Saturday, February 22, 2014
Zeno's Consicence
In Italo Svevo's novel Zeno's Conscious, we learn about the fascinating story of a man who's psychiatrist has diagnosed him as having an Oedipus complex, and has published Zeno's memoir of out of spite for the patient suspending treatment. While reading the "Psychoanalysis" section of this novel, we are brought to question whether or not Zeno truly does have this complex or if his diagnosis was the product of a doctor's exaggeration. While Zeno mentions a couple of times the problem of "wanting to kill his father," his reflection of the time surrounding his father's death argues for the contrary. Zeno was very concerned with wanting his father's approval, and even though they did not get along very well while the old man was still alive, Zeno was grieved when his father did pass. Also, our title character's hatred for the doctor that was in attendance when his father passed away is a natural occurrence. It is hard for Zeno not to subconsciously blame the man who was supposed to save his father and failed, for the death. "Could anything be more wicked than recalling a sick man to
consciousness, without the least hope of saving him, only to plunge him
into despair, or expose him to the risk of having to undergo-amid what
suffering!- the straitjacket?" Zeno's insistence on preventing his father from regaining consciousness can easily be explained as love rather than hatred. It was the love for his father that wanted to allow his father to live out his last moments in peace rather than in madness.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I like what you said about Zeno's insistence on not treating his father as an act of love. This instance is one example of many that show how complex of a character Zeno is. He wants what is best for his father but is so mentally impaired that his judgement for what is best is extremely clouded. I believe that it is because of his mental illness, that Zeno wants his father to remain "unconscious." Zeno's mental illness causes him to hate reality so much that he deems it a sickness and doesn't wish his father to become ill from it. As good as his intentions might be, Zeno's judgment is off and should not be considered correct or reliable.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that Zeno's desire for his father not to wake up is an act of love. I think that Zeno loathes his father for marrying his mother after the reader is told by the doctor that Zeno is in love with his mother. Also in Zeno's descriptions of himself and his dad he always emphasizes how he differs from his dad. After his dad dies I think it lets him go back to this stage of infancy where he doesn't have to care who he is and who he is impressing. It takes the pressure off of him to be who he wants to be without the pressures of society. We see that Zeno wanted to be the opposite of his dad in every way while he was alive. Zeno "represented strength, and he weakness," (33). Zeno also had a drive for the future in which he had dreams of stability and strength, but he argues that his father knew nothing about this (33). In every characterization of his dad Zeno made sure to note how he differs from him. I believe that Zeno was relieved that his father was finally dead and he no longer had to live up to the high standards he had set for himself while his father still lives. I think also it's important to look at Zeno's reaction to his father's death because I question how valid it is. I'm sure Zeno wept and felt guilty, but I'm not so sure if his intentions were truly reflected by his actions. He is a "sick" character and it is debatable right now to whether he is mentally ill or physically ill, so it needs to be noted where his perception could be questioned. I think this becomes the question to look into to determine whether or not Zeno really did love his dad and was sad that he died.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting perspective about the book is that the readers are left to judge whether Zeno is telling the truth or merely justifying and lying to himself. Therefore, acknowledging every one of Zeno's justifications will not help unveiling the truth behind. Also, the psychiatrist mentioned in the chapter Psychoanalysis actually provided his own interpretation of Zeno's hatred towards the doctor of Zeno's father, which should be valued equally as Zeno's opinions. The readers are looking through Zeno' world through his eyes, but by no means should they be misled by Zeno's mental activity and neglect other voices, including the readers' own voices.
ReplyDelete