Keywords
Psychoanalysis
The Kite
Lisa of Lambeth
The Painted Veil
Submitted : 2023-12-21
Accepted : 2024-01-05
Published : 2024-01-20
Abstract
The characters in William Somerset Maugham’s novels seem to be deviant, but their behaviors are drivenby various motivations. The complexity of their characters is attributed to many reasons and can be explained throughpsychoanalysis. Herbert in The Kite embodies the phenomenon of “inferiority and overcompensation,” Lisa in Lisa of Lambeth reflects the phenomenon of “self-defense mechanism,” and Kitty in The Painted Veil represents the phenomenonof “archetype,” based on the theories of psychoanalysis. The three novels serve as Maugham’s seemingly abnormal self-portraits, reflecting his complex and contradictory views of human nature. These perspectives influenced his personal lifeand sparked varied opinions among readers. Nevertheless, there are valuable psychological lessons that modern readerscan learn from Maugham’s novels.
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