Freud's Traumatic Memory: Reclaiming Seduction Theory And Revisiting Oedipus

Freud's Traumatic Memory: Reclaiming Seduction Theory And Revisiting Oedipus Review

The author states convincingly that Freud had a rather limiting construction of Oedipus, not realizing that it was the life of Laius, Oedipus' father and Freud's father as well that must be brought to our attention. Not to mention the fact that Freud was sexually abused by his nanny and subsequently found himself experiencing a sexual attraction to his mother at a young age, which he tried to universalize.

The book is clearly written and the author shows compassion for Freud even in spite of the areas of psychoanalysis in which she disagrees with some of the ideas Freud promulgated. She also shows compassion for those who have experienced sexual trauma and find emotional healing hard to come by.

I have not studied any of Freud's writings in any detail, but feel this author made doing so somewhat unnecessary for me as one who has had mental health issues of mine own to deal with and a preference for Jungian thought and Viktor Frankl's logotherapy. This study is a comprehensive analysis of both the original Oedipus myths and the Greek myths of father-daughter incest. Marcel applies the most recent clinical work on trauma and recovered memory to Freud's own memories and uncovers why Freud turned away from the seduction theory, misconstrued Oedipus, and was able to cure his own neurosis.