Analyzing The “Uncanny”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary gives two definitions of the word uncanny. The first definition defines it as being something that seems to have a supernatural character or origin. The second definition defines it as something that is beyond normal or beyond what is expected. In Sigmund Freud’s The “Uncanny,” Freud describes “uncanny” as a term that brings a feeling of “dread and creeping horror” (Freud 1) to a person. Freud further explains in his description that the “uncanny” can be undefinable at times. Throughout the rest of his essay, Freud tries to define and describe what the “uncanny” is. The journal articles written by Robin Lydenberg, Howard F. Stein, and Roswitha Mueller help to expand Sigmund Freud’s interpretation of the “uncanny.” I agree with Freud. The concept of the “uncanny” is hard to define in certain situations. When I think of something being uncanny, I usually think of something that is eerie or familiar. What I mean by familiar is I feel like I recognize whatever it is from somewhere, but I am not sure why. Having the feeling of eeriness goes along with Freud said about the feeling of dread and creeping horror uncanniness can bring. In his essay, Freud is almost “attacking” the ideas of psychiatrist Ernst Jentsch and what he believed the “uncanny” to be. Jentsch
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Stein is the author of a journal article titled The Holocaust, the Uncanny, and the Jewish Sense of History. Stein addresses the idea that the Holocaust was an uncanny event in history. He describes it as being familiar, secretive, and frightening. In his article, Stein argues that the qualities of uncanniness are found in this historical role of the Jews. Whenever the Holocaust is presented the Jews are the people who are seen as the victims of this horrific act of violence. However, Stein presents information that inform readers, Jews did not see themselves as victims. The idea of being seen as a victim was unfamiliar and uncanny to
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” (Elie Wiesel) The Holocaust is a topic that is still not forgotten and is used by many people, as a motivation, to try not to repeat history. Many lessons can be taught from learning about the Holocaust, but to Eve Bunting and Fred Gross there is one lesson that could have changed the result of this horrible event. The Terrible Things, by Eve Bunting, and The Child of the Holocaust, by Fred Gross, both portray the same moral meaning in their presentations but use different evidence and word choice to create an overall
Since the publication of, Night by Eliezer Wiesel, the holocaust has been deemed one of the darkest times in humanity, from the eradication of Jewish people to killing of innocents. Wiesel was one of the Jewish people to be in the holocaust and from his experience he gave us a memoir that manages to capture the dark side of human nature in the holocaust. He demonstrates the dark side of human nature through the cruelty the guards treat the Jews and how the Jews became cold hearted to each other. Wiesel uses foreshadowing and imagery, and metaphors to describe these events.
Authors sometimes refer to their past experiences to help cope with the exposure to these traumatic events. In his novel Night, Elie Wiesel recalls the devastating and horrendous events of the Holocaust, one of the world’s highest points for man’s inhumanity towards man, brutality, and cruel treatment, specifically towards the Jewish Religion. His account takes place from 1944-1945 in Germany while beginning at the height of the Holocaust and ending with the last years of World War II. The reader will discover through this novel that cruelty is exemplified all throughout Wiesel's, along with the other nine million Jews’, experiences in the inhumane concentration camps that are sometimes referred to as “death factories.”
Many different responses have occurred to readers after their perusal of this novel. Those that doubt the stories of the holocaust’s reality see Night as lies and propaganda designed to further the myth of the holocaust. Yet, for those people believing in the reality, the feelings proffered by the book are quite different. Many feel outrage at the extent of human maliciousness towards other humans. Others experience pity for the loss of family, friends, and self that is felt by the Holocaust victims.
The victims of the Holocaust lose sight of who they are during this time and begin to live their life by playing a part they believe they were because of their race. Loman discussed the irony behind the cat-and-mouse metaphor that Spiegelman uses in his graphic novel in his article titled “’Well Intended Liberal Slop’: Allegories of Race in Spiegelman’s Maus”. In his article he states,
“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed…“(Wiesel 32) Livia-Bitton Jackson wrote a novel based on her personal experience, I Have Lived a Thousand Years. Elli was a Holocaust victim and her only companion was her mother. Together they fought for hunger, mistreatment and more. By examining the themes carefully, the audience could comprehend how the author had a purpose when she wrote this novel. In addition, by seeing each theme, the audience could see what the author was attacking, and why. By illustrating a sense of the plight of millions of Holocaust victims, Livia-Bitton Jackson explores the powerful themes of one’s will to survive, faith, and racism.
According to Freud, "the uncanny is that class of the frightening which leads back to what is known of old and long familiar. (Freud 220) In other words, the uncanny can be expressed by "the distinction between imagination and reality is effaced" (Freud 244) and "an actual repression of some content thought and a return of this repressed content" (Freud 220). Moreover, he posits the uncanny moment as one in which two ostensibly opposing figures, elements, or definitions appear to coalesce, or in which one is mistaken for the other, revealing the fundamental instability of their distinction. (Alison 32) Besides, it involves the infantile complexes which was formerly repressed but are later revived and gen...
Sigmund Freud believed that he “occupies a special place in the history of psychoanalysis and marks a turning point, it was with it that analysis took the step from being a psychotherapeutic procedure to being in depth-psychology” (Jones). Psychoanalysis is a theory or therapy to decode the puzzle of neurotic disorders like hysteria. During the therapy sessions, the patients would talk about their dreams. Freud would analyze not only the manifest content (what the dreamer remembers) of the dreams, but the disguise that caused the repressions of the idea. During our dreams, the decision making part of personality’s defenses are lowered allowing some of the repressed material to become more aware in a distorted form. He distinguished between
The unconscious mind can be explained in various ways and can take on various attributes. Carl Jung the author of “The Archetype and the Collective Unconscious,” defines unconsciousness as the first reactions and interactions a person endeavors. Several Physicists believe that the unconscious mind acts separately from our voluntary thinking. Scientist believes that understanding the unconscious mind is key to determining what type of archetype a person may have or develop. Experiments such as, reaction to stimuli, have lead cognitive psychiatrist to determine the strength of the unaware and involuntary mind. In addition, many social physicists have also believed that the unconscious mind is unaware of it actions and that the unconscious part of our brain can sometimes be focused on several signs that our conscious self can’t see.
Freud developed his theory from interactions with his neurotic patients and his own psychological experiences. He classifies an obsessional neurotic is classified as one who if “aware of impulses in [himself] which appear very strange,” is “led to actions, the performance of which, give him no enjoyment, but which it is quite impossible for [him] to omit” (Freud Abstracts 2). In Frankenstein’s ...
Sigmund Freud is one of the most popular and credited scientists in the history of psychology. When Freud sought how to treat his patients, he discovered that there were some patients who had nothing physically wrong with them. Freud began to explore the possibility that these patients may be suffering from a mental rather than physical disorder and his lead to his discovery of the unconscious. Freud determined the unconscious was basin of thoughts, feelings, memories, and wishes that were mostly unacceptable. Other psychologists believe unconsciousness is merely information we process that we are unaware of. Part of exploring the unconscious was to analyze the dreams patients were having. Patients were able to relay the deepest parts of their minds be using free association. Free association is when a person relaxes completely and reacts however they want without feeling shame or embarrassment. It was through free association and freedom of expression that Freud was able to determine a patient’s personality. Per...
The aim of this essay is to clarify the basic principles of Freud’s theories and to raise the main issues.
Sigmund Freud was one of the most influential figure and authoritative thinker of the 20th century. He is the founder of the psychoanalytic theory which gained popularity among people at that time but was also subject to criticism. Although most people disagreed with Freud and his theory, some aspects of the psychoanalytic theory can be applied in our lives. Among these aspects is the castration anxiety. Castration anxiety is a boy’s fear of losing his genital. This fear occurs because the child thinks that his father will harm his genital organ as a punishment for having sexual desires for his mother. This essay will argue that castration anxiety is correlated with vision in “Leonardo da Vinci and a memory of his childhood” and in ‘The Uncanny”
Sigmund Freud has been heralded as one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century. He is renowned for his discoveries about the human mind, particularly dreams, fantasies, and the role of the unconscious. Even though many of his theories were (and are) viewed as controversial, his ideas revolutionized the way people think about themselves. The potency of his notions have permeated almost every discipline, including literature, art, and medicine. This paper will examine the life, the influences, and the impact of Sigmund Freud. It will begin by discussing who he is, his personal history, and then talk about his role in the development of psychoanalysis. Next it will discuss some of the individuals who greatly inspired Freud. Finally, it will move on to talk about some of those upon whom Freud was an influence.
Sigmund Freud is psychology’s most famous figure. He is also the most controversial and influential thinkers of the twentieth century. Freud’s work and theories helped to shape out views of childhood, memory, personality, sexuality, and therapy. Time Magazine referred to him as one of the most important thinkers of the last century. While his theories have been the subject of debate and controversy, his impact on culture, psychology, and therapy is cannot be denied.