Psychological Criticism
Introduction
Psychological criticism is a form of literary criticism that interprets the author's unconscious intent, the reader's responses, and the characters in the work. The approach is based on the theories of Freud and his followers. This form of criticism allows for a deeper understanding of the motivations and underlying themes present in a literary work.
Origins and Development
The origins of psychological criticism can be traced back to the works of Sigmund Freud, who is often regarded as the father of psychoanalysis. Freud's theories, particularly those related to the unconscious mind, have had a profound impact on the field of literature.
Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which posits that human behaviour is driven by unconscious desires and conflicts, has been widely applied in the analysis of literature. This approach to criticism, known as psychoanalytic criticism, is often considered a subset of psychological criticism.
Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic criticism adopts the methods of "reading" employed by Freud and later theorists to interpret texts. It argues that literary texts, like dreams, express the secret unconscious desires and anxieties of the author.
One of the key concepts in Freud's work is the Oedipus Complex. This theory, which suggests that children have unconscious sexual desires for the parent of the opposite sex, has been widely applied in the analysis of literature.
Reader-Response Criticism
Another form of psychological criticism is reader-response criticism, which focuses on the reader's response to a literary work. This approach is based on the premise that a reader's interpretation of a text is shaped by their own experiences, beliefs, and psychological framework.
Reader-response criticism differs from other forms of psychological criticism in that it does not seek to interpret the author's unconscious intent or the characters in the work. Instead, it focuses on the reader's engagement with the text and the psychological processes that occur during the act of reading.
Character Analysis
Character analysis is a central aspect of psychological criticism. This approach involves examining the motivations, behaviours, and psychological complexities of characters in a literary work.
Freud's theories, particularly those related to the unconscious mind and defense mechanisms, are often applied in character analysis. For example, a character's actions may be interpreted as manifestations of their unconscious desires or as attempts to resolve internal conflicts.
Critiques of Psychological Criticism
While psychological criticism has been widely applied in the analysis of literature, it has also been subject to criticism. Some critics argue that this approach is overly deterministic, suggesting that it reduces complex literary works to mere expressions of the author's unconscious mind.
Others argue that psychological criticism is inherently subjective, as it relies on the critic's interpretation of the author's unconscious intent or the reader's psychological response. This subjectivity, critics argue, can lead to varying and sometimes conflicting interpretations of a single text.
Conclusion
Despite these critiques, psychological criticism remains a valuable tool in the analysis of literature. By applying psychological theories to the interpretation of literary works, critics can gain a deeper understanding of the motivations, themes, and underlying meanings present in these works.