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A Freudian Interpretation Of The Love Tragedy In Wuthering Heights

Posted on:2013-12-17Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:J ZhangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2235330377950918Subject:English Language and Literature
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Emily Bronte has been regarded as the greatest woman poet in English literature. However, she becomes famous for her sole novel, Wuthering Heights, whose structure and vision is unique. Because of its profundity, it is always considered as a "Literary Sphinx". The brilliant novel has been studied from various critical perspectives, yet it remains unexhausted. And the thesis analyzes the love tragedy between Catherine and Heathcliff from psychological criticism.Firstly, the thesis presents the positive connection between the tragedy of Heathcliff and Catherine and their personality structure. Catherine is trapped in the dilemma of love and marriage because of her unbalanced personality structure. Heathcliff is dominated by his id, he cannot use think reasonably, even at the time of Catherine’s death. Secondly, the thesis explores the roots of the tragedy with Freud’s civilization and its discontents theory. In order to fulfill the purpose of happiness, man forms a family which gradually develops into a community. However, civilization which is developed in the process of forming a community sets limitations on individuals, the limitations can arise man’s discontents of the civilization and lead to more disastrous results. Catherine and Heathcliff who are both influenced by the civilization, acknowledge the power of civilization and make fruitless struggles against it at the cost of their lives. Thirdly, the thesis dissects the cause of the tragedy in terms of Freud’s two classes of instincts theory which ultimately lead to their death. Love and hate are the representatives of Eros and death instinct. Catherine and Heathcliff love each other so much that they can not bear the separation from each other and seek to death for their soul union. It is Eros that encourages them love and death instinct that drives them to die. The thesis which analyzes the love tragedy from the three aspects above aims to offer a better understanding of Emily Bronte’s and Wuthering Heights, show Emily Bronte sharp insight on the mysterious relationships of happiness and civilization, highlight the profundity of Wuthering Heights and indicate that man will not live a happy life unless the relationship of individual and civilization is harmonized.
Keywords/Search Tags:Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, psychological criticism, Freud
PDF Full Text Request
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