Publications
Fixing Freud: the Oedipus complex in early twenty-first century US American novels
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Representations of Sigmund Freud in early 21st century US American novels rely on and respond to the image of Freud that emerged from investigations by Paul Roazen ("Brother Animal," 1969) and Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson ("The Assault on Truth," 1984), which cast doubt on the validity of the Oedipus complex. Relying on Roazen, Brenda Webster's "Vienna Triangle" (2009) links Freud's oedipal thinking to paranoia and male masochism. Working with Masson, Selden Edwards's "The Little Book" (2008) takes Freud to task for abandoning the seduction theory in favor of the Oedipus complex. Jed Rubenfeld's "The Interpretation of Murder" (2006) rethinks the Oedipus complex as a projection of adults onto their children. All three novels seek to celebrate Freud's understanding of the human psyche, while shifting the focus of the oedipal structure away from the murderous and lustful child toward the adult.
Publication Title
Psychoanalysis and history
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Volume
13
Issue
2
First Page
245
Last Page
264
ISSN
1460-8235
DOI
10.3366/pah.2011.0091
Keywords
Sigmund Freud, literature, masochism, Oedipal Complex, psychoanalytic theory
Repository Citation
Tobin, Robert Deam, "Fixing Freud: the Oedipus complex in early twenty-first century US American novels" (2011). Publications. 13.
https://commons.clarku.edu/tobinpub/13