An Interpretation Of Howard Jacobson’s The Finkler Question From The Perspective Of Psychoanalysis

Howard Jacobson(1942-)is a British Jewish novelist,journalist and columnist,who is skilled in writing comic novels,especially in depicting those British Jews who are torn in frustration.In 2010,Jacobson won the Man Booker Prize for his 11 th novel The Finkler Question,which follows the lives of Julian Treslove and his Jewish friends and shows in a humorous and ironic way the true situation of different Jews in London.This thesis analyzes The Finkler Question with Karen Horney’s psychoanalytical theory.Horney develops theory of neurosis,which includes the concept of basic anxiety,neurotic personality and defensive strategy.Horney believes that people deny their true feelings and adopt interpersonal and psychological defensive strategies to cope with anxiety coming from the feeling of insecurity,unpopularity and incompetence.Based on the cultural conditions,Horney demonstrates the influence of cultural conditions on personal growth.This thesis analyzes why and how the protagonists Julian Treslove and Finkler have got basic anxiety,the details of their defensive strategies,and their positive changes in the end.The thesis can be divided into five parts.Chapter One is the introductory part,which includes research background and significance,literature review at home and abroad,key notions of the theory,research questions and the organization of the thesis.Chapter Two analyzes the reasons of Treslove and Finkler’s basic anxiety based on their childhood experiences and adult lives.Chapter Three analyzes their different defensive strategies,that is moving toward people and moving against people.Chapter Four examines positive changes brought by different people and incidents in two people’s lives.Chapter Five concludes that by analyzing Treslove and Finkler and showing their different personalities,it’s argued that besides personal characteristics shaping in childhood,sociocultural environment produces an effect on the formation and cure of neurosis.It’s hoped that by analyzing the novelwith the help of Horney’s theory of neurosis,the thesis provides a different way of interpreting the novel and enriches previous research.Meanwhile,it’s expected that the thesis draws public attention to modern people’s mental health.