Relativism and Skepticism: A Psychoanalytic Study of Cate Kennedy’s Like a House on Fire

Abstract

This paper focuses on the exploration of the complexity of human relationships, the underlying motivations and the psychological dynamics that drive the characters’ engagement with relativism and skepticism in Cate Kennedy’s Like a House on Fire. Through a psychoanalytic prism grounded in Erikson’s developmental theory, this paper sheds light on the character’s internal problems, beliefs and inner reflections, aligning them with the interplay between personal truth and societal influence. All this leads to reflect the Psychosocial challenges of Erikson’s four stages of development. This study determines that the characters’ relativistic viewpoints and skeptical stances contribute to their psychological evolution, while they keep grappling with their struggles and trauma. The dominant worth of this study lies in its contribution to understanding the role of relativism and skepticism in the intricate phenomenon of human development and the formation of identities.