The Freudian concept : Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939 ) , an Austrian psychoanalyst, studied the human mind minutely, researched many finer aspect of human psyche and developed a theory which is directly or indirectly related to the unconscious mind of human beings and its nature. Freud identified three components of human mind : the 'id', the 'ego' and the 'super ego'. Let us discuss about the different level of human psyche.
What is the 'id' of human psyche ? 'id' is , Freud says, a part of human psyche which is predominantly unconscious and irrational level of the mind.This level is passionate and unknown. 'id' may be said the innate instinctive impulse. The 'ego' , on the other hand, is conscious and rational level of mind. It is predominantly logical and orderly.The part of human psyche which internalizes the norms and mores of society is called, according to Freud, the 'super ego'. The 'ego' is in the middle position of the 'id' and the 'super ego'. The social norms and mores are the external elements as they are the factors of outside the self. Our moral judgement or the in-built self-check mechanism guides us and tells us to make sacrifice even at the cost of our interest. The 'super ego' functions as our moral guardian.
Sigmund Freud says about the "repressed wishes and fears" of human mind which are pushed under the surface of the mind by the 'super ego' and further pushed by the 'ego' to the unconscious level or the realm of the 'id' where the repressed emotions lay dormant.
Dream is the manifestation of these repressions.
Freudian complication in "The Kite" : In the introductory part of the story the writer Sommerset Maugham says : " Of course the first thing that occurs to me is that there is something Freudian about it". The strange obstinacy of Herbert,the protagonist of the story, is meant here. Herbert has absolutely refused to pay alimony to his wife as she has broken his kite. He is such a hard nut to crack that he would rather "stay in jail all his life rather than pay her a penny". The matter of 'repressed desires' in the mind of Herbert comes here. The kite may be regarded as an unimportant thing by the ordinary people. But in the mind of Herbert it is not merely a flying aid, the kite has become a thing of paramount importance to him. Actually the kite-flying has become a passion to Herbert. It is not merely a game, not a means of entertainment to him. The kite and kite-flying have pervaded all of his mind and for it he thinks and plans about this thing the whole day long.When the kite is seen soaring towards the cloud, he may gain a sense of power from it. In writer's word : "It may be that in some queer way he identifies himself with the kite-flying so free and so high above him." From the movements of the kite Herbert feels a sense of escape from the monotony of his life. He finds freedom in kite-flying, he enjoys adventure in it. All these thinking are not exposed , these lay 'repressed' in his mind. These 'repressed desires' conforms with the 'Freudian concept' which inspires one for the psychoanalytical study of this essay, "The Kite".
The domestic rue separates Herbert from his mother and he takes a rented house to start a new life with his wife Betty Baven . Is that a separation in the true sense of the term? Of course not. He leaves his house and parents physically but his mind says another thing which is proved within few days when he starts coming to the Common , not as a kite-flyer but as merely viewer. At least two strong desires go with Herbert repressed in his mind. These are his unalloyed love for his parents, particularly for his mother Mrs. Sunbury and the unquestionable attraction for kite-flying. The element namely 'super ego' compels him to obey the societal norms and mores and his moral judgement instructs him to keep arms length from his mother , though he has to tolerate the mental torture which he feels well.
According to Freud the 'super ego' pushes the 'repressed wishes or desires' under the surface of the mind and this region is known as the 'ego' level which is conscious,rational, orderly and logical level. The 'ego' further pushes the 'repressed desire' to the unconscious and irrational level of mind known as the 'id' level where it waits dormant to be prominent as a dream in future date. Here in the case of Herbert the 'suppressed desires' is not pushed to the 'id' level, it takes a halt in the 'ego' level . As this a conscious and rational level of mind the matter of suppression gradually recedes and a reconciliation between Herbert and his mother Mrs. Sunbury become possible after a short gap of time.
Labels : Short Story
