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Psychological approach to Henrik Iben's A Doll's House

Updated Dec. 4, 2013

Transcript

Psychoanalytic literary criticism refers to literary criticism which, in method, concept, theory, or form, is influenced by the tradition of psychoanalysis begun by Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalytic reading has been practiced since the early development of psychoanalysis itself, and has developed into a rich and heterogeneous interpretive tradition.
It is a literary approach where critics see the text as if it were a kind of dream. This means that the text represses its real (or latent) content behind obvious (manifest) content. The process of changing from latent to manifest content is known as the dream work, and involves operations of concentration and displacement. The critic analyzes the language and symbolism of a text to reverse the process of the dream work and arrive at the underlying latent thoughts.

Cherryl, Kendra. "The Id, Ego and Superego." About.com Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
"Henrik Ibsen Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2013
Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism." Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism. N.p., 4 Jan. 2011. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.

Psychosocial Development:

Generativity vs. stagnation

Middle adulthood look beyond self to embrace society and future generations

Begin family, develop concern for those

outside family

Superego approach: the aspect of personality that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society--our sense of right and wrong.
There are two parts of the superego:
The ego ideal includes the rules and standards for good behaviors. These behaviors include those which are approved of by parental and other authority figures. Obeying these rules leads to feelings of pride, value and accomplishment.
The conscience includes information about things that are viewed as bad by parents and society. These behaviors are often forbidden and lead to bad consequences, punishments or feelings of guilt and remorse.

Electra Complex: A girl feels sexual love for the father and hostile

rivalry toward the mother leading her to conclude that

she and her mother have been castrated (because they

lack penises). This leads to “penis envy” and a feeling of

inferiority (Patterson & Hastings, 2007).

How?

Doesn't mention her mother at all
Father passed away sometime while the husband was sick
She felt bad she couldn't be there for him
"I never saw him again, that was the worst time Iv'e known in all my marriage" (1.50)
Torvald takes care of Nora
gives her money
pet names "squirrel" (43) "dove eyes" (79) "lark" (93) "spend thrift"
Torvald treats her like a child. Nora likes the feeling of having a father figure.

Psychological approach to Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House