Literary Theory & Writing

Who Knew Right?

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 by

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Being an English/Psychology major I find myself flitting between two different fields of study everyday. In both disciplines I have heard murmurs of using the other but a concrete connection has never been truly made. Imagine my surprise when reading Texts and Contexts Chapter 2 I discover that there is indeed Psychological Criticism!

Permalink for this paragraph 0 I am immediately excited, especially by this statement: ”Common sense and an interest in human thinking and behavior are the only essentials” (pg. 29). I have always strongly believed that literature and psychology go hand in hand. All of literature is essentially a study of human nature right? When learning about aspects of psychology I find myself not only making connections with my personal experience but also my readerly experience. So many characters in literature would make amazing case studies (Heathcliff? Hamlet? Harry Potter? And that’s just the H’s!) and I often find myself making psychological connections when reading. As a reader it is natural to “decode what is being disguised” and to recognize ”basic patterns of human development” that are the natural foundations of literature (pg. 29).

Permalink for this paragraph 0 One thing that did not sit right with me was how the author of Texts and Contexts focused solely on Sigmund Freud. Freud’s influence in psychology is indeed vast and important but he is seen as a bit of an eccentric from the view of modern psychology. Yes, the Oedipus complex is evocative and revealing but no psychologist today would make the assumption that every little boy wishes to kill his father and marry his mother. Also, it must be admitted, Freud’s obsession with phallic symbols and “emotional castration” never connected with me.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Something I am very excited for in this course is combining our love of literature with other interests such as psychology, history, politics, etc. Having two essay’s where we have the opportunity to explore and do something new is very refreshing!

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