Analysis Of The Wolf Man And Sigmund Freud

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From the History of an Infantile Neurosis represents a fascinating case written by Sigmund Freud that was published in 1918. It is one of his most important cases since it covers many aspects for possible development of key questions and concepts concerning psychoanalysis. It shows the fascinating story of Sergeï Konstantinovitch Pankejeff, “the Wolf Man” who had a lifetime commitment to psychoanalysis while Freud and other analysts were trying to find a possible solution to his psychotic episodes and neuroses. This allowed him to become a professional patient and have a strong influence on psychoanalysis. How Freud represented his life story very easily allowed the existence of different views concerning his way of treatment, but also the …show more content…

Even though Freud’s narrative was still more convincing and very powerful, Pankejeff posted a version of his view of his own life called “The Wolf-Man and Sigmund Freud” edited by his lifelong friend Gardiner. The two written reports have many conflicting accounts. For example from all the relationships within the family there is a contradiction between the wolf man and Freud concerning how the relationship with his sister was, Freud: “what was perhaps even more striking was the calmness with which he was able to relate this, as though he had no comprehension of the coarseness of feeling to which he was thus confusing”. (p.309) As it is presented in the case, Freud tries to understand why his patient didn’t feel repression of grief after her suicide. Creating the reasoning that it would mean he would be more worthy of his father’s love since he wouldn’t have any competition anymore. However, the wolf-man expresses later that he did feel strong feelings of depression. Even much later in his life, in an interview with Karin Obholzer he disagrees with the representation of the wolf dream, he goes on to say that he is in the same state he was before he even met Freud. However, that doesn’t make Freud’s theories on this case any less …show more content…

With phrases as: “I shall have, for a special reason to deal with this dream again elsewhere, and interpret it and consider its significance in great detail” or “I shall discuss in another occasion the explanation of these animal phobias“.(p.262) It is not overstating to consider Freud a superior narrator. There are many lines throughout the story that almost encourage the reader to second guess the case conclusions which is why the successive arguments became possible. In this way the reader can understand the position of the analyst as well as the patient, as if he is directly involved. The story could sometimes be understood differently because of that. Peter Brooks suggests that Freud was completely aware of the analogies between the way he reaches to his psychoanalytic theories and detective work. In “Fictions of the Wolf Man: Freud and narrative understanding” Brooks uses Freud’s narration of this specific case to explain that there could always be recapturing of meaning. He suggests that by being written as a detective narrative could sometimes cause the case to be suggestive and misleading. Brooks divides the text in four levels of narration, one being the history of the neurosis, then the etiology, the third is the history of

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