Psychological Critical Perspective Essay Example for Free

psychological Critical Perspective EssayThe utilization of a psychological critical placement in literature entails the utilization of a specific psychological perspective to be used in the assessment of the various elements within the text as they atomic number 18 related to twain the author and the think audience of the work. Bernard Paris (1997) states that the use of psychology in the analysis of a literary text enables us to understand the behavior of characters in literature from the past, to enter into their feelings, and to enrich our knowledge of ourselves and others through an understanding of their privileged conflicts and relationships (p. xii). In line with this, what follows is a psychological analysis of the examples of life and death in Sophocles Oedipus Rex and Susan Glaspells Trifles. at heart Sophocles Oedipus Rex, the psychological re pass onation of death is evident in the representation of the sphinx. The sphinx, as a mythical creature, represents su rprise and death. In its many versions, the sphinx may be say to be a representation of perplexity in its employment of riddles in its interaction with human beings.Furthermore, it may be said to be a representation f death since it is depicted as a creature that brings death or at least ruinous luck or misfortune to those who cannot solve its riddles. In Greek mythology and drama, this creature is depicted as a brute with a feminine gender. Though generally regarded as an unhappy monster, the sphinx also serves as a emblem of femininity, power and confusion. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, one may infer that in Greek tragedy, sufferings and tribulations are intertwined with the heros existence.To a certain extent, one may say that in the case of Oedipus Rex, the sphinx defines the existence of Oedipus his being a hero, so to speak. The same holds true for the sphinx. In other words, the hero and the villain define each(prenominal) others being. Note for example that within the text itself, Oedipus existence is intertwined with the Sphinx in the sense that the Sphinx and hero are twin-born. In terms of its monstrosity, the sphinx is depicted in many ways. These depictions are as follows.In Oedipus Rex, she is depicted as a singing sphinx that has permitted the oversight of dark secrets as well as a winged maiden with crook talons who sang darkly. Oedipus incapacity to discern both the oracle at Delphi and the true nature of the sphinx and its closeness to himself present us with a rather different view about human nature and the ancient Greeks tactile sensation in fate. The sphinx reminds us of two things. First, it reminds us of our inability to fully know ourselves because of human natures enigmatic character.Second, it poses significant questions with regards to human emancipation and our capacity for choice. In other words, it toys on the idea whether freedom and choice are mere illusions that human beings would like to think that they possess when in fa ct, they do not. inwardly this context, life and death are represented within Oedipus Rex in such a way that it places stress on the difficulty of discerning the conditions of life. Such a difficulty is mirrored in the characterization of the Sphinx as well as the Sphinxs relation with the hero of the text.As opposed to this, Susan Glaspell portrays life and death other than in Trifles. Trifles recounts the tragedy that occurs within marriage during instances wherein there is an absence of homosocial dimensions in a womans life. Within the text, life and death are represented in such a way that they are made to be seen within the context of a masculine gaze. The reason for this lies in the subjectivity of the portrayal of both freedom and objectivity within the text. Consider for example the case of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter who both tried to conceal the evidence of Minnies crime.One might note that such a finale mirrors a certain amount of freedom on both characters part. Both c haracters may be said to possess freedom in the negative sense that they may choose to omit specific tuition that they have however the subjectivity of this freedom is evident if one considers that the psychological reason for omitting such an info may be traced to their embeddedness within a masculine point of view that requires them to maintain the existence of bless within their immediate surroundings.Life and death, within Trifles, may be said to be determined by a patriarchal point of view. Such a point of view, however continuously contradicts the feminists perspective as can be seen in the controversies that arose as a result of Minnies death.References Bernard, P. (1997). Imagined Human Beings A Psychological Approach to Character and Conflict in Literature. New York NYU P. Glaspell, S. (2003). Trifles. Np Thomson Wadsworth. Sophocles (1991). Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex. Trans. George Young. London Dover.