Andrew Slade’s book titled, Psychoanalytic Theory and Criticism is a
delightful little primer on
Psychoanalytic theory and criticism, subtitled, ‘by way of an introduction
to the writings of Sigmund Freud!’
Well, Slade has tried to give a
concise yet elegant account of the basic moves and premises of psychoanalytic
theory and criticism as they have developed over the last one hundred years,
and as they have been put to use in literary and cultural studies.
This little book of just around a hundred
pages doesn’t ask for a sky-high knowledge on psychoanalytic theory! Rather it
requires just a beginner’s level knowledge of Freud and Freudian theory! and on
how their application can help formulate and understand as well, our own
experiences in the present century, and also help us make sense of literary and
cultural texts from a variety of places, periods, languages and cultures.
Slade takes us - his readers - with such
suave elegance into his chapters! The very first chapter opens with a crisp
introductory definition to psychoanalysis. Says Slade -
Psychoanalysis
is a revolutionary theory of the mind, of feeling and of behaviour. It evolved
over time in Vienna, Austria, in the late nineteenth century, through the
curiosity and ambition of Sigmund Freud and his interlocutors from around the
world who were drawn to his work.
Right from the concepts of ‘Hysteria and
the Method of the ‘Talking Cure’, which acted as a discharge of intellectual
and psychical energy, Slade has his task cut out and he does it with such elan!
Especially in his take on the Freudian dream
interpretation, where Slade compares the unconscious to a wishing machine, and
the unconscious as the mechanism that generates dreams, he seems to do it quite
elegantly at that!
To Freud, Slade claims, ‘A dream dramatizes
an idea!’ Moreover, it is ‘always a fulfillment of a wish!’
Chapter Three then takes us into the
realm of ‘Psychoanalysis and Literature,’ where he does a wonderful take on the
‘repetition compulsion,’ as a recurring motif in psychoanalysis, which coincidentally
begins Lacan’s theory of reading, says Slade.
The next chapter deals with ‘Psychoanalytic
Criticism in Practice,’ using Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado’!
The fifth chapter is a wonderful take on ‘Psychoanalysis
and Culture,’ and the concluding chapter gives ideas on what remains for the
student to do!
Added, there’s also a brief glossary
towards the end of the book on some psychoanalytic terms worth knowing!
In short, a small book of biggg value for
those of us who would love to work on Psychoanalytic theory and criticism.
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