Science and Madness: Echoes of Freudian Psychoanalysis in the Works of H.P. Lovecraft and the Weird

Authors

Brandon J. Cordova, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

English

First Advisor's Name

Nathaniel Cadle

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Heather Blatt

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Rhona Trauvitch

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Lovecraft, Freud, weird fiction, psychoanalysis, American literature

Date of Defense

3-29-2022

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to highlight the influence of psychoanalysis on the writing of H.P. Lovecraft through a literary analysis of his critical essays, scientific essays, personal correspondence, and fiction. The subjects of note were Lovecraft’s intense focus on the sciences as an inspiration for his work, his awareness of Freudian psychoanalytic principles, and his application of those principles in his contributions to weird fiction. In doing so, this thesis explored alternative interpretations of some of Lovecraft’s more well-known stories and provided nuance to a bigoted, problematic figure of American literature. This paper highlighted the significant role of psychoanalysis in the development of H.P. Lovecraft’s writing and broadened the room for speculating on the influence of the psychological science on weird fiction as a whole.

Identifier

FIDC010683

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4126-653X

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Cordova, Brandon J., "Science and Madness: Echoes of Freudian Psychoanalysis in the Works of H.P. Lovecraft and the Weird" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4986.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4986