Psychoanalytic Criticism Essay

Sigmund Freud, a well-known psychologist, believes the unconscious washbasin be unlocked by dint of dreams. He defined the unconscious as, the storehouse of those painful experiences and emotions, those wounds, fears, guilty desires, and unresolved conflicts we do non know about because we feel we will be overwhelmed by them (Tyson). Psychoanalytic criticism, a form of criticism which allows the reader to psychoanalyze an powers unconscious through the characters of his or her work(s), is heavily influenced by Freudian theories of psychology. Since Sigmund Freud explored the workings of the unconscious, he found that his patients developed military many another(prenominal) defense and foreboding mechanisms to cope with disagreeable ideas, painful memories, feelings or impulses. Nella Larson, author to of Passing, created two assorted characters showing disparate signs to support Freuds defense mechanisms and repressionClare Kendry and Irene Redfield.Clare Kendry, one of the important characters in the book, represses much of her black history to meet societal expectations. At the beginning of Passing, Larson gives a short backstory to Clares life portraying her racial background. As the novel progressed, readers meet an attractive-looking womanwith those dark, almost black, eyes and a coarse mouth like a scarlet flower against the ivory of her sputter (Larson, 9). Once this eye-catching woman introduces herself to her longtime friend, Irene Redfield, as Clare, she declares she has eliminateed into the egg vacuous community. During the civilian rights movement, if a biracial individuals tegument complexion appeared adjacent to white than black he or she would be able to realise into the white society. As she tells the story of her lost years to Irene, one groundwork tell Clare has repressed her black history as a takings of moving in with two white aunts after her father died. She has this a locus in the family since her aunts were racist against the black community.This prejudice against black community unconsciously helped Clare in repressing her black identity. Clares aunts were hypocrites in their ghostly beliefs because for all their Bibles and praying and ranting about honesty, they didnt want anyone to know that their near brother had seducedruined, they called ita Negro girl. They could excuse the ruin, still they couldnt set free the tar-brush (Larson, 19). When living with her aunts, she was conditioned to believe she was 100% white. This conditioning influences Clare to pass into the white community, leaving her black history behind. In a way, since Clare has conditioned herself to die hard among white people, she fears her identity will be compromised. Eventually, she marries a rich, white man named John Bellewan extreme racist. During one of Irenes visits, Clare confessed that she would never go through the horrors of pregnancy again because she nearly died in terror the whole nine-spot months bef ore Margery (her daughter) was born (Larson, 26) because she feared that Margery might be dark (Larson, 26).This fear coincides with Clares repression of half of her identitysomething she has been trained not to accept especially since she get married a very prejudice man. After re-meeting Irene in the restaurant in Chicago, Clare begins to look up to her as more than a friend by reaching out to Irene Redfield and showing discreet signs of prominence. Since she did not assume a mother figure growing up, she instinctively projects that solitary need onto her friend, Irene. When Irene and Clare regain into each other at the restaurant, Clare professes her need to see Irene on a regular basis, And now, Rene dear, that Ive found you, I mean to see stacks and lots of you (Larson, 16). This proves Clares need for projection, hoping that Irene would fill that motherly role. Clares projection could resemble many things but one stands out clearshe is starting signal to unconsciously re vert back to her black heritage and needs that motherly role modal to guide her back to her own identity.Unlike Clare, Irene Redfield has different psychoanalytical issues, one of which regards low self-esteem. Throughout Passing, Irene starts to despise Clare because of her confidence. Clare shows traits that she yearns to possess indicating that Irene doesnt see her self-worth. Irene is jealous of Clares beauty and outgoing side. Irene knows Clare carries heavy luggage because she is hiding her identity from her husband but it seems like Irene hates the fact that Clare doesnt appear to have a care in the world Irene doubted the authenticity of it, seeing herself only as a means to an end where Clare was concerned. Nor could it be said that Clare had even the slight artistic or sociological affaire in the race that some members of other races displayed. She hadnt. No, Clare Kendry cared nothing for the race. She only belonged to it. (Larson, 36). This transition is the starting point of Irenes jealousy. In her mind, Clare had it all.She is married to a rich, white man who sees her as a white woman whereas Irene is married to a black manalmost making it impossible for her to ever pass into the white community especially because one of her sons shares his fathers skin tone. Irene also dislikes Clares appearance during the Negro Welfare League trip the light fantastic toe because she thinks her husband might find Clares apparel attractive. When she noticed Clares elegant dress and features, she regretted that she hadnt counseled Clare to wear something ordinary and inconspicuous (Larson, 53). This dancing was the beginning of Irenes fear of betrayal and abandonment. Towards the end of the book, Irene suspects her husband, Brian, is having an affair with Clare. in spite of what she suspects, she doesnt want to believe it. Because she thinks that as long as Clares black history is kept from John, Irene has nothing to worry about. Despite how Irene feels, Cl are is rough and daringwilling to jeopardize everything to be free of Johns grasp.Irene couldnt bear losing Brian especially if Clare gains marital freedom It was that smile that angry Irene. She ran across the room, her terror tinged with ferocity, and laid a hand on Clares bare arm. One thought possessed her. She couldnt have Clare Kendry plaster bandage aside by Bellew. She couldnt have her free (Larson, 79). This excerpt proves that Irene has a fear of abandonment and a fear of betrayal. She cannot handle her husband betraying her for Clare Kendry, and she does not want to raise the boys alone. Irene also shows signs of repression and selective memory What happened next, Irene Redfield never by and by allowed herself to remember. Never clearly (Larson 79). Irene knows what had happened but repressed the memory because she wouldnt have been able to handle having murder on her hands.When the detective asks her what had happened, she, instead, remembers what she wants to rememb er and tells him Clare simply fell out the window before anyone could stop her. With Irenes ill-starred luck, he believes herallowing the new memory of Clare Kendrys death to take give of the actual event. Much of Irenes responses to Clares persona reflect what many blacks must have felt during the Civil Rights movement. During the Civil Rights Movement, the Jim Crow laws were complete and segregation was made legal. Unfortunately, the black community received the shorter end of the stay on and had to endure harsh treatment. Because of the hardships many black men and women had to tolerate, a noetic illness was developed. Due to the heavy white influence, black people were subjected. the like Irene, they most likely experienced avoidance, low self-esteem, fear of intimacy, abandonment or betrayal. Biracial men and women who passed into the white society found a circulate hole to escape the disadvantages of segregation. Nella Larson captured a morbid, yet perfect, moment of h ow fear can literally drive a person over the edge and do whatever it takes for the fear to absolve. She portrayed Sigmund Freuds defense mechanisms and anxieties well and soundless the consequences of repression and fear. Repression is a double-edged sword. It is necessary to cope with tragic events and/or thoughts but it is also a powerful vice to the human mind.The defenses and anxieties Sigmund Freud discovered through his experiments could make or break a persondepending on their mental condition. Fears can either seize or be conquered. Clare wanted to conquer her fear by leaving her husband, John. She wanted to free herself from his prejudice attitude and start a new life where she wouldnt have to comprehend her black history. On the downside, Irene Redfield allowed her fear and rage consume her conscious, giving her the implement she needed to kill Clare Kendryparanoia. If Irene wasnt so afraid of losing her husband, then she wouldnt have had to kill Clare to eliminate he r fears of solitude and betrayal.Works CitedLarson, Nella. Passing. London W.W. Norton & axerophthol Company, Inc., 2007. Book. Luft, Joseph and Harrington Ingham. SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COURSE. 1984. Chapter 5 Johari Window. Web. 11 November 2012. <http//www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/sgitc/read5.htm>. Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today A User-Friendly Guide. 2nd. New York urban center Taylor and Francis Group, 2009. Web.