3. “Psychoanalytical criticism is a form of literary criticism which uses some of
the techniques of Psychoanalysis in the interpretation of literature”.
Psychoanalytic theory partly consists of Freudian theories relating to mind,
our instincts and sexuality and is based on the premises that human
behavior is driven by unconscious process. Defence theory of Freud, later
refined by Anna Freud his daughter. She included in this theory the
repression, regression, the study of displacement, projection, integration
and sublimation. So the theory of Sigmoid Freud is very much applicable
and related to both characters of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth named
after her or protagonist and Okonkwo the protagonist of Chinua Achebe in
Things Fall Apart.
4. Age of Protagonist
Macbeth and Okonkwo are in the time period of age which is mostly fit for
ego, “the only region of the mind in contact with reality”.
In this age under influence of ego the rationale part of mind works. At the
opening both of them are considered as respectable and socially
acceptable members of society. Both of them act upon norms, rules, laws
and customs of society wholly and solely.
6. Sleep Disorder
Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more. (Macbeth)
Sleep disorder is present in Okonkwo in chapter nine, “For the first time in
three nights, Okonkwo slept. He wake up once in the middle of night and his
mind went back to the past three days without making him feel uneasy. It was
just like a man wondering in broad daylight why a dream has appeared so
terrible to him at night.
7. From Aggressive Towards Unemotional
Okonkwo starts from humble beginning, exile from village of Umuofia and
returns to Umuofia showing entrust of a passion as great warrior. At his tragic
death, in many hearts, words and feeling of sympathy exit for him. But in
Macbeth from the very first step of indulgence in crime till end phase, hatred
and bad feelings are increased for that ‘tyrant’. Pity may be felt for a person
who is ignorant and credulous fool in the hands of Lady Macbeth who uses him
just like a puppet. But no sympathy is there to be felt for Macbeth. The reason is
that Okonkwo sacrifices his life for survival of culture divided by gender, race
and religion but Macbeth done all just for lust and greed.
8. Okonkwo commits suicide as he becomes unable to come to terms with his predicament, unable to
satisfy the high moral demands of his superego, feeling of weakness and inferiority prevails. “Clearly his
personal good or Chi was not made for great things.”
Unable to turn to others, his self confidence swallowed by his pride, Okonkwo quickly slips away into the
eternal shadows of death where, ‘Life is like a walking shadow’. Macbeth realizes that from first murder till
his own tragic end, he covers a journey from gentleman to ‘tyrant’, ‘cursed head’, and every step taken by
him was towards downfall.
9. Works Cited
Abida Parvin, Samina Yasmin. "A Psychoanalytic Study of Okonkwo by Chinua Achebe and Macbeth by William
Shakespeare." Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research 2.9 (2016): 1456-1459. pdf. 22 February 2020.
<http://www.onlinejournal.in/IJIRV2I9/229.pdf>.
