As this term paper is mainly about the psychoanalysis, it is necessary to ask, how much Beckett knew about this explicit field of psychology. The concept of psychoanalysis, first established in the early 20th century, may for sure had particular influence on Beckett’s thoughts and plays as not only Footfalls contains ideas in it. Beckett himself attended a psychotherapist, after his father’s death in 1933. “He remained in therapy for two years with Wilfred R. Bion […] whose later writing on psychoanalytical theory are considered among the most eminent and original in the field.” The reason for his collapse may be found in his relationship to his mother whose “savage loving made him what he was”. Connor adds, that Beckett’s may have experienced the lost of his father “as a confirmation of the loss of his second father, Joyce, who had broken angrily with him after Beckett’s abortive affair with Lucia” , James Joyce’s daughter. The notes he made about psychoanalytical theories, when he was in therapy, had been discovered after his death, so it is very likely that he used some of them for his later plays.
Table of Contents
1. An introduction to Beckett’s psychoanalytical knowledge
2. Psychoanalytical elements in Beckett’s Footfalls
2. 1 An example of hysteria
2.1.1 May’s pacing as a result of a suppressed trauma
2.1.2 The longing for a proof of existence as a search for identity
2.2 May and the aspects of her ‘egos’
2.2.1 The mother-daughter relationship in detail
2.2.2 May, the id and her super ego
2.3 The search for salvation in the depth of a soul
2.3.1 A Freudian dream interpretation of ‘I heard you in my sleep’
2.3.2 ‘Walking up and down his poor arm’ and ‘Lacrosse’ as allusion to human suffering
3. Examples of how Beckett’s form and style intensifies a psychoanalytical approach
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper explores the integration of psychoanalytical and psychological theories within Samuel Beckett's play "Footfalls," specifically examining how the character May's behavior—such as her constant pacing and complex mother-daughter relationship—reflects symptoms of hysteria and the search for personal identity.
- Analysis of hysterical symptoms and dissociative disorders in May's character.
- Investigation of the mother-daughter relationship and the role of the "super ego."
- Exploration of Freudian and Jungian dream interpretations in the text.
- Examination of religious and symbolic allusions to human suffering and salvation.
- Evaluation of how minimalism in form and style emphasizes the play's psychological depth.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 May’s pacing as a result of a suppressed trauma
We do not know for sure, how much Beckett knew of hysteria, but as pointed out in the chapter before, we can assume that he was familiar with most of Freud’s works, especially the major ones. In the year 1895 Sigmund Freud and Josef Breuer published their book ‘Studies on Hysteria’ in which, several cases of traumatized patients were made public in order to prove Freud’s and Breuer’s therapy form which promised cure for the mentally disordered, from society despised human beings. Cases like the one of Bertha Pappenheim, rather known as Anna O., whose hysterical symptoms were resolved by revealing the suppressed trauma which she was hiding in the depth of her soul. Freud and Breuer pointed out, that most of the hysterical symptoms had its origin from a trauma, which the patient got in contact with. Not any trauma, but one of such a strength like the imagination that one’s life may end the very next moment or that one’s existence may be endangered from now on. According to Breuer, even harmless experiences can lead to trauma sequelae when the person’s condition was that of a hypnotic one – a specific psychological condition.10 Those traumas are the very reason for the following hysterical symptoms and can only be cured, if the psychoanalysis traces back those symptoms to the shocking, traumatic event. Different to his colleague, Freud was
Summary of Chapters
1. An introduction to Beckett’s psychoanalytical knowledge: This chapter investigates Beckett's familiarity with psychoanalytical concepts and his personal experiences with therapy, establishing the foundation for the analysis of his later works.
2. Psychoanalytical elements in Beckett’s Footfalls: This chapter examines the specific psychoanalytical motifs present in the play, focusing on hysterical symptoms, identity formation, and the psychological impact of the mother-daughter dynamic.
3. Examples of how Beckett’s form and style intensifies a psychoanalytical approach: This section evaluates how the minimalist setting, repetitive dialogue, and structural elements of the play serve to deepen the psychological themes and symptoms displayed by the protagonist.
4. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, suggesting that while Beckett possessed significant knowledge of psychology, the play remains a deeply personal and open-ended work that utilizes psychoanalytical frameworks to address universal themes of suffering and isolation.
5. Bibliography: This section provides a comprehensive list of the academic sources, literary works, and research papers referenced throughout the analysis.
Keywords
Samuel Beckett, Footfalls, psychoanalysis, hysteria, Sigmund Freud, Carl G. Jung, dissociative identity disorder, trauma, identity, mother-daughter relationship, super ego, minimalism, suffering, symbolism, psychology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper primarily explores a psychoanalytical interpretation of Samuel Beckett’s play "Footfalls," analyzing characters and themes through the lens of psychological theories, specifically those of Freud and Jung.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The central themes include hysteria, dissociative disorders, the development of the "super ego," maternal influence, the quest for identity, and the use of religious symbolism to express human suffering.
What is the research objective of the study?
The research aims to demonstrate how Beckett utilized his knowledge of psychoanalytical and psychological theories to construct the behavioral patterns and minimalist structure of "Footfalls."
Which scientific methods are applied in the paper?
The author applies literary analysis combined with psychoanalytical and psychological methodology, utilizing concepts from Freud's "Studies on Hysteria" and "Dream Interpretation," as well as Jungian thought and behavioral theories.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body treats May’s hysterical symptoms, the mother-daughter relationship, the "Drei-Instanzen-Modell" (ego/id/super ego), the significance of the play's minimalistic stage direction, and the interpretation of symbolic imagery like the cross and infinity.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Samuel Beckett, Footfalls, psychoanalysis, hysteria, Freud, Jung, dissociative identity disorder, trauma, and identity.
How does the author interpret May's constant pacing?
The author interprets the pacing as a symptom of hysteria linked to suppressed trauma and as an expression of a "pendular" struggle between the conscious and unconscious mind, eventually representing the mathematical symbol for infinity.
Is the mother's voice a separate character?
The paper suggests that the mother’s voice can be interpreted as either a distinct character, a projection, or an aspect of May’s internal "super ego," reflecting May's inability to achieve independence.
What is the significance of the "Lacrosse" allusion?
The allusion to lacrosse serves as a pun related to the "cross," further linking May's personal suffering and the claustrophobic home environment to the wider symbolic suffering of Christ.
- Quote paper
- Alexander Häuser (Author), 2011, Towards a psychoanalytical interpretation of "Footfalls" (Samuel Beckett), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/190015
