Psychoanalytical Study of Novella “The Vegetarian”; Exploring the Transformation of Yeonge-hye’s from Neurosis to Psychosis

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the dream sequence of yeonge-hye in the novella “The Vegetarian” under the framework of psychoanalytical approach based on the “dream interpretation” work of Sigmund Freud. Language and human psyche are the significant medium of expression of human unconsciousness and dream interpretation. This study emphasises on elements within dream representation in form of past, unconscious imageries and personal past experience of the protagonist in the novella. The identity crisis of protagonist has been represented as transformation of her neurosis to psychosis as author’s childhood trauma representation. Dream is the effective key to uncover the human unconsciousness in psychoanalysis. By applying the Dream theory of Freud as analysis of manifested dream, latent content and dream work of the dream as well as identifies the stages of dream condensation, displacement, symbolization and secondary revision. This study will unfold that how dreams are used to reveal the unconscious mechanism of human being in which meanings are hidden in the imageries, symbols and metaphorical representation of the dream. This study will represent the inner world of the protagonist as an escape from reality and her transformation from neurosis to psychosis in form of dream sequences.