Freudian Psychoanalysis and the Awakening

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Freudian Psychoanalysis and the Awakening Sigmund Freud, the preeminent, 19th century, European neurologist and psychologist, designed a theory he labelled “psychoanalysis,” a theory which would transcend all borders and integrate itself deeply into many facets of society. In fact, an American named Kate Chopin, wrote a book entitled The Awakening, which was published at the turn of the 19th century, in which this theory played an integral role in expressing the complexity, relevance, and growth of the main character. The express importance of the main character displaying a Freudian psych is pertinent even in the modern time because it allows us to view the application of his theories around the time of their conception, trace their evolution and see the changes throughout the years. By possessing these comparisons, one could then gain insight as to how society and the individual has developed and progressed. Freud's theory of psychoanalysis defined a human's personality and then outlined causes and affects that these traits had on the person's thoughts, actions, and relationships. As he developed his knowledge of the human psych, he named three different parts belonging to it: the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. The Id is what drives the instinctual and need-based responses of a human, the Ego is the controlled and realistic force, and the Superego is what dictates and adheres to morality and social correctness. According to Freud, these three section of a human's psyche must maintain balance or the subject will fall to internal chaos and turmoil. In the Awakening, the main character, Edna, experiences this psychological imbalance which results in her living a very unfortunate life. This imbalance sets off a chain of... ... middle of paper ... ...societies, and the Awakening offers an extremely interesting point of view; Learning to recognise and explore these three Freudian principles as they relate to oneself is an integral part in understanding society and movements and patterns of humanity as a whole. Bibliography 1. "Psychoanalytic Theories of Development." Psychology - Complete Guide to Psychology for Students, Educators & Enthusiasts. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. . 2. Association, American Psychoanalytic. "About Psychoanalysis." American Psychoanalytic Association. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. . 3. "Psychoanalytic Theory in Personality Synopsis at ALLPSYCH Online." Psychology Classroom at AllPsych Online. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

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