The Unconscious Mind of Mrs. Drover in Bowen’s The Demon Lover :: Demon Lover Essays

The Unconscious Mind of Mrs. herder in Bowens The Demon devotee To some degree, literary contributes is analogous to the valet de chambre see both literature and the thought systems of gentleman beings operate on multifarious levels. The human mind functions both consciously and unconsciously charm the conscious exists superficially, the unconscious governs most human actions. The superficial level of literature is gleaned by rendering a literal interpretation of the words on the pages. Yet, a piece of literaturelike the human mind overly contains a recondite element that governs the actions contained within the work. Sigmund Freud suggested that like the iceberg, the human mind is structured so that its great weight and density lie below the surface (Guerin et al. 127). Similarly, the great weight and density of Elizabeth Bowens The Demon Lover also lies beneath the surface. While a literal interpretation reduces the work to a simple yet disturbing ghost story , trenchant synopsis reveals the inward pilgrimage of the protagonist, Kathleen Drover. Although it is unclear whether or not Mrs. Drovers return to her house in London is a physical journey, it is, with certitude, a psychological one. Mrs. Drovers journey is one into her battle-scarred psyche, alter by her failure to achieve a balance amid both opposing forcesthe Id and Superego. The terms id and superego, along with ego, comprise Freuds tripartite model. The id is the element of the psyche that generates our instinctual physical, especially libidinal, desires. The id itself is often described as insatiable and enjoyment seeking and it does not consider the consequences or implications of its actions (Murfin and Ray 164). Conversely, the superego operates according to theology principal and serves primarily to protect society and us from the id (Bressler 151). The ego is the discerning governing agent of the psychethe ego serves as intermediary between the world within and the world without and it helps keep us healthy human beings by maintaining a balance between these two opposing forces (Guerin et al. 130-1). Externally, Mrs. Drover is described as a prosaic woman whose normal prospect was that of controlled worry, but of assent (Bowen 661-2). She was a simple, ordinary womanperhaps raze a bit dullwhose movements were circumscribed. Internally, Mrs.