Eros And Thanatos-A Freudian Psychoanalytical Interpretation Of Thomas Hardy's Jude The Obscure

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), a novelist and poet, is one of the representatives of English critical realism at the turn of the 19th century. Hardy's last and by most accounts bleakest novel, Jude the Obscure has had drawn increasingly strong attention from academic readers for decades. In my view, the major theme of the novel is the inability of individuals to surmount the social and psychological forces that dominate their lives. Through the description of the suppressed sex and love in the nineteenth century, Hardy opened up a new era of novel, and his study of the psychological problems is more penetrating than any other psychologists of the twentieth century.Freudian Psychoanalysis provides readers with a new method to interpret literary works. In this thesis, an attempt is made to interpret the theme—Eros and Thanatos—of Jude the Obscure in light of Freudian Psychoanalysis. Eros is the vigorous instinct which gives people power and momentum to fulfill their dream and ambition. If Eros is applied in a good way, it is helpful to people. If Eros is released without control, it will hurt oneself and other people. Thanatos is the ultimate destiny of human beings which can destroy everyone and everything, even oneself. Exploring into the protagonists'Personality Structure—Id, Ego and Superego, the author analyzes their Eros and Thanatos specifically.On the whole, Eros and Thanatos are the main factors which dominate the characters'lives and destiny. We human beings need Eros to survive and make the best use of Eros. Temporary Thanatos is unavoidable, but we need to utilize it and transform it to our need and survival.