These slides provide a basic introduction to Psychoanalysis and Defense Mechanisms.

These slides provide a basic introduction to Psychoanalysis and Defense Mechanisms.

1. PSYCHOANALYSIS Dr. Ilyas Babar Awan [email protected] These slides have been prepared in accordance with NUML’s MPhil English course outline

2. Sigmund Freud and the Birth of Psychoanalysis (1856–1939)

3. Influential Works by Sigmund Freud Studies on Hysteria (1895) The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901) Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905) Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious (1905) Totem and Taboo (1913) 7. On Narcissism ( 1914) 8. Introduction to Psychoanalysis (1917) 9. Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920) 10. The Future of an Illusion (1927) 11. Civilization and Its Discontents (1930) 12. Moses and Monotheism (1939)

4. The Development of Psychoanalytic Criticism Origins in Freud’s Theories (Late 19th – Early 20th Century) Psychoanalytic criticism originates from the ideas of Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), an Austrian neurologist , the founder of psychoanalysis. Freud explored how the unconscious mind shapes human behavior, dreams, and creative expression. His key ideas include: The unconscious : a hidden realm of desires, fears, and repressed experiences. The structure of personality: id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality). Dream analysis: literature, like dreams, expresses disguised wishes and anxieties.

5. The Interpretation of Dreams (Die Traumdeutung , 1900) According to Freud ( 1900 ), sources of dreams include stimuli from the external world, subjective experiences, organic stimuli within the body, and mental activities during sleep (p. 22) Freud regarded dreams as a royal road to the unconscious ; dream interpretation has thus been an important psychoanalytic technique. His theory of dreams mainly refers to two key points: What are the materials of a dream? How do these materials work together? The answers to these questions are closely related to an understanding of dream interpretation.

6. Freud’s Central Idea “Dreams are the disguised fulfillment of repressed wishes.” We all have unconscious desires and emotions that are socially unacceptable or painful. These desires are repressed (pushed out of awareness). During sleep, when the mind relaxes, these hidden wishes find expression in dreams but in symbolic or disguised forms.

7. Iceberg Theory (also known as the Topographical Model of the Mind ) Three Levels of the Mind Conscious Mind ( above the surface) شعور What we are aware of right now, our thoughts, perceptions, and current awareness. Example: “I am reading about Freud.” Preconscious Mind (Just below the surface) قبل از شعور Information that is not in our immediate awareness but can easily be brought to consciousness. Example: Recalling what you had for dinner yesterday. Unconscious Mind (Deep below the surface) لاشعور The largest part of the mind. Contains hidden desires, fears, memories, instincts, and conflicts that influence our behavior without us realizing it. Example: Repressed childhood experiences or forbidden wishes.

8. The Id The Id operates on the pleasure principle (Freud, 1920) Freud made the analogy of the id being a horse, while the ego is the rider. The ego is “like a man on horseback, who has to hold in check the superior strength of the horse.” (Freud, 1923, p. 15)

9. Id: Meeting basic needs

10. The ego is “that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world.” (Freud, 1923, p. 25)

11. “Repression is the process of pushing disturbing thoughts, desires, or memories into the unconscious so that they do not disturb the conscious mind.”

12. Example Hamlet by William Shakespeare Freud interpreted Hamlet as a classic example of repressed desire. Hamlet cannot kill Claudius because Claudius has done what Hamlet unconsciously wished to do: kill his father and possess his mother (Gertrude). His hesitation and melancholy come from repressed guilt and desire. Thus, Hamlet’s indecision is not weakness; it’s repression.

13. When a person feels an unacceptable impulse or desire, they unconsciously repress it and instead express the opposite emotion or behavior.

14. Example: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Mr. Brocklehurst, who enforces harsh moral discipline and condemns vanity and luxury, represents reaction formation. His extreme piety and moral superiority cover his own unconscious pride, hypocrisy, and possibly sensuality. He preaches humility but lives in luxury, an unconscious reversal of what he represses. His strict moralism is the opposite of his true desires .

15. Denial is a defense mechanism in which a person refuses to accept reality or facts because they are too painful or threatening for the mind to handle.

16. Example King Lear by William Shakespeare Lear denies the reality of his fading power and aging. He refuses to believe that Cordelia loves him more sincerely than her flattering sisters. His denial of truth leads to the destruction of his kingdom and family. Denial here is Lear’s refusal to accept human limitation and mortality.

17. The ego protects itself from anxiety by disowning an unacceptable impulse and projecting it onto another person or object.

18. Example Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad The European colonizers project their own savagery and moral corruption onto the African people. They call the natives “barbaric,” but it is the Europeans who commit barbaric acts. Colonial projection hides guilt through the illusion of superiority.

19. Displacement means transferring an emotion or desire from its original object to a safer or more acceptable substitute.

20. Example Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad The European colonial guilt for exploitation and cruelty is displaced onto Africa. Africa becomes the dark continent , representing what Europe represses: greed, violence, moral decay. Colonialism displaces its own savagery onto the colonized.

21. Sublimation is one of Freud’s most mature and positive defence mechanisms. According to Sigmund Freud, sublimation is the process by which unacceptable or socially forbidden desires (usually sexual or aggressive) are transformed into socially acceptable, creative, or productive activities.

22. Example: Dante’s The Divine Comedy Repressed / Earthly Impulse: Dante had a deep, passionate, romantic love for Beatrice Portinari, a woman he admired but could not have; his love remained idealized and unattainable. Defense Mechanism: Sublimation Instead of expressing this love in a purely romantic or physical way (which would have been socially or morally unacceptable in medieval Christian culture), Dante redirected or sublimated that powerful emotional energy into poetry and spiritual imagination. Sublimated / Creative Expression: In The Divine Comedy, Beatrice becomes not just a woman but a symbol of divine grace and spiritual salvation. She guides Dante through Paradise, representing the ideal of divine love rather than human desire. Psychoanalytic Interpretation: According to Freud’s idea of sublimation, Dante transformed his personal passion into artistic and religious creation, turning private emotion into a universal spiritual vision. His love becomes a vehicle for moral, theological, and poetic greatness

23. The ego uses rationalization to protect itself from the pain or shame caused by the Id’s desires or the Superego’s guilt. It helps the person believe their actions are reasonable even if, deep down, they are driven by selfish, aggressive, or forbidden motives.

24. Macbeth (by William Shakespeare) Real (Unconscious) Motive: Macbeth’s true drives are ambition, greed, and a lust for power. Deep inside, he desires to be king — even if it means committing a terrible crime. Conflict: His Superego (moral conscience) tells him that killing King Duncan is wrong and sinful, while his Id (instinctual desire) pushes him toward the throne. This inner conflict causes guilt and anxiety. Example

25. Defense Mechanism: Rationalization To reduce this guilt, Macbeth’s ego creates logical justifications for his act. He convinces himself that: “The witches have foretold my destiny; it is my fate to become king.” and “Duncan’s rule is weak; Scotland needs strong leadership.” These are rationalizations, false but convincing reasons that make his ambition seem legitimate and even noble. Result in the Play: Macbeth’s rationalizations allow him to silence his moral conscience temporarily and proceed with the murder. However, the guilt resurfaces later, leading to paranoia, hallucinations, and eventual downfall — showing that the unconscious truth cannot be fully suppressed.

26. Libido: Sexual Desire Sexual desire refers to the psychological and physiological urge to engage in sexual activity. It encompasses a range of feelings, thoughts, and fantasies that can drive individuals toward seeking physical intimacy, influenced by biological, emotional, and social factors . In literary criticism, understanding sexual desire through a Freudian lens reveals deeper insights into character motivations, relationships, and societal norms.

27. Freud believed that sexual desire is central to human motivation and plays a crucial role in personality development. The dynamics of sexual desire often reflect larger social and cultural issues, such as power dynamics and gender roles. Literary texts often use sexual desire as a plot device to explore themes of conflict, identity, and taboo. Freud's concept of sublimation suggests that sexual desires can be redirected into socially acceptable behaviors or creative endeavors. The interplay between conscious and unconscious motivations surrounding sexual desire can lead to complex character portrayals in literature.