Psychoanalytic Theory By

General Overview The psychoanalytic theory, developed by Sigmund Freud, states that there are inner forces outside of your awareness that are directing your behavior.

Freud’s main theory is that the human mind is duel in nature. The irrational, unconscious part of the mind is called the id. It controls your impulses, also known as your animal instinct. For example, if you were hungry, the id would tell you to eat whatever the first thing in sight was, even if it was inedible.

The ego is the term for the logical, orderly, and conscious part of the mind. It keeps the id’s impulses in check. In terms of hunger, the ego would override the id and find an edible object, like a piece of candy, to eat.

The superego is the term for the part of the mind that comes from outside of the self. It makes moral judgments and encourages sacrifice for good causes, even though that sacrifice might not be rational. Most of the superego is composed of what we have learned from our parents, schools, and religions. In terms of hunger, the superego would override the ego’s decision to eat a piece of candy in favor of a healthier food, like a piece of fruit. The superego can be thought of as your “inner mom”.

The impulses that the ego and superego tell us not to do are repressed into the unconscious mind. They emerge in dreams, language (called Freudian slips), creative activities like art, and neurotic behavior. These unconscious desires can emerge as complexes, like the Oedipal complex. The Oedipal complex, expressed by males, involves fear of the father and a strong attraction to the mother.

Jane Eyre, Jean Rhys: Wild Sargasso This article explains the doubleness of selfhood between Bronte’s characters Jane and Bertha.

Dreams: A Psychoanalysis Dream On Page (264) Dreams about children increase apprehension Muffled fear of altering identity Love for Rochester Barrier

Dreams Continued  Jane’s childhood and unresolved mysteries Dreams bring troubleàBertha Rochester riding away Subconscious fear of motherhood Independence