Psychoanalytical Reading of Maupassant's Short Stories
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Department of English
Abstract
The present studyofMaupassant's short storiesdealswithcharacters' sexual
frustration, anxiety and fearwhicharetheoutput ofrepressed sexual desiresandtheir
consequences in the life of characters. Many characters are sexually unsatisfied and
they make sexual relation with many more lovers. Inhisshort stories the abnormal
behaviorse.g.anxiety, fixation, obsession, fear, sexual attempt and aggressionare
explicitly shown. Sexual domination of repression brings other symptoms.So most of
the characters are motivated by sexual impulses.The charactersindulgethemselves
only in the fulfillment of sexual desires. Characters are unhappy victimsof their
desires and all characters show the neurotic symptomsare shown bymental disorder
and other physical gesture.Theyare depressed and obsessed because of their own
sexual appetite and vain desire.Theyaretotally motivated by inner drive and
fragmented psyche is clearly shownandare totally overcome by hopelessness,
helplessnessandmotor retardation with the feeling of loss.
Many critics criticize Maupassant and his stories. They have viewed the
storiesfrom the naturalistic and realistic point of view. Very little study has been
made regarding psychosexual aspect of Maupassant's stories. So, this research makes
an attempt to look into his stories from the perspective of Freudian Psychoanalysis. So
this research draws the new sketch of short stories applying psychoanalytical
approach on the short stories of Guy de Maupassant.