Obsession In Nancy Pickard's The Dead Past

A Family Affair: Obsession in “The Dead Past” “Indeed, like a ghost that was afraid to materialize, she hesitated, her head down, eyes averted” (Pickard). In the exposition of her short story “The Dead Past,” Nancy Pickard introduces the deeply-troubled character Elizabeth Ouvray. Disturbed by the traumatic events of her past, Elizabeth seeks the help of renowned psychologist Paul Laner. Used to conventional psychology, Paul finds himself at his wits end and resorts to hypnotism to uncover the demons in his client’s past, inadvertently unveiling the ones that haunt him as well. During their meetings, Paul’s obsessive behavior grows increasingly pronounced as he delves into the mysteries of Elizabeth’s past, unveiling the twisted relationships that join the two of them. With the phantoms of her childhood keeping her from functioning as a productive member of society, Elizabeth trusts Paul to aide her, and during their meetings, they establish a repore. In their first meeting, Elizabeth tells Paul that she is afraid of everything; undeterred, Paul foresees “a long and difficult therapy” (Pickard). His weekly meetings with Elizabeth reveal her uncontrollable fear and how it pervades every aspect of her rapidly-disintegrating life. As their sessions continue, and conventional therapy fails, Paul laments “the loss of her remarkable beauty, at her …show more content…
As he continues meeting with Elizabeth, Paul exhibits obsessive behaviour, much to the consternation of his wife and colleagues. In the climax of Nancy Pickard’s short story “The Dead Past,” Elizabeth murders her father, Paul, using the same method as he had used against her mother, Susan Naylor. The thought provoking climax and resolution serve as a method by which a young woman obtained justice in a place where the law had distinctly failed and laid the ghosts of her past to