Md Mehedi Hasan

Department of English Language and Literature, North Western University, Khulna-9000, Bangladesh

DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i9-14

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ABSTRACT

This research employs psychoanalytic methods to explore themes of decadence and crisis in Ted Hughes’ “Relic” and T.S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men”. Drawing from Freudian and Jungian theories, it delves into the psychological aspects to reveal expressions of the despair of modernity. The paper illustrates underlying psychological decay within the poems, examining subconscious motives, suppressed desires, and conflicts. Through this exploration, intricate psychological states contributing to perceptions of crisis come to light. Highlighting these literary pieces as reflections of contemporary turmoil, the poems expose the erosion of both individual and collective identities. By using the lens of psychoanalysis, a deeper understanding of the interplay between the human psyche and society emerges, offering insights into the profound implications of modern decadence and crisis. Ultimately, the application of psychoanalysis enriches comprehension of the connections between psychological intricacies and societal disintegration, shedding light on the significance of the poets’ selected works.

KEYWORDS

Crisis, decadence, fragmentation, hollow men, “Relic”, Psychoanalysis, Ted Hughes, T.S. Eliot, and twentieth century

REFERENCES

1) Eliot, T. S. (1925). The hollow men. In M. H. Abrams (Ed.), The Norton Anthology of English Literature (7th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 2383-2386). W. W. Norton.

2) Freud, S. (1900). The interpretation of dreams. York University. https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Freud/Dreams/dreams.pdf

3) Freud, S. (1915). The unconscious. General Psychological Theory: Papers on Metapsychology. pp. 116-150. Collier Books.https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Freud_Unconscious.pdf

4) Freud, S. (1933). New introductory lectures on psycho-analysis. Internet Archive. Pdf.

5) Hasan, M. (2019). A thematic investigation into T. S. Eliot’s “The hollow men:” with reference to textual approach. Critical Literary Studies, 1(2), pp.159-184. doi: 10.34785/J014.2019.680

6) Hughes, T. (1960). Relic. In M. H. Abrams (Ed.), The Norton Anthology of English Literature (7th ed., Vol. 2, p. 2588). W. W. Norton.

7) Jung, C. G. (1968). Analytical psychology: its theory and practice. Academia. https://www.academia.edu/4977212/Analytical_Psychology_The_Theory_of_Carl_Jung

8) Khanna, M. & Patel, R. (2022). Moral predicament in T. S. Eliot’s “The hollow men” and “The waste land”. Research Journal of English, 7(1). pp. 7-15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357621278_Moral_Predicament_in_T_S_Eliot's_The_Hollow_Men_and_The_Waste_Land

9) Sharma, L. R. (2021). Men’s spiritual vacuity and inefficacy in Eliot’s poem “The hollow men”. Shanlax International Journal of English, 10(1), pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.34293/english.v10i1.4252

10) 10. Shelburne, W. A. (1976). C. G. Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious: a rational reconstruction. University of Florida. https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/09/81/33/00001/cgjungstheoryofc00shel.pdf

Volume 06 Issue 09 September 2023