A Comparative Analysis of the Characters Heathcliff and Edgar Linton through Reaction Formation Mechanism

Abstract

Many authors including Anna Freud have studied Defense Mechanisms, brought up by Sigmund Freud, and many papers have been written on them. There are approximately 30 defense mechanisms. One of the most notable one is Reaction Formation. This mechanism conveys some other structures such as repression and denial. Defense mechanisms, which can be considered an indispensable part of human structure, can also be seen in the characters in many literary works. These characters, which also carry parts of the authors themselves, are literally reflections of the readers. In particular, it is possible to observe intense personality disorders and defense mechanisms in the characters of Emily Bronte, who is claimed to have had some psychological problems. Wuthering Heights, Bronte’s first and only novel, is a kind of bridge between psychology and literature because of its characters. Heathcliff and Edgar Linton, the characters of gothic novel, are vivid examples of the Reaction Formation mechanism. This study aims to compare the characters, Heathcliff and Edgar Linton, and to reveal the effects of the mechanism on mentioned individuals. An introductory information about defense mechanisms was given, then Reaction formation was examined in detail, and the points of reconciliation with the characters of Heathcliff and Edgar Linton were discussed. As a result of the comparisons, it was determined that it emerged in both characters in different ways.