Approaching Hysteria and Abjection through Freudian Reading of Toni Morrison’s Paradise

Maha Yasir Abed,Lajiman Bin Janoory

doi:10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.7n.6p.153

Abstract

This paper examines the representation of hysteria in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. The study will mainly focus on the psychological traits of the female protagonists. Such traits provide amble instance of the influence of hysteria on the protagonists’ conscious behavior. For this reason, the primary conceptual formwork will be psychoanalysis. Accordingly, Sigmund Freud’s concept of hysteria will be applied to interpret the hysteric symptoms which result from harmful sexual experiences like rape, molestation and violation in a male dominated society. In this regard, the protagonist’s suffering from hysteric symptoms, like fear, silence, nightmare, and many other symptoms are going to be scrutinized in order to identify the influence of hysteria on the protagonist’s reaction. Freud asserts that sexual experience or molestation that occur within childhood is the main source of hysteria which appear later. Thus, this paper will illustrate the causes that lead the protagonist to be hysteric from Freudian perspective and emergence of self- actualization to gain subjectivity and independence.

Highlights

In Freud A-Z, Heller (2005) traces the evolution of the concept of hysteria in the science of psychoanalysis
This paper examines the representation of hysteria in Toni Morrison’s Paradise
Freud stresses many times that sexuality is central to the problem of psychoneurosis and of the neuroses in general, and this is exactly like the case of Seneca, the heroine of Paradise, her hysteria is awakened by two major events that has already traumatized her: the memory of her sister’s abandonment and its influences on her which will be discussed in detail later, and the acts of molestation she was exposed throughout her childhood and adulthood

Summary

Introduction

In Freud A-Z, Heller (2005) traces the evolution of the concept of hysteria in the science of psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud’s concept of hysteria will be applied to interpret the hysteric symptoms which result from harmful sexual experiences like rape, molestation and violation in a male dominated society.

Results

Conclusion