Unconscious Motivation in Literature & Literary Theory

Concept of Unconscious Motivation

The concept of unconscious motivation, rooted in psychological and psychoanalytic theories, posits that various human behaviors and actions are driven by emotional factors such as desires, needs, and impulses that operate below the level of conscious awareness.

Pioneered by Sigmund Freud, this notion suggests that individuals are often unaware of the underlying psychological forces influencing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Unconscious motivations may stem from repressed memories, unresolved conflicts, or innate instincts. They manifest in various ways, impacting decision-making, interpersonal relationships, and personal development.

The exploration of unconscious motivation is integral to understanding human behavior. It frequently appears in fields such as psychology, psychiatry, and literary analysis to explore the deeper, often hidden, layers of human experience and expression.

Meanings of Unconscious Motivation

Aspect	Meanings
Psychological Underpinnings	Hidden psychological forces shaping character behavior.
Subtext and Symbolism	Analysis of symbols and metaphors for hidden motivations.
Freudian and Jungian Analysis	Use of psychoanalytic frameworks to explore character psychology.
Conflict and Resolution	Role of unconscious conflicts in driving plot and character development.
Narrative Ambiguity	Creation of narrative ambiguity for readers to decipher hidden intentions.
Interplay with Themes	Connection between unconscious motivations and broader thematic elements.
Reader Engagement	Encouragement for readers to uncover deeper layers of meaning in the narrative.

Definition of Unconscious Motivation as a Theoretical Term

Unconscious motivation, in literary theory, refers to the concealed psychological influences that propel characters’ actions and choices in a narrative. It explores the subconscious desires, fears, and unresolved conflicts that drive character behavior and often remain hidden from the characters’ conscious awareness.

Literary analysis of unconscious motivation uncovers the underlying, often unspoken, psychological forces that contribute to character development, narrative complexity, and thematic exploration in literary works.

Unconscious Motivation: Theorists, Works and Arguments

1. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939):
   • Notable Works: The Interpretation of Dreams and Psychopathology of Everyday Life.
   • Arguments: Freud’s psychoanalytic theory introduced the concept of the unconscious mind and its influence on human behavior. He argued that unconscious desires and conflicts, often related to repressed memories and instincts, are pivotal in understanding characters’ motivations. Freud’s analysis of dream symbolism and the Oedipus complex also informs literary interpretations of different works.
2. Jacques Lacan (1901-1981):
   • Notable Works: Écrits and The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis.
   • Arguments: Lacan further elaborated Freud’s ideas and emphasized the role of language and the symbolic order in shaping unconscious motivations. His theories on the “mirror stage” and the “Name of the Father” contribute to the analysis of identity and desire in literature. Lacan’s work underscores the linguistic and cultural aspects of unconscious motivation.
3. Carl Jung (1875-1961):
   • Notable Works: Psychological Types and Man and His Symbols.
   • Arguments: Jung’s concept of the “collective unconscious” introduced archetypal elements that influence characters and themes in literature. He argued that universal symbols and myths are rooted in the collective unconscious, contributing to character development and storytelling. Jung’s ideas on the “shadow” and individuation also play a role in literary interpretation.
4. Harold Bloom (1930-2019):
   • Notable Works: The Anxiety of Influence and A Map of Misreading.
   • Arguments: Bloom’s theory of “poetic misprision” explores the unconscious influence of past literary works on writers. He argued that writers unconsciously engage with and transform the works of their predecessors, leading to a complex interplay of influences in literature. Bloom’s work focuses on the literary tradition and the impact of earlier writers on the creative process.
5. Julia Kristeva (1941-):
   • Notable Works: The Powers of Horror and Desire in Language.
   • Arguments: Kristeva’s work on the “semiotic” and “symbolic” realms within language and literature addresses the expression of unconscious desires and fears. She examines how the interplay of these realms shapes character development and narrative structure. Kristeva’s theories encompass the relationship between language, subjectivity, and the unconscious in literary analysis.

These theorists and their significant works provide diverse perspectives on how hidden psychological forces influence character behavior, narrative structure, and the interpretation of literature in the context of unconscious motivation.

Unconscious Motivation and Literary Theories

Theory	Relevance
Psychoanalytic Theory	Unconscious motivation is foundational in psychoanalytic literary theory, particularly in the Freudian tradition. It explores how the unconscious desires, conflicts, and repressed memories of characters shape their actions and relationships in literature. This theory emphasizes the significance of the id, ego, and superego in character development and plot dynamics.
Reader-Response Theory	Unconscious motivation is relevant in reader-response theory as it focuses on how readers’ unconscious emotions, experiences, and desires influence their interpretation of a text. Reader-response theorists explore how readers’ personal unconscious motivations interact with the text to create diverse readings and responses.
Archetypal Criticism	Within archetypal criticism, the concept of unconscious motivation aligns with Carl Jung’s exploration of the collective unconscious. Archetypal critics analyze the universal symbols and myths rooted in the collective unconscious that recur in literature. These archetypes represent common human desires and fears that influence characters and narratives.
Feminist Literary Theory	Unconscious motivation is relevant in feminist literary theory, where it is applied to uncover the hidden desires and struggles of female characters. Feminist critics explore how societal norms and the unconscious motivations of characters, particularly women, impact their roles and identities in literature.
Postcolonial Theory	In postcolonial literature, unconscious motivation is used to explore into the complex psyches of characters from colonized societies. The theory explores how the unconscious motivations of these characters reflect their responses to the temporal and cultural shifts brought about by colonialism.
Deconstruction	Within deconstruction, unconscious motivation is considered in the context of language and its hidden complexities. Deconstructionist critics question the stability and linearity of language and how unconscious linguistic elements impact the interpretation of texts.
Narrative Theory	Unconscious motivation is pivotal in narrative theory, which examines how characters’ hidden desires and conflicts drive the development of plot and narrative structure. Narrative theorists explore how the unconscious motivations of characters contribute to the construction of stories.

Unconscious Motivation in Literary Criticism

1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky: Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment provides a profound exploration of unconscious motivation. The protagonist, Raskolnikov, is driven by unconscious desires to prove his extraordinary nature through murder. As the novel unfolds, his inner turmoil and guilt reveal the intricate workings of the human psyche. Dostoevsky’s depiction of Raskolnikov’s unconscious motivations offers a deep psychological analysis of character depth, emphasizing the moral and ethical dimensions of the unconscious, making it a rich ground for psychoanalytic interpretation.
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger explores the unconscious alienation of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. His first-person narrative allows readers to witness his stream of consciousness, unveiling his subconscious feelings of disconnection and disillusionment with the adult world. Salinger’s use of the stream of consciousness technique provides insight into the unconscious desires and fears of an adolescent on the brink of adulthood. Analyzing Holden’s unconscious motivations enriches our understanding of his character and the novel’s themes.
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: In The Great Gatsby, the characters are driven by unconscious desires and ambitions. Jay Gatsby’s unrequited love for Daisy Buchanan and his relentless pursuit of the American Dream are rooted in an unconscious yearning for social acceptance and love. Fitzgerald’s exploration of the unconscious 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 Jazz Age society.
4. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez: Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude is rich in magical realism and symbolism, representing the collective unconscious of the Buendía family and the town of Macondo. The novel’s narrative blends the conscious and unconscious to create a dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere. By incorporating elements of the unconscious 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 character’s emotional and psychological experiences, rooted in their unconscious motivations.

Relevant Terms of Unconscious Motivation

1. Sublimation: Redirecting potentially harmful or unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors or creative pursuits.
2. Repression: The unconscious act of blocking out or forgetting distressing or traumatic memories to avoid emotional pain.
3. Defense Mechanisms: Psychological strategies that the unconscious mind uses to protect the ego from anxiety, such as denial, projection, or rationalization.
4. Id: The primitive, unconscious part of the personality that contains basic, instinctual drives and desires.
5. Ego: The conscious and rational part of the personality that mediates between the demands of the id and the constraints of reality.
6. Superego: The moral conscience or internalized set of societal and parental values that guides and restricts behavior.
7. Cathexis: The investment of emotional energy or attachment to a person, object, or idea, which can influence behavior.
8. Freudian Slip: A verbal mistake that reveals unconscious thoughts or feelings, often related to repressed desires.
9. Transference: Unconsciously transferring emotions and attitudes from one person to another, typically in the context of therapy or relationships.
10. Oedipus Complex: A psychoanalytic concept involving a child’s unconscious attraction to the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent, typically occurring during the phallic stage of development.

Suggested Readings

1. Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams. Translated by James Strachey, Basic Books, 2010.
2. Lacan, Jacques. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis. Translated by Alan Sheridan, W. W. Norton & Company, 1998.
3. Miller, J. Hillis. The Ethics of Reading: Literature in the Age of Barnum. Columbia University Press, 2017.
4. Royle, Nicholas. Jacques Derrida. Routledge, 2003.
5. Smith, Jennifer L. Unconscious Dominions: Psychoanalysis, Colonial Trauma, and Global Sovereignties. Duke University Press, 2011.
6. Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. Routledge, 2015.
7. Wollheim, Richard. The Mind and Its Depths. Harvard University Press, 1993.
8. Zizek, Slavoj. The Sublime Object of Ideology. Verso, 1989.
9. Zizek, Slavoj. The Plague of Fantasies. Verso, 1997.
10. Zupančič, Alenka. The Odd One In: On Comedy. The MIT Press, 2008.