Abstract

The present thesis attempts to study Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Hedda Gabler in terms of Adlerian theories of Psychoanalytic Feminism and Social Interest. This study defines the process of constructing a female framework; where women are producers of “textual meaning” including the psychodynamics of female creativity, linguistics and the problem of a female language. Adler declares the ways that the female individual interacts with her husband and others can conduct her toward individual gain or collective goals. In addition, women are deprived of some obvious rights, and the only remedy is to understand their social identity which brings them Life Style and Social Interest.  Additionally, Adler argues that such psychological force underlies human behavior, especially the dynamic relations between conscious motivation and unconscious motivation. Alfred Adler claims that there isa relation between masculinity and femininity which are crucial for understanding Individual Psychology. In A Doll’s House, the man is universally privileged because of his gender while the woman is suppressed, and Feeling of Inferiority is. It is believed that social law ties women to men forever. Love and sexual relations also proceed in the way men prefer. In Hedda Gabler Hedda, is a woman restricted by Victorian values and trapped in a loveless marriage with aboring man. Her only solace is manipulating others, which easily shows the definition of Social Interest in the drama. In sum, this study addresses a number of points in demonstrating the real position of woman in the society and their feeling about the society.

Keywords

Psychoanalytic Feminism, Social Interest, Life Style, Individual Psychology

Table of Content

Acknowledgments. iii

Abstract iv

Dedication. v

Chapter One: Introduction. 1

1.1.      General Overview.. 1

1.2.      Statement of the Problem.. 4

1.3.      Significance of the Study. 7

1.4.      Approach and Methodology. 9

1.5.      Review of Literature. 12

1.5.1.       Definition of Key Terms. 15

1.5.2.       Limitation/ Delimitation. 17

1.6.      Organization of the Study. 18

Chapter Two: Alfred Adler and His Theories in the Light of Feminism.. 20

2.1.  Introduction. 20

2.2.      Introduction to Adlerian Theory. 21

2.2.1.       Alfred Adler’s Biography. 22

2.2.2.       Individual Psychology. 24

2.2.3.       Social Interest 26

2.2.4.       Life Style. 31

2.2.5.       The Final Goal 33

2.2.6.       Fictional Finalism and Striving towards Superiority. 36

2.2.7.       Feeling of Inferiority and Inferiority Complex. 38

2.3.      Feminist psychology. 40

2.3.1. Feminist Jurisprudence. 41

2.3.2.       Masculine Protest 44

2.3.3.       Feminism and Disability. 45

2.4.      Concluding Remarks. 45

Chapter Three: Adlerian Psychoanalytic Feminism in A Doll’s House. 47

3.1.      Introduction. 47

3.2.      Individual Psychology in A Doll’s House. 48

3.2.1.       Social Interest in A Doll’s House. 54

3.2.2.       Life Style in A Doll’s House. 58

3.2.3.       The Final Goal in A Doll’s House. 61

3.2.4.       Feeling of Inferiority in A Doll’s House. 63

3.2.5.       Fictional Finalism and Striving towards Superiority in A Doll’s House. 65

3.3.      Feminist Psychology in A Doll’s House. 67

3.3.1.       Feminist Jurisprudence in A Doll’s House. 70

3.3.2.       Masculine Protest in A Doll’s House. 72

3.3.3.       Feminism and Disability in A Doll’s House. 74

3.4.      Concluding Remarks. 76

Chapter Four: Adlerian Psychoanalytic Feminism in HeddaGabler 78

4.1.      Introduction. 78

4.2.      Individual Psychology in Hedda Gabler 80

4.2.1.       Social Interest in Hedda Gabler 83

4.2.2.       Life Style in Hedda Gabler 87

4.2.3.       The Final Goal in HeddaGabler 90

4.2.4.       Feeling of Inferiority in Hedda Gabler 92

4.2.5.       Fictional Finalism and Striving Towards Superiority in Hedda Gabler 94

4.3.      Feminist Psychology in Hedda Gabler 96

4.3.1.       Feminist Jurisprudence in Hedda Gabler 99

4.3.2.       Masculine Protest in Hedda Gabler 100

4.3.3.       Feminism and Disability in Hedda Gabler 102

4.4.      Concluding Remarks. 104

Chapter Five: Conclusion. 105

5.1.      Summing Up. 105

5.2.      Findings and Implications. 107

5.3. Suggestions for Further Research. 110

Bibliography. 112

Chapter One: Introduction