Distorted Reality and Disintegration of Self in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Psycho
Abstract
In the light of psychoanalytic criticism, this paper is to discuss distorted reality which stems from psychological disorders of the characters, their fragmented minds due to their impotency to form a strong neuroplasticity of brain in Psycho and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Both films illustrate the outcomes of a neurotic mind, split personality and derealization of the external world and being alienated from reality, which results in reproduction of reality through dreams, hallucinations and illusions. These dreams, hallucinations and illusions are a kind of defense to their guilt and inability to face reality and overcome trauma. Reality is manipulated due to their impotency to achieve to discover their true selves. Real self is distorted into fragmentations causing multiple personality disorder and schizoid cases.
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References
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