Psychology in the Fiction of Henry James: Memory, Emotions, and Empathy

Psychology in the Fiction of Henry James explores consciousness, emotions, and empathy through the works of Freud, William James, and neuroscientists, using narrative techniques to represent consciousness in Henry James' major fictions. It demonstrates that these components are elements in Freud's dual-aspect monism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2024
Publisher: Lexington Books

Psychology in the Fiction of Henry James: Memory, Emotions, and Empathy delves into the study of consciousness, exploring novel approaches to reading fiction from a scientific perspective, drawing upon early psychological theories and recent neuroscientific research. Freud and William James are intellectual pioneers who significantly contributed to our understanding of consciousness. Henry James, on the other hand, dedicated his life to developing narrative methods that expanded the realm of Realism, drawing upon consciousness and experience. When examining these three figures, the key components of consciousness they shared in common are memory, emotions, and empathy. This volume explores theoretical works on these concepts by Freud, William James, and recent neuroscientists, as well as two narrative techniques Henry James devised to represent consciousness: ghosts and Free Indirect Discourse. Additionally, this book analyzes Henry James's major fictions to demonstrate how these scientific terms have been used to achieve a fresh reading of his novels. Overall, this volume demonstrates that the three components are elements in the dual-aspect monism proposed by Freud earlier.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666905748