A psychoanalyst and a professor of modern literary theory writes about how our inner lives connect with literature and Freud. I read this as an entertainment. How to live. What to do. The author poaches the title from a poem by Wallace Stevens. P. XVII
About To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout Finch's childhood of endless fun and joyous summer frolics are menaced by racism and intolerance stifles her openness to the world. P. 44 (I can see why Harper Lee fled Monroeville for New York).
Racial and class divisions in the South in the 1930's. P. 44
Atticus tried to teach Scout empathy. You can't really know a person until you step into his skin. P. 45
The impoverished lives of the Southern white people. P. 45
Racism impoverishes everyone. P. 46
Atticus is noble as he explains to his daughter why he is fighting a losing battle in representing Tom Robinson. P. 48
I like the author's comments on To Kill a Mockingbird.
The lines between rich whites, poor whites, and blacks. P. 49
A life genuinely alive with creativity and desire is possible only if we can continue to allow ourselves to come out and play. P. 50 (Whatever this means)
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The trauma of school that even Freud talked about, P. 69
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A liberal education can be thrilling to break the logjam of a restricted upbringing, but it can also be threatening and dangerous. My liberal education has continued for 50 yrs. It's been quite a mind expanding experiencing. P. 91
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"It's no fun when your heart is in the hands of someone who holds all the cards, empowered to grant or withhold her favor, impervious to change or reason." P. 155
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P. 53
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Psychoanalysts love early childhood. It's never too early to mess up your life. Hence, an interest in Jane Eyre. P. 57
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Psychoanalysts talk about transference in the therapy process.
"Past objects of the patient's love, hatred, and desire come to be represented in the image of the analyst, this new significant other who offers to attend to our deepest needs and wishes.
Psychotherapy brings into sharp focus a fundamental truth of the human condition, that we are burn helpless. Lacking the means to secure our own care and growth, we find ourselves consigned to the care of others---parents at first, but then all kinds of surrogates: other family members or friends, nannies, child minders, teachers, sports coaches, music tutors, mentors.
We can be made to feel safe or frightened. P. 92
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This world should destroy your narcissistic fantasy that you are unlike anyone else. P. 93
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The Freudian sees the human psyche as a constant battleground between the id and the superego. Neat and simple. P. 121
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Looking down at our younger self from the vantage point of midlife realism, we seem impossibly unworldly, silly and sweet. P. 138
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Being a parental sage is difficult. P. 171
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