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This paper was first written in Fall of 1998; no changes have been made since 2000, and none are planned in the near future. Some of the information within the paper, especially that referring to transgender research, is very old, and has likely been made obsolete by current research.
With those caveats firmly in mind, I hope you enjoy the paper!
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Psychoanalysis of Literary Characters In Gogol's "The Nose", the barber Ivan Yakovlevich discovers a disembodied nose within a loaf of bread. This nose is hypercathected, as illustrated by the fact that Ivan quickly recognizes the identity of the nose, even though it has been removed from its normal position. The nose in this story has been recognized as an icon of a phallus. In connection with that interpretation, "The Nose" has been widely discussed as an illustration of castration anxiety (Spycher, 367; Rancour-Laferriere 1982, 81; Kiell, 581). However, this paper proposes that this story can also be examined as an illustration, not of castration anxiety, but of a "castration desire" by Ivan Yakovlevich. ![]() ![]() On one occasion he did succeed in dropping it, but a policeman shouted to him from the distance, pointing to it with his halberd: "Hey, you, pick it up! You've dropped something!" And Ivan Yakovlevich had to pick up the nose and put it in his pocket. He was overcome by despair.... (Gogol 1957a, 205)Ivan continues in his attempts to dispose of the offending body part, but when he is forced by authority figures to retain the phallic object against his will, he feels overwhelmed: "overcome with despair". Finally, Ivan reaches a bridge and takes the opportunity to dispose of the nose in the river. "...he stealthily threw the rag with the nose into the river. He felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders: Ivan Yakovlevich even grinned" (Gogol 1957a, 206). When Ivan is finally successful he feels an immense relief; once he is no longer forced to bear the unwelcome object he even grins. This is notably the first time in the entire story in which Ivan appears to be satisfied and happy. His happiness is short-lived, however, as an authority figure once more steps in to punish him now for achieving his desire. The policeman indeed presents an imposing sight: "he suddenly noticed at the end of the bridge a police inspector of noble exterior, with large whiskers, with a three-cornered hat, and with a sabre" (Gogol 1957a, 206). After being questioned by this inspector, Ivan is arrested and "locked up in a cell at the police station" (Gogol 1957a, 222). This confinement then serves as punishment for committing an act of which society does not approve. ![]() ![]() ![]() and he asked me if he could be a girl when he married. He even asked me if he could cut off his penis. And I say "No, you couldn't do that. You would die." And he asked me if I was sure he would die and I said "Yes, I am sure you would," and he really seriously was considering it.... (Stoller 1968, 286)Another young boy stated that he wanted to die and be reborn as a girl: "I don't want to live this way; I want to be a girl" (Stoller 1968, 294). As analysis of transsexuals has shown, "[c]astration holds no threat for them [transsexuals]. On the contrary, they wish to give up their penis" (Stoller 1975, 98). ![]() |
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Nikolai Gogol - Introduction to Research Paper Terms and Scientific Background Biographical Information Literary Analysis of "The Nose" Literary Analysis of "Terrible Vengeance" Psychoanalysis of Female Characters Conclusion, Sources Cited, and Footnotes |
Course Information:
Russian 166 - Representations of Sexuality in Russian Literature
Instructor: Daniel Rancour-Laferriere
University of California,
Davis
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