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Early Images of Trauma in George Eliot's The Lifted Veil.
- Source :
- Humanities (2076-0787); Jun2024, Vol. 13 Issue 3, p70, 13p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- This paper explores George Eliot's The Lifted Veil (1859) as an early portrayal of traumatic neurosis, providing a fresh perspective to enhance the existing scholarly attention on trauma in Eliot's Daniel Deronda. To illustrate potential contemporary diagnoses for Latimer, I examine other prevalent mid-nineteenth-century models of mental pathology, including phrenology, mesmerism, and hemispheric brain disunity. Drawing on Pierre Janet's trauma theories from the late nineteenth century, I argue that Eliot presents an early portrayal of dissociative trauma through Latimer's psychological experiences. Latimer's visions, complex dream-like interactions, and involuntary consciousness splitting provide a framework for understanding dissociation in response to his emotionally traumatic loss of his mother. Eliot's exploration of dissociation anticipates Pierre Janet's theories, which underpin contemporary understandings of trauma, revealing a remarkable modernity in Eliot's approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- NEUROSES
AUTHORSHIP
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Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20760787
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Humanities (2076-0787)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 178186825
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/h13030070