ENG Final Essay 1000 - A PDF

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Essay for ENG 125
Project in mid year...

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Andrew Frey ENG 125

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How does Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory in the book I Am Malala appeal to both children and adult readers?

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Are the values and ideals seen throughout I Am Malala universally directed at just adults to evoke change, or children as well?

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At 15 years old, most children are preoccupied with the latest fashion trends, owning the newest music, and playing the coolest video games. However, at 15 years old Malala’s life consisted of urning for an education (one generally denied to women) a mist the looming devastation of the Taliban regime. In the book, I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christian Lamb, Malala and her family did what many of her adult leaders would not, and fought for human rights and female education within her home county of Pakistan. Although considered adult literature because of its graphic and mature content, I Am Malala displays signs of Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory throughout the books storyline. Believed to be apart of us since birth, Freud’s Theory shows how even the most complex ideas can be mutually understood regardless of age, gender, race, etc. By engaging both an adult’s and child's subconscious desires while reading the book and engaging their ID, Superego, and Ego (three of the most major components that make up the Psychoanalytical Theory) I Am Malala becomes a universal story of courage and hope that can inspire and enlighten all ages. As one of psychology’s most influential and controversial idealists of the twentieth century, Freud was most notably know for his new innovative theories and abstract psychological ideas. Delving deep into the minds of both children and adults, Freud’s most notable contribution to understanding the complex human mind could be broken down using Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory. Freud also believed that our unconscious desires were a part of us from birth and stated in his 1880 research, “It is maintained that our desires and our unconscious conflicts give rise to three areas of the mind that wrestle for dominance as we grow from infancy, to childhood, to adulthood” (Richter 1015-1016). Breaking down the instinctive and subconscious desires into the Id, Superego, and Ego, “He believed that the conscious level of the mind was similar to the tip of the iceberg which could be seen, but the unconscious was mysterious and was hidden” (Rana1). The Id can be summarized as our section of personality containing our primal and instinctive impulses, “It allows us to get our basic needs met. Freud believed that the Id is based on our pleasure principle” (Schneider1). Our Superego is viewed as a moral compass determining right from wrong. It is our personality that corresponds with conscience and allows us to think through situations. The last aspect of the Psychoanalytic Theory is Ego. Ego maintains the balance between both a persons Id, and their Superego. Without the Ego, a child or adults Id and Superego would be impossible to control and therefore both their primal instant and conscience could not coexist.

When a child is born, one of the first things they do is cry. Although this is mainly done to naturally clear the airways, sound later becomes our primary form of communication. Similar to the ID, the need to communicate by spreading ideas, feelings, or in Malala’s case change the ideology of a country, it continues to remain a basic human need to feel heard. When the Taliban begin to slowly introduce their values to the people of the Swat Valley, one of the first things they enforced is limiting woman’s rights. Malala entices the readers ID by stating, “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced” ( ). Adults can reflect on times their bosses may have quieted their valuable opinions in a meeting, while children might connect to feeling intimidated by a bully on the playground. Children as well as adults can both use this as a time to reflect on past incidents that they thought they should have spoken up more. Malala also was a strong activist and supporter of education as the key to success, “Education is our right, I said. Just as it is our right to sing” ( ). Throughout the book Malala makes countless references to educational improvements within Pakistan. Utilizing Sigmund Freud’s ID, Malala is able connect her ideologies of basic human and educational opportunities to children and adults throughout their personal life and their instinctive desires. Despite Malala’s young age, her wisdom and courage are beyond her years. A strong supporter of human rights, Malala is willing to put her life on the line to change the injustice within her country for good. By being the moral compass, Malala’s Superego states, “If people volunteered in the same way to construct schools or roads or even clear the river of plastic wrappers, by God, Pakistan would become a paradise within a year” ( ). Her voice becomes the voice of reasoning and rights in a seemingly demoting country. Children an adults who see Malala’s courage to stand up and speak out in the face of diversity for what is right, are now given the confidence to translate that to their everyday lives. Malala, however, understands that because of her adamant voice for positive change, many people are going to try to stop her from reaching her goals. Her resilience and passion can be seen throughout her Ego when she states, “Our men think earning money and ordering around others is where power lies. They don't think power is in the hands of the woman who takes care of everyone all day long, and gives birth to their children” ( ). Because Malala is a woman in a country that still strictly limits women's rights within society, her ego must maintain balance to keep her safe. Without her ego, Malala’s ID wouldn't be able to control its drive for basic human rights, and her superego wouldn't be able to hold Malala’s moral compass. Adult’s reading this story are able to often comprehend the more complex and intricate decisions Malala must make on a daily basis. When in a meeting/ classroom setting or conversation with someone, the superego can reflect and compare Malala’s tedious fight for justice by helping pick your battles and maintain your balance better over instinctive impulses. Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory has played a revolutionary role within the psychology community to help break down a person’s basic subconscious desires. As a result of its major importance, many basic structural components of Freud’s theory have been found within plot, theme, as well as characters throughout many literary works. Authors, such as Malala Yousafzai with Christian Lamb, in I am Malala, both relied heavily on much of the

Psychoanalytic Theory when it came to writing the book. While some of Freud’s Theory are displayed more than others, all played universally major roles being able to connect to the books message. By emphasizing a persons Id within a story you are appealing to their primal and natural need instincts. The reader of the story has the easiest time relating to this section of the three aspects because it is human nature to “want” and “need” something (For example, the right to be heard, and the right for education). Sometimes however, the author will emphasize the Superego within a story. The Superego’s job is to be our moral compass, determining right from wrong. Malala shows both children and adults Superego by stressing the importance of helping each other to build a positive community. The last part of Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory, which was portrayed in I am Malala, was the Ego. It is the Ego’s job to maintain balance between the ID, and Superego. While this is often times the hardest aspect of the theory to find, Malala uses the Ego to show how societal needs are often times misconstrued and not always correct. This can be the hardest concept for children to comprehend because they are taught to obey and follow rules. No matter what time period, age, race, culture, etc. By engaging a persons subconscious desires while reading a book and stimulating their ID, Superego, and Ego, it makes the story more relatable to the reader’s own psychological feelings along with their unconscious past, current, and future desires an actions....