A Freudian Psychoanalysis Of A Demon In My View

In English literature, Ruth Rendell is a famous detective mystery novelist who hascreated more than seventy works up to now. The novel A Demon in My View publishedin1976is one of her masterpieces, which is about the different fates of the tenants in anapartment especially for the description of the protagonist’s abnormal psychology andtragic doom, and it once won CWA Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year. Thisthesis aims to make a comprehensive analysis on the figures in the perspective ofFreudian psychoanalysis in order to get the root which caused their tragedy.Besides the introduction and conclusion, this thesis includes five chapters.The first part is the introduction which includes the introduction to Ruth’s life andher creations; a brief introduction to the novel A Demon in My View; a summary of thestudies on Ruth and her works at home and abroad; an introduction to the generaloutline of the thesis.The first chapter makes an introduction to Freudian theory. The first point is thepersonality structure. The second is the theory of sexuality instinct, namely the libido.Besides, life instinct and death instinct also play an important role in one’s fate. Thethree theoretical branches of Freudian theory above set a basis for the following analysisin thesis.Chapter Two analyzes the manifestations of the personality structure in the novel.Self-destruction of Id is the final end in this novel. Various evil desires and behaviorsare the products of Arthur and Anthony’s distorted Id, while the self-isolation of Arthuris another manifestation of Id. Although the restriction of Reality Principle and defensemechanism play a buffering role, the overwhelming Id cannot be manacled by Ego.Superego’s strength in the apartment is too fragile to convert the tragic doom despite ofits active effect. Therefore this chapter draws a conclusion that if the three levels of thepersonality structure cannot be developed in a balance pace, it would bring the abnormalcharacteristic and cause tragedy.Chapter Three discusses the effects of libido in human characteristic. The abnormaldevelopment of personality in Arthur’s infantile stage drives Arthur in an abnormalstatus, among which the most distinctive feature is his Oedipus complex. Arthur who has no sexual mate also releases his sexual illusion to the mannequin in the cellar. Onthe other hand, superabundant desires to sexual love drives Anthony, Jonathan, Winstontakes different actions to the female respectively who makes them produce sexual desirein psychology and physiology. All above are the outcomes of the abnormal developmentof libido.Chapter Four is the analysis of Freud’s other two instincts, namely life instinct anddeath instinct, in his later theory embodied in novel. According to the analysis andcomparison to the outward and inward manifestations of the life instinct and deathinstinct, we can find that life instinct has played an active role in one’s fate. However,compared with the overwhelming death instinct, it is too fragile to resist.Chapter Five is the sublimation of the whole thesis which reveals the roles andpractical significance of this novel in the perspective of Freudian psychoanalysis.The last section is the conclusion of the thesis. The balanced development ofpersonality, suitable releasing of libido and two instincts are crucial to the developmentof human. Only a harmonious and healthy environment can make one proceed inphysical and mental development normally.