Mourning and Metabolization: Close Readings in the Psychoanalytic Literature of Loss

This book explores the reciprocal relationship between ideas about mourning and our internal worlds, drawing on psychoanalysis and literary studies to provide a guide to thinking theoretically about loss and how we deal with it. It conceptualizes the work of psychic internalization required by loss in terms of bodily digestion and metabolization, comparing successful mourning to the proper processing of physical sustenance and failed mourning to indigestion. It conducts a detailed treatment of these themes by drawing on a series of psychoanalytic works and literary works, aimed at clinicians and readers with a more academic interest in psychoanalytic theory and language.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 420 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book offers a comprehensive exploration of the complex and multifaceted phenomenon of mourning, drawing upon insights from psychoanalysis and literary studies to shed light on the reciprocal relationship between ideas about loss and our internal worlds. By delving into the intricate processes of psychic internalization that are necessitated by loss, Rael Meyerowitz provides a novel framework for understanding the nature of mourning and its impact on individuals.

Meyerowitz conceptualizes the work of mourning as a process akin to bodily digestion and metabolization, where successful mourning is comparable to the proper processing of physical sustenance, while failed mourning can be likened to indigestion, manifesting in various forms of melancholia, mania, depression, and anxiety. Drawing from a rich array of psychoanalytic works, including those of Freud, Ferenczi, Karl Abraham, Klein, Loewald, Torok, Nicolas Abraham, and Green, the book conducts a detailed treatment of these themes, employing a close-reading format that is both accessible to clinicians and readers with a more academic interest in psychoanalytic theory and language.

In addition to its theoretical significance, this book also serves as a valuable resource for clinicians working with individuals who are experiencing grief and loss. The close-reading format allows students in psychoanalytic and psychotherapy courses to engage deeply with some of the central texts and key concepts in psychoanalysis, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of the human mind and psyche.

Overall, this groundbreaking book offers a profound and insightful exploration of the world of mourning, providing a valuable contribution to the fields of psychoanalysis and literary studies. Its close-reading format and interdisciplinary approach make it an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of human emotion and the processes of healing and growth.

Weight: 672g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032210797