Dysfunctional martial relationship in Edward Albee\'s plays: a psychoanalytic analysis

<p>The aim of this study was to investigate dysfunctional marital relationships in Edward</p><p>Albee's plays using psychoanalytic analysis. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Ballad of The Sad</p><p>Caf, A Delicate Ba...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rakhees, Arafat Abdali
Format: thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2020
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Online Access:https://ir.upsi.edu.my/detailsg.php?det=7316
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Summary:<p>The aim of this study was to investigate dysfunctional marital relationships in Edward</p><p>Albee's plays using psychoanalytic analysis. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Ballad of The Sad</p><p>Caf, A Delicate Balance and The Goat, or Who IS Sylvia? were Albee's plays that were selected for</p><p>this study. A Freudian psychoanalytic theory of personality was used to examine the psyches of the</p><p>couples' characters in order to reveal the psychological reasons behind their dysfunctional marital</p><p>relationships. The findings of the study exposed that each one of married couples has undergone</p><p>traumatic experiences in the past, a matter which affected their personalities. The spouses</p><p>suffered from turbulent childhood, intrapsychic conflicts, unresolved complexes, and sexual</p><p>deviations. Consequently, most of them were dominated by the id and have weak superegos. Besides,</p><p>the study uncovered the connection between Albee's personal life and the selected plays, and showed</p><p>his attitudes towards the lifestyle of the American society. The study revealed that the selected</p><p>plays were flashbacks that revisit Albee's own pains, wounds and traumas. The playwright sublimated</p><p>his distress into writing where he expressed his sad memories, repressed desires, wishes and</p><p>disclosed his psyche. Further, the study displayed that Albee was discontent with the American</p><p>civilized society where the very concept of love has been distorted and corrupted. In conclusion,</p><p>the Freudian psychoanalytic reading of husband/wife characters in Albee's selected plays can help</p><p>to understand the psychological dimensions of human personality and make the reader aware of the</p><p>unconscious psychological forces which control people's psyches, leading to their perverse</p><p>behaviours and unacceptable actions. The study implicates that introducing Albees plays as case</p><p>studies would assist therapists and psychoanalysts in diagnosing and treating married couples who</p><p>are emotionally disturbed or psychologically</p><p>troubled.</p><p></p>