Fragmentation of Personality

1212 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Contribution of sigmund freud to the study of psychology

"Fragmentation of Personality as it Applies to the Character of Sabina in Anaїs Nin's The Spy in the House of Love, and the Works of Sigmund Freud"

Personality is often considered to be singular and structured, however, in reality it is composed of many contradictory characteristics. The human psyche can be multi-layered, with different aspects of the personality being revealed in different environments. This concept of a fragmented personality is explored in the novel, A Spy In The House of Love, by Anaїs Nin, as well as in the works of psychologist, Sigmund Freud. Freud describes the human psyche as being divided into separate agencies that are often in conflict with each other. The protagonist in Anaїs Nin's novel, Sabina, exhibits such traits, as she struggles with constant internal conflict regarding her numerous affairs and the feeling that she must suppress all of her different emotions and actions into one personality.

In his theories, Freud describes the mind as being "separated into different parts or "agencies" (Solomon 98)." In 1923, he divided these agencies into three categories; "the Id (the source of instincts), the Ego (the rational self), and the Superego (the internalization of the rules and restrictions learned from one's parents and other authorities) (Solomon 98)." These separate categories can be used to explain the personality of Sabina. Firstly, Sabina's Id is very strong, in the sense that she is constantly overcome with desire, and unable to control her urges. It is this that leads her into numerous affairs. With Mambo, she is overcome with the exotic romance his African heritage implies. When she listens to him play the drums, she feels that "each note was the brush of his mouth ...

... middle of paper ...

... individual as a singular and structured psychology. However, Anaїs Nin's novel, A Spy In The House Of Love, and the works of psychologist, Sigmund Freud explore otherwise. Through the character of Sabina, Nin shows the many different partitions of one's mind, the conflicts between them, and the chaos and guilt resulting from this conflict. Freud's works further describe this multi-layered personality. Sabina's psychology can be unraveled and explained by applying Freud's ideas of the mind being divided into three agencies; the Id, the Ego, and the Superego, which are in constant conflict with each other. Personality is seen as an attempt to resolve this conflict. The ideas in this novel and Freud's theories can help one understand the reasons for their emotions or behavior, allowing one to accept the deficiencies and chaos associated with their personality.

Show More
Related

  • Psychoanalytic Perspective In The Things They Carried

    1396 Words  | 3 Pages

    When this story is viewed through Sigmund Freud’s “psychoanalytic lens” the novel reveals itself as much more than just another gory war novel. According to Sigmund Freud psychology there are three parts of the mind that control a person’s actions which are the id, ego, and superego. Psychoanalysis states that there are three parts of the human mind, both conscious and subconscious, that control a person’s actions. The Id, ego, and

    Read More

  • Theme Of Superego In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    The mind is possibly the most complex part of humans. Scientists can understand how bones and organs work after careful examination. However, the human mind isn 't exactly a physical thing. Many famous psychologists have created multiple theories on how they believe the mind works. One famous psychologist, Dr. Sigmund Freud, created the theory of the Id, Ego and Superego. This is part of the five theories in his overall theory of the personality. His theory can be best viewed in One Flew over the Cuckoo 's Nest. The novel is about rebelling against authority and prominently displays theme of individualism versus conformity. A man named R. P. McMurphy is admitted into a mental ward led by matriarch, Nurse Ratched. Ratched runs her ward in a way that not only follows the laws of society but, also emasculates the men in this ward. Thus, McMurphy challenges Ratched 's dictatorship in order to free the

    Read More

  • Sigmund Freud: Psychoanaalysis And Mind Theory

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sigmund Freud is considered to be one of the most studied and respected historical figures in psychology. Freud has had a huge impact on the way we think today. He also is responsible for creation psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud is even known as the “father of psychoanalysis”. Through endless contentious theories such as, the Case of Anna O, the Unconscious Mind, the Psyche, and the most infamous of his theories, the Psychosexual stage, Freud has generated many fans and supporters. His works has earned him a place in the list of psychology legends today.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Sharon Cady's 'Displacement'

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, the structure of personality included the Id, ego and superego. The Id, whose sole purpose is to seek pleasure and wants instant gratification of needs without any regard for what is appropriate, includes the basic

    Read More

  • William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sigmund Freud was born in 1856 to Jewish Galician parents in the Moravian town of Pribor in the Austrian Empire (“Sigmund Freud” n. pag). During his education in the medical field, Freud decided to mix the career fields of medicine and philosophy to become a psychologist (“Sigmund Freud” n. pag). During his research as a psychologist, he conceived the Structural Model Theory, which he discussed in his essay Beyond the Pleasure Principle. The theory states that the human psyche is divided into three main parts: the id, ego, and super-ego (“Id, Ego, and Super-ego” n. pag). He concluded that the id was the desire for destruction, violence and sex; the ego was responsible for intellect and dealing with reality; and the super-ego was a person’s sense of right and wrong and moral standards (Hamilton, n. pag). Freud argued that a healthy individual will have developed the strongest ego to keep the id and super-ego in check (“Id, Ego, and Super-ego” n. p...

    Read More

  • Biological and Psychoanalytic Perspectives in Psychology

    1625 Words  | 4 Pages

    Freud, S. (1957b). Some character types met with in psychoanalytic work. In J. Strachey (Ed. & Trans.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 14, pp. 309–333). London: Hogarth Press. (Original work published 1916)

    Read More

  • Archetypes In A Separate Peace

    430 Words  | 1 Pages

    Carl Jung was a disciple of Sigmund Freud, despite the two having conflicting ideas. One of Jung’s most well known and accepted theories was the existence of different types of archetypes in the brain. These include the ego, which is where our conscious awareness and sense of identity reside, and the shadow, which is the part of the unconscious mind consisting of repressed weaknesses, shortcomings, and instincts. In the novel A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, the protagonist Gene exemplifies the shadow, while his friend, Finny, personifies the ego. The author narrates through the shadow, though he clearly supports the ego. However, he also makes it apparent that it is wrong to be dominated by either archetype.

    Read More

  • The Connection between Civilization and Individuals in "Civilization and Its Discontents" by Sigmund Freud

    584 Words  | 2 Pages

    Freud begins to create the map of mental life through the ideas of the ego, the id, and the superego. The ego, or consciousness, is the manner in which a person first realizes tha...

    Read More

  • Old Father Old Artificer Essay

    966 Words  | 2 Pages

    A personality is a combination of various attributes that belong to a single person. Each one has its own unique qualities and traits that create an individual that is different from any other human being. How this individuality is formed depends on the environment that a person has lived through and their experiences. Alison Bechdel grew up in a home with a father who alienated himself from his family so that he could conceal a dark secret from his life. Nevertheless, Bechdel was able to take from her past so that she could become a strong and independent women who kept true to who she was. Likewise, straying from the expected path of her family, Dorothy Allison was determined to become the person who she wanted to be. Expressing who she is and not changing to match others expectations has become high priority in Allison’s adult life. It was through a journey of hardship in their childhoods, both Allison and Bechdel were able to discover their individual identities in their adult life.

    Read More

  • William Faulkner's The Sound and The Fury

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freud, Sigmund. Ego and the Id of Sigmund Freud (The Standard Edition of the           Complete Psychological works of Sigmund Freud Series).

    Read More

  • Psychoanalytic Theory in MacBeth

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    Psychoanalytic Theory itself has, what seems to be, two contradictory halves: Freudian psychoanalysis and Lacanian psychoanalysis. The first half focuses solely on the author and the unconscious mind; the second considers the unconscious, but prefers to concentrate on outside influences by deconstructing the text itself. According to Freud, interpretation is achieved by examining conflicts and symbols, such as Freudian slips and dream images. These outlets are help to determine whether an individual’s external behavior coincides (or conflicts) with their internal emotion. Freud placed emphasis on sexuality and the Oedipus complex, which is the idea of repressed sexual feelings toward a parent of opposite sex. He also defined three levels of the subconscious mind: the ego, the super-ego, and the id. Barry explains that the stages align with “the consciousness, the conscience, and the unconscious” respectively (93). On the other hand, Lacan, a follower of Freud, concentrated on the relationship between an author and his or her work. He claimed the two were inexorably connected, that objectivity is nonexistent. In an essence: an author’s personality is used to interpret the text and, in contrast, the text is used to gain insight about the author. Regardless of the emphasis, psychoanalytic criticism engages an

    Read More

  • Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps

    3012 Words  | 7 Pages

    Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York:

    Read More

  • Psychological Summary Of Black Swan

    1620 Words  | 4 Pages

    As such, there are many scenes in which psychological theories are represented. Based on this, will be stated the roles and how psychological principles and theorems apply to the film. In fact, one observation about the film as a whole is that the main character, Nina, was clearly in need of a psychiatric evaluation. A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnosis and treat psychological disorders. Nina suffers from many disturbs, that get worse and worse for her, because she starts affect her not only mentally, but also physically. In this case a psychiatrist would be better suited psychological professional to treat her problems. In order to this, the psychiatrist would have administered a Psychoanalysis. This is a theory and therapy based on the work of Sigmund Freud that stresses the importance of early childhood experiences. Nina had an apparent disorder, and Psychoanalysis best explain, and studies these types of

    Read More

  • Sigmund Freud Versus Albert Ellis

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sigmund Freud believed that adults seduced children and this is where their problems came up in adulthood. As for all things, many people did not agree with Freud’s theory. “Freud believed that people could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight” (McLeod, “Psychoanalysis”). According to Freud’s Psychoanalytical Theory, there are three elements of personality the id, ego and superego. The id is an individual’s inner child.

    Read More

  • A Comparison of the Main Approaches to Personality Psychology

    2250 Words  | 5 Pages

    The basis of this approach is that psychological factors play a major role in determining behaviour and shaping personality. Freud argued that personality is composed of three major systems the id, the ego, and the superego. The id (biological part of personality) is present at birth and consists of inherited instincts and all psychological energies. The id operates according to the pleasure principle, seeking to reduce tension, avoid pain and obtain pleasure. The ego (executive part of personality) is conscious part of the mind, the “real” us.

    Read More

More about Fragmentation of Personality

Open Document