Etymology of Subconscious
The term “subconscious” originates from the Latin words “sub,” meaning “under,” and “conscius,” meaning “conscious.”
It was first introduced in English in the mid-19th century and refers to mental processes and content occurring below the threshold of conscious awareness, implying a realm of thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that influence behavior without conscious recognition.
Meanings of Subconscious
| Meanings of Subconscious |
| Literal Meanings |
| – Mental Processes Below Awareness: It refers to the part of the mind where mental processes, such as thoughts, feelings, and memories, occur without conscious awareness. It denotes the realm of the mind that operates beneath the surface of conscious thought. |
| – Automatic Responses: In a literal sense, it represents automatic or involuntary responses, such as reflexes or habits, that occur without conscious control or deliberation. |
| Literary Meanings |
| – Symbolism and Allegory: In literature, the term is often employed to explore the inner workings of a character’s mind and emotions. It can be used as a literary device to convey deeper psychological and emotional states, offering insights into a character’s hidden motives or desires. |
| – Dream Analysis: Literature frequently delves into it through dream sequences and interpretations. Dreams in literary works are a common means of revealing characters’ hidden fears, desires, and unresolved conflicts, adding depth to the narrative. |
| – Surrealism and Absurdism: Literary movements like surrealism and absurdism use the subconscious as a source of inspiration, creating narratives that challenge rationality and explore the absurd, dreamlike, and irrational aspects of human existence. |
| – Psychological Exploration: In psychological literature and fiction, the subconscious is a central theme, where characters and authors grapple with the complexities of the human mind. It allows for the exploration of repressed memories, inner conflicts, and the interplay of conscious and unconscious thoughts. |
Definition of Subconscious as a Theoretical Term
The term “subconscious” serves as a theoretical concept in psychology and cognitive science, referring to mental processes and content that occur below the threshold of conscious awareness.
It encompasses thoughts, emotions, memories, and automatic responses that influence behavior without the individual’s explicit recognition.
It is a crucial element in understanding human cognition and the complexities of the mind, often explored through techniques like dream analysis, introspection, and psychoanalysis.
Subconscious: Theorists, Works and Arguments
The concept of the subconscious has been influential in the fields of psychology, literature, and philosophy. Here are notable theorists, works, and arguments related to the subconscious:
Theorists:
- Sigmund Freud: Freud is renowned for his pioneering work in psychoanalysis, emphasizing the role of the subconscious mind in shaping human behavior. His theories, including the division of the mind into the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious, have had a profound impact on psychology and literature.
- Carl Jung: Jung extended Freud’s ideas and introduced the concept of the collective unconscious, suggesting that a shared reservoir of experiences and symbols exists in the human psyche, influencing individual behavior and creativity.
Works:
- The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud: In this seminal work, Freud delves into dream analysis as a means of accessing the subconscious. He argues that dreams serve as a gateway to the hidden realms of the mind, revealing repressed desires, fears, and unresolved conflicts.
- Psychology and Alchemy by Carl Jung: Jung’s exploration of alchemical symbolism and its connection to the subconscious is a significant work. He argues that symbols and archetypes in the collective unconscious play a vital role in human psychology and creativity.
Arguments:
- Role in Psychological Healing: Both Freud and Jung argued that understanding the subconscious is crucial for psychological healing. By uncovering repressed memories and emotions, individuals can confront and resolve inner conflicts, leading to better mental health.
- Influence on Creative Expression: The subconscious has a profound influence on artistic and literary creation. Many artists and writers, such as the Surrealists, have drawn upon the imagery and symbolism of the subconscious to explore the depths of human experience and creativity.
- Repression and Unconscious Motivation: The theorists have argued that much of human behavior is driven by subconscious desires and motives that individuals may not consciously recognize. These repressed elements can lead to neuroses and affect decision-making.
The exploration of the subconscious has opened new avenues for understanding human cognition, creative expression, and mental health, with Freud and Jung being central figures in shaping these discussions.
Subconscious and Literary Theories
- Psychoanalytic Literary Theory (Freudian Analysis): Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, particularly the idea of the subconscious, has had a profound impact on literary criticism. Freud’s work on the unconscious mind, dreams, and repressed desires is frequently used to analyze characters, symbolism, and the hidden motivations in literary works. For example, analyzing the motivations and conflicts of characters in a novel through the lens of Freudian concepts like the id, ego, and superego.
- Surrealism: Surrealism, an artistic and literary movement, embraced the idea of the subconscious as a source of creativity and insight. Writers associated with surrealism, such as André Breton, explored the dreamlike, irrational, and imaginative aspects of the human psyche in their works. Surrealist literature often blurs the line between reality and dreams, delving into the hidden recesses of the mind.
- Stream of Consciousness: Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique that attempts to represent the continuous flow of thoughts and sensations in a character’s mind. This technique often reveals the character’s subconscious thoughts and associations. Writers like James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner employed this method to delve into the inner workings of their characters’ minds.
- Archetypal Criticism: Archetypal criticism, associated with the work of Carl Jung, explores universal symbols and patterns in literature. Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious, which contains universal human experiences and symbols, is relevant here. Archetypal critics examine how characters, motifs, and narratives in literature may tap into these archetypal elements residing in the collective unconscious.
- New Criticism: While New Criticism primarily focuses on the text itself, it is not entirely divorced from the idea of the subconscious. New Critics consider the ambiguity and multiple interpretations inherent in literary texts, acknowledging that the author’s subconscious and unintended meanings may influence the work.
- Postmodernism: Postmodern literature often blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, conscious and subconscious thought. Authors like Italo Calvino, Jorge Luis Borges, and Salman Rushdie play with metafiction, intertextuality, and unreliable narration, suggesting that the subconscious influences the construction of narrative and reality.
- Feminist Literary Theory: Feminist theorists have explored the impact of societal conditioning on the female subconscious. They examine how patriarchal norms and expectations are internalized in female characters and how women’s repressed desires and emotions are represented in literature.
Subconscious in Literary Criticism
| Work | Critique |
| Crime and Punishment | – Subconscious Exploration: Dostoevsky’s novel is a masterful exploration of the human psyche, particularly this concept. The protagonist, Raskolnikov, grapples with his subconscious desire to prove his “extraordinary” nature by committing murder. Throughout the novel, his internal conflict and guilt reveal the inner workings of the human subconscious. – Critique: Dostoevsky’s depiction of Raskolnikov’s turmoil offers a deep psychological analysis of a character’s inner life. The novel highlights the moral and ethical dimensions of the subconscious, making it a rich ground for psychoanalytic interpretation. |
| The Catcher in the Rye | – Subconscious Alienation: The novel’s protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is often seen as a symbol of adolescent alienation. His first-person narrative allows readers to witness his stream of consciousness, revealing his subconscious feelings of disconnection and disillusionment with the adult world. – Critique: Salinger’s use of the stream of consciousness technique provides insight into th thoughts of an adolescent on the brink of adulthood. Analyzing Holden’s subconscious desires and fears enriches our understanding of his character and the novel’s themes. |
| The Great Gatsby | – Subconscious Pursuit of the American Dream: In this novel, the characters are driven by subconscious desires and ambitions. Jay Gatsby’s unrequited love for Daisy Buchanan and his relentless pursuit of the American Dream are rooted in the subconscious yearning for social acceptance and love. – Critique: Fitzgerald’s exploration of the subconscious desires of the characters sheds light on the themes of wealth, identity, and the illusion of the American Dream. The subconscious motivations of the characters add depth to the novel’s critique of the Jazz Age society. |
| One Hundred Years of Solitude | – Subconscious Symbolism and Magical Realism: Márquez’s novel is rich in magical realism and symbolism, often representing the collective subconscious of the Buendía family and the town of Macondo. The novel’s narrative blends the conscious and subconscious to create a dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere. – Critique: By incorporating elements of the subconscious into the narrative, Márquez invites readers to explore the blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy. The novel’s dreamlike quality allows for a deeper analysis of the characters‘ emotional and psychological experiences. |
Relevant Terms of Subconscious
- Subconscious Mind: The part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are not currently in conscious awareness but can influence a character’s behavior and motivations.
- Psychoanalysis: A method of literary analysis that explores its elements of a character’s psyche, often drawing on the theories of Sigmund Freud to understand their hidden desires and conflicts.
- Repression: The psychological mechanism by which unpleasant memories or thoughts are pushed into the subconscious to protect the conscious mind from distress.
- Dream Symbolism: The interpretation of symbols and imagery in a character’s dreams to gain insight into their such desires, fears, or unresolved issues.
- Freudian Slip: A verbal mistake or lapse that reveals an unconscious thought, desire, or intention, often used in literature to highlight hidden motivations.
- Id, Ego, Superego: Freud’s model of the human psyche, with the id representing primal desires, the ego managing conscious reality, and the superego enforcing moral and social values.
- Subtext: Unspoken or implicit meanings in a literary work that hint at deeper emotions, desires, or motivations lying beneath the surface of the text.
- Stream of Consciousness: A narrative technique that presents a character’s thoughts and feelings as they occur in real-time, often revealing their subconscious musings and associations.
- Jungian Archetypes: Universal symbols, characters, or themes in literature that tap into the collective unconscious, as proposed by Carl Jung, to evoke deep and shared human experiences.
- Catharsis: A release of pent-up emotions, often triggered by the revelation of subconscious truths, providing emotional relief for both characters and readers in a literary work.
Suggested Readings
- Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams. Translated by James Strachey, Basic Books, 2010.
- Irwin, W. R. The Game of the Impossible: A Rhetoric of Fantasy. University of Illinois Press, 1984.
- Jung, Carl Gustav. Man and His Symbols. Dell, 1964.
- Kristeva, Julia. The Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection. Translated by Leon S. Roudiez, Columbia University Press, 1982.
- Rank, Otto. The Double: A Psychoanalytic Study. Translated by Harry Tucker Jr., The University of North Carolina Press, 1971.
- Thompson, John B. Shadows of the New Sun: Wolfe on Writing, Writers on Wolfe. Liverpool University Press, 2007.
- Zizek, Slavoj. The Sublime Object of Ideology. Verso, 1989.