
cornerstone of
interdisciplinary
studies,
bridging
literature,
psychology, and philosophy.
Sigmund Freud’s theories revolutionized not only
psychology but also literature, inspiring authors to
explore the unconscious and confront human
complexity. His influence permeates narrative
structure, character development, and thematic
content, offering timeless tools for literary analysis. By
delving into Freud’s insights, literature continues to
illuminate the intricacies of the human psyche,
enriching both art and understanding.
REFERENCES
1.
Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams.
London: Hogarth Press.
2.
Freud, S. (1923). The Ego and the Id. London:
Hogarth Press.
3.
Ellmann, M. (1977). Psychoanalytic Literary
Criticism. Longman Publishing.
4.
Bloom, H. (1994). The Western Canon: The Books
and School of the Ages. Harcourt Brace.
5.
Kafka, F. (1925). The Trial. New York: Schocken
Books.
6.
Williams, T. (1947). A Streetcar Named Desire. New
Directions Publishing.
7.
Breton, A. (1928). Nadja. Grove Press.
8.
Wright, E. (1984). Psychoanalytic Criticism: Theory
in Practice. Methuen.
