Freud and the Flies Essay

In the years preceding 1939, Sigmund Freud, who is considered the breed of analysis (Morgan 2), prep bed a summarized version of his theories of psychoanalysis in An epitome of Psychoanalysis. Freuds theory breaks the psyche (mental life) of an individual into three portions the id, the self-importance, and the superswelled head, each with its let distinct place (Freud 13). In William Goldings Lord of the Flies, the main characters pull in distinct personalities that clash with each other, much like the id and the superego. With some persuasion and interpretation, these characters can be applied to Freuds theories.The id is the oldest of the sections involved in psychoanalysis (Freud 14). It relies upon instincts to make decisions, and everything in the id is genetically inherited at birth (Freud 14). Goldings Jack in Lord of the Flies is close representative of the id, as he primarily relies upon hunting as a means of hookup food, and bands his followers together in a tribe which utilizes little intercourse and acts primarily upon impulse. He Jack tried to convey the compulsion to track wad and kill that was swallowing him up (Golding 51). Jack posses all the characteristics of the id he is violent, he resorts to indigenous instincts in many human faces, and he fails to utilize language effectively to sound his concerns and opinions.Read more What does simon represent in lord of the flies searchThe ego is the intermediary between the id, and the superego. The ids primary function is to make water a balance between the two extremes, with that balance being the most favorable for some(prenominal) pleasure and survival. in relation to the idthe ego decides whether they are allowed satisfaction, by postponing that satisfaction to times and circumstances favorable in the away world or by suppressing their excitations entirely (Freud 14-15). Ralph most definitely represents the ego, peculiarly with his regulation of the fire, allowing the boys to play (allowing satisfaction) when appropriate, but also to man the fire when it is indispensable to do so. Ralph makes decisions that balance out the holds of all the boys both the need for pleasure and the need to survive, fulfilling the role of the ego in the boys contained society.The superego is the third and last-place division of the mind of psychoanalysis.The superego is based upon experiences learned from freehandeds and other authoritative figures firearm one is growing up (Freud 15). These include doing what is right, what is supposed to be done, and, of course, future(a) the rules. While there are no adults on the island, adults in global represent civil and orderly society. Piggy, hindered by his disabilities, clings on to whatever remain of civil society throughout the duration of the novel.He is clearly separate when compared to the other boys he cannot participate in strenuous physical employment due to his asthma, he is overweight and moves slowly, and wit hout his glasses he is effectively blind. referable to this Piggy can be successful only when the other boys observe the conventional rules of civilized society. Piggy loves the conch and the order it represents he is almost the adult of the island, coming up with ideas to build huts, make fires, gather food, count boys, and look for the island, in order to insure peace and safety.When either the id (Jack) or the ego (Piggy) comes up with an idea (for example, say Piggy decides that the construction of huts is necessary) it is presented to the ego (Ralph). The ego weighs the idea against the instinctual demands of the id, and then determines whether or not the idea should proceed. The stage is come out for a conflict between the various elements of the psychical apparatus and reality, a conflict that, if not managed properly, gives rise to neuroses and ultimately psychosis. (Morgan 5) However, if one or both forces put alike much demand on the ego, it will block off to functi on properly, allowing the id to take control and the mind to descend into neurosis.Such was the case when Jack split from the group to form his own tribe. Ralph the ego wooly control of the id its strength was too much for him to bear and it took control of a good portion of the other boys. The superego, however, remained intact for a short while, until it too perished (in Piggys death). With the demise of the superego, the entire mind collapsed and society ceased to function altogether. Golding makes specific note of this with his vivid imagery his head opened and stuff came out and turned red. His splattered cranium represents the triumph of the id on the island. afterward Piggy is killed, the boys are akin to animals they are no longer governed by rational thought or moral standards. They burn the island in an take in charge to kill Ralph, failing to realize thatwithout rescue they themselves would die of starvation on barren, ashen ground.