2.2.2
Psychoanalytic Approach
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Psychoanalytic Approach to The Great Gatsby
Psychoanalysis is a discipline developed by the famous neurologist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).
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Psychoanalysis
- In summary, it is the idea that the way we behave as humans is largely driven by unconscious desires. So a psychoanalytic approach to The Great Gatsby would focus on the unconscious desires of the characters.
Gatsby
- Gatsby's unconscious desire is to be with Daisy but he knows that in reality, this may not work out for the good.
Tom Buchanan
- Tom's unconscious desire is perhaps to be with Myrtle. But eventually, he is forced to accept reality (for the sake of Pammy) and so stays with Daisy.
George Wilson
- George Wilson is aware of the effect Tom has on him but seems unable to do anything about him.
- He appears to have lost sense of what is important.
Daisy Buchanan
- Unconsciously, Daisy appears to want to be with Gatsby, but she feels he is too criminalised to be a true partner. For this reason, she sticks with Tom.
Myrtle Wilson
- Myrtle Wilson's marriage to George has broken down so she thinks she wishes to be with Tom.
1Specification Overview
1.1Specification Overview
2Context
3Plot Summary
3.1Chapter One
3.2Chapter Two
3.3Chapter Three
3.4Chapter Four
3.6Chapter Six
3.7Chapter Seven
3.8Chapter Eight
4Character Profiles
4.3Daisy Buchanan
4.5Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
6.1Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice
7Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis
7.1Love Through the Ages
Jump to other topics
1Specification Overview
1.1Specification Overview
2Context
3Plot Summary
3.1Chapter One
3.2Chapter Two
3.3Chapter Three
3.4Chapter Four
3.6Chapter Six
3.7Chapter Seven
3.8Chapter Eight
4Character Profiles
4.3Daisy Buchanan
4.5Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
6.1Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice
7Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis
7.1Love Through the Ages
Practice questions on Psychoanalytic Approach
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Who developed psychoanalysis?Multiple choice
- 2Whose unconscious desire is to be with Daisy?Multiple choice
- 3Whose unconscious desire is to be with Myrtle?Multiple choice
- 4Whose unconscious desire is to be with Gatsby?Multiple choice
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