The world of psychology has been greatly affected by the theories and work of Sigmund Freud. Since his death in the late 1930s, Freud has become a household name when questions of human behavior arise. By applying his ideas to literature it is possible to understand the true motives that propel characters in a work. The exertion of Freudian theories over Charles Frazier’s novel Cold Mountain produces a new understanding of the characters. Freud’s theories provide a way to decipher the minds of characters to better comprehend what motivates them and what values they hold deep down. In looking into Frazier’s characters’ minds with the help of Freud’s ideology regarding the human psyche, much can be learned about the true face of them. Throughout
…show more content…
The mediator, the ego. Developing around the same time as the superego, the ego forms as a child realizes that others have the same needs and feelings as itself. Inman’s ego plays a large role in his life. During his time travelling home, it is reasonably pushed and pulled by the id and superego. By suppressing the id’s urges at the right times based on what the superego understands and equally letting the id out when it is necessary, Inman’s ego makes certain that he responds properly to whatever he encounters. When Inman witnesses a soldier putting wounded enemies to death with a hammer, he simply remarks that “he might have been shot, had one of the fine-minded officers caught him…” (Frazier, 14) He recognizes the wrong, but is not inclined to stop the man. This reaction is a prime example of the ego’s work. It can be seen that Inman is cognizant of the foul play at hand as he refers to an officer that would punish the man as fine-minded. This is a demonstration of his superego at work. Though doing it’s job, the superego’s ability to control Inman is stunted by the ego’s decision to allow the id’s natural attraction towards violence to prevent him from stopping the man himself. To kill or not to kill is the question Inman’s ego must face many times. Regularly making the right decision with good justification. As with Junior, his id prevails and is allowed to carry out its violent desires (Frazier, 234). Other character’s psyche are not as intact as Inman’s though. One character that is nearly a foil to our main character shows what the possible stunted development of a child can result in, regarding the id, ego, and
The mediator, the ego. Developing around the same time as the superego, the ego forms as a child realizes that others have the same needs and feelings as itself. Inman’s ego plays a large role in his life. During his time travelling home, it is reasonably pushed and pulled by the id and superego. By suppressing the id’s urges at the right times based on what the superego understands and equally letting the id out when it is necessary, Inman’s ego makes certain that he responds properly to whatever he encounters. When Inman witnesses a soldier putting wounded enemies to death with a hammer, he simply remarks that “he might have been shot, had one of the fine-minded officers caught him…” (Frazier, 14) He recognizes the wrong, but is not inclined to stop the man. This reaction is a prime example of the ego’s work. It can be seen that Inman is cognizant of the foul play at hand as he refers to an officer that would punish the man as fine-minded. This is a demonstration of his superego at work. Though doing it’s job, the superego’s ability to control Inman is stunted by the ego’s decision to allow the id’s natural attraction towards violence to prevent him from stopping the man himself. To kill or not to kill is the question Inman’s ego must face many times. Regularly making the right decision with good justification. As with Junior, his id prevails and is allowed to carry out its violent desires (Frazier, 234). Other character’s psyche are not as intact as Inman’s though. One character that is nearly a foil to our main character shows what the possible stunted development of a child can result in, regarding the id, ego, and