Morality over Pleasure Principle: A Psychological Study of Biblical Character Samson and Senior Pazhuvettaraiyar in Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan

Abstract

In this article, the researcher endeavours to compare and critique the characters of Biblical Character Samson and Senior Pazhuvettaraiyar from Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan in the light of Sigmund Freud’s three components of mind- Id, Ego and Super-ego. By applying the psychoanalytic theory, the present study brings out the internal conflicts in the select characters. This article primarily focuses on a) witnessing both of the character’s behavioural responses, such as changes in attitudes, actions in life events, pursuit of love, which has been taken for psychological investigation, b) analysing the morality over pleasure principle, which makes the characters significant in the readers' minds. The present study has hypothesized how the instinctual drive of 'Id' becomes the major cause of Senior’s suicide in an open court. It also investigated how the life and death drives of the Id function in Samson’s suicide are discussed. The character investigation in the above backdrop will bring a different aspect to appreciate Kalki's masterpiece by attaining ‘Catharsis’ in readers' minds. The scope of this study is to understand the interchanging of the masks of each character, representative of the interactions of the different personality levels, that provides the reader with insight into who each character truly is. This psychological approach will help the reader identify each individual's personality by their actions.