Effects of Surroundings: A Psychoanalysis Critique of the Forty Rules of Love

Abstract

The research deals with the psychological analysis of one of characters of Elif Shafak’s novel “The forty rules of Love”. The character that has been chosen for psychoanalysis is named as Ella. She is a forty years old woman who is suffering from a mental conflict and the reason being is the changing conditions around her. The research has been conducted by analyzing her character and her dialogues. The research is qualitative, keeping in view Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis, the character has been analyzed. The major focus has been on Freud’s theory of id, ego and superego. The novel deals with impending enigma in minds of people, the impact of the modern world on society and thoughts of people. This research deals with one aspect of it and that is existentialism. It is of great importance with respect to the 19^th and 20^th centuries because it highlights the inner psychology of person. The character of Ella is also a victim of sudden changing conditions around her. Majority of the modern writers have brought this topic into focus. After World War I and II, people went into chaos not only physically but mentally as well. The reason was a mere shift in their views about development, science and technology. As the century progressed, man invented many new ways for his protection. The one being invention of atomic bombs and guns. People thought of these inventions as their protection gods. After World War and especially the attacks on Hiroshima and Naga Saki, their gods turned into evil beings causing destruction to themselves rather than their enemies. This brought an immense change in the brains of people. When they lost their loved ones, their companions, their business and everything they had, they started questioning themselves. Who are they? Who is their creator? What is their nature? What do they live for? Why are they living? Where they would go after death? Is there any life after death? The character of Ella also became a victim to unexpected changing situations around her but within her family, and passing through traumatic condition. The research further opens the way for similar approaches to be used in other literary works.