Freudian Analysis of Woman on the Edge of Time

Freudian Analysis of Woman on the Edge of Time

One can use the psychoanalytical approach to successfully decipher some of the complexities in Marge Piercy's novel, "A woman on the Edge of Time". The psychoanalytical approach stems from Freud and his belief that "... Most of our actions are motivated by psychological forces over which we have very limited control"(127 handbook). The two aspects of Freud's approach that relate to this story are the Oedipus complex and the struggle between the id, ego, and superego.

The Oedipus complex of according to Freud is turned upside down in this novel, because there is no father, yet there are three mothers. The Oedipus complex believes that as a child grows up, he starts out loving both parents equally. As the child grows older he starts to lust after his mother. He then finds that his father is in the way of his goal, and so he decides to try and get rid of the father. In this story, however, there is no father.

"Father?" Luciente raised her wrist, but Connie stopped her.

"Dad. Papa. You know. Male parent."

"Ah? No, not Bee or Jackrabbit. Comothers are seldom sweet friends if we can manage. So the child will not get caught in love misunderstandings."(68 novel)

The child can't feel any rivalry because he has three mothers to satisfy his desires, and no father to compete with. The child obviously has very little to be upset about. This change in the balance of power, and the obvious love that a child gets from the three mothers also opens up a new realm to the people that are born to this age. The children feel more attuned to what they wa...

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...int of changing the language so that it isn't sexist. The differences between the two sexes are so minimal that people can get along.

The novel takes Freud's ideas on how the human conscious works and tries to change the world so that there is less conflict. The idea of creating humans that are less sexually dimorphic could definitely be beneficial to humans. The idea of having three mothers and no father is also an interesting idea that could prove helpful. The only concern that I have is that with everyone being so similar, won't our individuality be challenged so that we feel the same as every one else. Individuality is a characteristic that humans pride themselves on. If it is taken away, then people wouldn't feel as good about themselves, and most people would lose their drive to do anything constructive or inventive.