Psychoanalytic Criticism
Helen Garners controversial novel The First Stone (1995) tells the story of a sexual harassment case in a Melbourne university, and attempts to analyse the power relations between men and women. By applying psychoanalytic criticism to this novel it clearly becomes an interesting work of investigative journalism that could be classed as valued Australian literature.Psychoanalytic Criticism is defined by Moon (1992, p.97) " as seeing literary texts as representing the unconscious thoughts and desires shared by members of a culture. It provides a way of exploring the social construction of personal identities, especially through the readers interaction with the text." Psychoanalysis is a theory developed by Sigmund Freud where concentration is placed on the unconscious life of individuals, however recent conceptions of psychoanalysis see it as a way of 'decoding' the sexual symbolism of literary texts in order to uncover the authors unconscious obsessions. Stevens and Stewart (1996, pp.108-109) state that " Freud viewed literature as the fantasy projection of the artist" and
In conclusion, after reading the above analysis on The First Stone it is easy to see why this novel could be considered valued Australian literature. Her unconscious fantasy is basically saying that these women got what they deserved. 26) states " As it sank to its lowest intellectual level , the 'debate' about The First Stone became a series of nostalgic reminiscences about the joys of sex. 63) the reader believes that " Woman fantasise about what we will do if a bloke blah blah blah", then they will probably believe that the Master of Ormond College was at no fault for touching the girls sexual organs without consent. (1995), Three perspectives on Helen Garner's The First Stone. This novel is a fine example of feature and human interest style journalism. (1992), Literary Terms: A practical Glossary, Chalk Face Press, Cottesloe,Stevens, B. LIST OF REFERENCESHanrahan, J. It is more obviously a symbolic statement of Garner's unconscious fantasies that she could not otherwise admit. Throughout the novel Garner emphasises the power of young women, the power she sees them having over men, and the power she thinks they should be educated and warned about.
Common topics in this essay:
Ormond College,
Stevens Stewart,
Grip Dirty,
Book Review,
Psychoanalytic Criticism,
Helen Garners,
Sigmund Freud,
Peter Pierce,
Helen Garner,
PSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM,
psychoanalytic criticism,
unconscious fantasies,
garners unconscious fantasies,
controversial novel stone,
literary texts,
stevens stewart,
australian literature,
organs consent,
throughout novel,
valued australian,
garners controversial novel,
valued australian literature,
novel stone,
garners unconscious,
sexual organs consent,
|
Acceptance Essays
