A Freudian Approach to the Spatial Alienation in Doris Lessing's "To Room Nineteen"

Öz

Doris Lessing’s short story “To Room Nineteen” (1963) owes its popularity to its depiction of search for female self-assertion, relevant to contemporary world. Occupying a central place in the story, the theme of female suffering and alienation is associated with the space used in the flow of narration. Taking its cue from Sigmund Freud’s theory of topography, the present article aims to offer an alternative reading to the notion of spatial alienation of the protagonist Susan Rawlings in Lessing’s “To Room Nineteen”. The exemplification of “ego”, “id” and “superego” of the human psyche, decoded by Freud, will be presented to understand the spatial shifts of the protagonist Susan, in search of self-assertion in a patriarchal society. Focusing on the psychological upheavals of a woman via spatial analyses, therefore, this article aims to present a dynamic interpretation of the spatial alienation in Lessing’s “To Room Nineteen” with regards to Freud’s theory of topography for Susan’s depression, madness and suicide.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• "To Room Nineteen"
• self-assertion
• Sigmund Freud
• spatial alienation

Doris Lessing'in "On Dokuz Numaralı Oda" Eserindeki Mekansal Yabancılık Üzerine Freudyan Bir Yaklaşım

Öz

Doris Lessing’in “To Room Nineteen” (On Dokuz Numaralı Oda) (1963) adlı kısa öyküsü, popülaritesini çağdaş dünyaya uygun, kadının kendini ortaya koyma arayışını tasvir etmesine borçludur. Hikayede merkezi bir yer tutan kadının acıları ve yabancılaşması teması, anlatımın akışında kullanılan mekanla ilişkilendirilir. Sigmund Freud’un topografya teorisinden ilham alan bu makale, “Ondokuz Numaralı Oda” eserindeki ana kahraman Susan Rawlings’in mekansal yabancılaşması kavramına alternatif bir okuma sunmayı amaçlıyor. Freud tarafından kodu çözülen insan ruhunun “ego”, “id” ve “süperego” örneklendirmesi, ataerkil bir toplumda kendini ortaya koyma arayışındaki başkahraman Susan'ın mekânsal değişimlerini anlamak için sunulacaktır. Bir kadının psikolojik çalkantılarına mekânsal analizler yoluyla odaklanan bu makale, Lessing’in “On Dokuz Numaralı Oda” adlı eserindeki mekânsal yabancılaşmanın, Freud’un topografya teorisi üzerinden Susan’ın depresyon, delilik ve intiharına bir yorum sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• "Ondokuz Numaralı Oda"
• özbenlik
• Sigmund Freud
• mekansal yabnacılaşma

Kaynakça

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