Clash of Conscious and Unconscious: A Psychoanalytical Study of Seamus Heaney’s Poetry and Past Events

Abstract

In this article, the researchers investigate the personality of Seamus Heaney by the textual analysis of his poetry, and the application of psychoanalytic theory that is given by Cathy Caruth. Caruth’s theory deals with the idea of interaction elements of memory in the mind that she calls “dead or alive”. The research focuses on the conscious part of the mind (instead of the unconscious) because it greatly impacts our actions. The focus here is on the past events and desires that the poet experiences. Moreover, Caruth’s theory negates the concept of trauma (a shock that only affects the victim when it happens) given by Sigmund Freud provides a new door to think of trauma as a shock that repeats itself. This repetition occurs in the form of a re-enactment of events. The research aims to negate the concept of Wordsworth (poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings) and argues that it is not an emotional process but a rational one. Researchers conclude that memory is not only an emotional but also a social factor that is vital for the development of personality. The study finds a new paradigm that the articulation of traumatic memory acts as a healer rather than merely a wound.