Abstract
James’s “The Jolly Corner” (1909) and “The Beast in the Jungle” (1903) introduce a character-triangle that corresponds to Freud’s three aspects of the psyche. Brydon, Alice and the apparition in “The Jolly Corner” and Marcher, May and the Beast in “The Beast in the Jungle” are respectively associated with the Ego, Super ego and Id. These two stories are about the Ego in search of the other composites of the mind. The principal character seems to perceive that these composites, once encountered and assimilated, would restore stability to the pursuer’s personality by resolving an existing anxiety. In effect, this essay argues that James anticipates the Freudian model by introducing this triangular character relationship. The two short stories, therefore, foresee and fictionalize Freud’s conception of the psyche.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Consciousness, Literature and the Arts |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 22 Dec 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |