Sigmund Freud's The Uncanny
In his essay “The Uncanny,” Sigmund Freud explains that the German word heimlich “belongs to two sets of ideas, which without being contradictory are yet very different: on the one hand, it means that which is familiar and congenial, and on the other, that which is concealed and kept out of sight” (420). However, he also explains that the word unheimlich is used “contrary only of the first signification of ‘heimlich’ not of the second” (420). The English translation of the word unheimlich is uncanny; thus, the name of his essay. With this term in mind, Freud defends Ernst Jentsch idea that,
“In telling a story, one of the most successful devices for easily creating uncanny effects is to leave the reader in uncertainty whether a particular …show more content…
figure in the story is a human being or an automaton, and to do it in such a way that his attention is not focused directly upon his uncertainty, so that he may not be led to go into the matter and clear it up immediately” (421).
This is exactly what happens in the novels The Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson and Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley; both novels contain individuals that are presented as both humans and monsters. In the former novel, we have Dr. Jekyll, a good doctor and citizen, who could not harm a fly. However, after taking a certain potion he becomes Mr. Hyde, an evil being who takes over his body and commits vile crimes. However, the reader does not know that both characters are the same person until the end, because the writer choses to focus the readers attention to the mystery behind Mr. Jekyll’s illness. The reader is aware that Mr. Hyde has something to do with his infirmity, but is uncertain of what he might have done. This uncertainty is what makes the story so creepy. In Frankenstein, we have The Monster created by Mr. Frankenstein who has human features (two arms, two legs, two eyes, one nose…), but still looks monster-like because his features are disproportional to that of an actual human. Thus, as his appearance does not fit societal norm he becomes the uncanny. When The Monster tells the story of the family he observes for a while, he shows that he is capable of loving and caring, which are human characteristics. Once he realize the family that he loves so much despises him, he becomes angry, which is another human feeling. However, his killings and prosecution against Mr. Frankenstein becomes beastly emphasizing the uncanny characteristic
of the story. The author uses to depict The Monster this way to leave the reader unsure of what is happening, which makes it somewhat eerie. Therefore, I do agree with both Sigmund Freud and Ernst Jentsch that a good uncanny story needs an inhumane figure. However, he should not completely differ from humans in order to confuse the minds of the reader; this confusion is what keeps the story creepy. Lastly, the story should not be focused on this character’s mysterious condition (human vs. inhuman), as this uncertainty adds to the eerie feeling of the story. This is a very effective technique because it keeps the story entertaining and fresh, while also giving the stories a good, somewhat unexpected ending.
“In telling a story, one of the most successful devices for easily creating uncanny effects is to leave the reader in uncertainty whether a particular …show more content…
figure in the story is a human being or an automaton, and to do it in such a way that his attention is not focused directly upon his uncertainty, so that he may not be led to go into the matter and clear it up immediately” (421).
This is exactly what happens in the novels The Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson and Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley; both novels contain individuals that are presented as both humans and monsters. In the former novel, we have Dr. Jekyll, a good doctor and citizen, who could not harm a fly. However, after taking a certain potion he becomes Mr. Hyde, an evil being who takes over his body and commits vile crimes. However, the reader does not know that both characters are the same person until the end, because the writer choses to focus the readers attention to the mystery behind Mr. Jekyll’s illness. The reader is aware that Mr. Hyde has something to do with his infirmity, but is uncertain of what he might have done. This uncertainty is what makes the story so creepy. In Frankenstein, we have The Monster created by Mr. Frankenstein who has human features (two arms, two legs, two eyes, one nose…), but still looks monster-like because his features are disproportional to that of an actual human. Thus, as his appearance does not fit societal norm he becomes the uncanny. When The Monster tells the story of the family he observes for a while, he shows that he is capable of loving and caring, which are human characteristics. Once he realize the family that he loves so much despises him, he becomes angry, which is another human feeling. However, his killings and prosecution against Mr. Frankenstein becomes beastly emphasizing the uncanny characteristic
of the story. The author uses to depict The Monster this way to leave the reader unsure of what is happening, which makes it somewhat eerie. Therefore, I do agree with both Sigmund Freud and Ernst Jentsch that a good uncanny story needs an inhumane figure. However, he should not completely differ from humans in order to confuse the minds of the reader; this confusion is what keeps the story creepy. Lastly, the story should not be focused on this character’s mysterious condition (human vs. inhuman), as this uncertainty adds to the eerie feeling of the story. This is a very effective technique because it keeps the story entertaining and fresh, while also giving the stories a good, somewhat unexpected ending.