Action Research paper:

Title page

Ministry of Higher Education Republic

And Scientific Research of Iraq
University of Kirkuk
College of Education for Human
Sciences

Title:-
The Unconscious Struggle for Redemption: A
Psychoanalytic study of Oscar Wilde’s “ The happy
Prince” and the Dynamics of Self – Sacrifice

By
Hawnaz nawzad Omer
Aseel Awad Khalaf
Submitted
To
Dept. of English
College of Education for Humanities
University of Kirkuk
In
Partial fulfillment of the requirements
For Practical Education Course
In
English Language
Supervised by :
Dr: Zainab ismat
 Dedication
This Study is dedicated to:
My beloved parents
Without the help of some during the last few years, this word would not have been possible:
To the people who helped us & our parents.

Acknowledgement
There are many individuals and the department in general whom I would like to thank and
express my deep gratitude for their continuous support in completing this study, which
serves the education interest and helps in all matters concerning the student.
Special thanks to [Link] Esmat, without Whom my research project would not have been
completed. She assisted me in the field of literature , provided me with valuable information,
and supported my research.
 Content Of Tables
Section Subject
 Section one
Abstract
Sacrifice in Oscar Wild’s “ The happy prince”: an analytical study
This Study undertakes a critical analysis of Oscar Wilde’s " The happy prince " Focusing
on the prominent themes of mercy and self – sacrifice as driving forces within the narrative.
Through close textual examination, the research investigates how the titular character, the
happy prince, and the Swallow embody these virtues in their interactions and actions. The
analysis explores the motivations behind their compassionate needs, The consequences
embedded within their sacrifices for the less fortunate. Furthermore, this study examines
the narrative techniques employed by Wilde to portray the manifestations of mercy, ranging
from empathetic observation to tangible acts of giving . By dissecting the characters '
motivations and the story’s unfolding events, this research Aims to exploring humanity.

Content of tables section one abstract and section two psychoanalytic and section three story
 Section Two
Psychoanalytic Theory
Introduction:-
o Overview of psychoanalytic Theory

In the opinion of some authors and researchers in psychology, The theory of psychoanalysis
is the first theory that appeared in the field of personality and psychotherapy within the
framework of modern psychology. The author of this theory is Sigmund Freud (1856–1939
A.D.). Freud used the method of free association in treating cases of hysteria. Freud
presented a conception of personality as consisting of three dimensions (Ibid).
The Id: The Id is the source of vital and psychological energy and the repository of -1
instincts and innate drives that seek satisfaction (Ibid)
2. The Superego:
Is the repository of ideals, ethics, conscience, social standards and values, and is considered
an internal authority or psychological censor .
3. The Ego:
It is the center of feeling, internal and external sensory perception, mental processes, and
the supervisor of movement and will , is responsible for defending the personality and its
compatibility, and resolving the conflict between the demands of the Id and the demands of
the Superego. Freud emphasized the importance of instincts in shaping human nature and
believes that these instincts in shaping are innate. He also started from two statements that
he considered to be the Causes responsible for human maladjustment and disorders, namely
libido, which means that humans have two groups of instincts

Freud & Sigmund Freud 255–256

( 1856 – 1939 )
 1- psychoanalytic Theory

A-Life instincts or sex Eros :- include the forces that maintain the survival of the self and
daily life processes and the energy of these instincts is called energy libido nationality.
B-Death instincts :- Are behind manifestations of strength, aggressions, suicide, and murder
as according to Freud human have an unconscious desire for death. (Ibid)

Freud spoke about three levels of individual consciousness:-

1-Consciousness: A small part of the totality of the mind that can be known and accessed
directly as the individual is aware of its contents ,which usually do not represent any threat
to his personality. Freud sees the feeling as the area of full awareness, and its function is to
communicate with the outside world and it is the superficial part of the psychological
apparatus. (Jung) calls the conscious mind which consists of perceptions, memories, and
conscious feelings.(Freud 259 )
(Ibid)

2-Pre-Conscious: It is the third part of the Psychological apparatus (personality) that comes
after the Conscious and the Sub-Conscious , it contains memories and latent thoughts that
can be recalled with a little effort and feeling, as they are not currently present in the
Conscious. (Ibid)

3-Unconscious: It is the repository in which the individuals painful, shameful, and

embarrassing experiences are repressed. In addition, the individual stores in his
Subconscious his needs and motives that are difficult to access when they are outside his
control and awareness, it also contains unresolved conflicts. According to Freud, the
Subconscious constitutes the main root of all neuroses. (Ibid) (Freud -260-)
 Psychoanalytic studies of the Personality:

Since Publication of this Volume in (1962), (W-R.D )Fairbairn’s focus on object Relations
has re-oriented (psychoanalysis ) by placing the child’s need for Relation Ships at the center
of development. His object relations theory elaborated a model of psychic structure built
upon the internalization and modification of experience with parents and other people of
central importance to the child ,and showed how the (self or ego) handles the discitis
factions, inevitable in all relation Ships through internalization of the object. The Author
explain (psychoanalytic theory in repression of painful internal relations)
(W,R ,D, Fair brains, 1952, 1 )

psychoanalytic criticism :-
The Author Saw this theory explain about human beings, each with a Psychological
history , that begins in a childhood experience in the family and each with patterns of
adolescent and adult behavior that are the direct result of that early experience because the
goal of psychoanalytic is to be help us resolve our Psychological problems in feeling way,
focus on patterns of behavior that are destructive in some way . I say behavior because our
repetition of destructive in. I behavior reveals the existence of some significant psychological
difficulty that has probably been influencing our behavior without or knowing it. we need to
know about a problem or, if we do know we have a problem ,not realizing when it is
influencing our behavior _ That gives it so must control over us. For this reason , we must
begin our discussion with the concept central to all psychoanalytic thinking : the existence of
the unconscious.
( Tyson : Lois Tyson , 12 , 2015)
*Critical Theory Today
A Theory of unconscious thought:
We Present a theory about human thought named the unconscious- thought theory. This
theory is applicable to decision making, impression formation, attitude formation and
change, problem-solving and creativity. it distinguishes between 2 modes of thought:
unconscious and conscious. unconscious thought that have different characteristics and
these different make each mode preferable under different circumstances .for instance
Contrary to Popular belief, decisions about simple issues can be better tackled by conscious
thought whereas decisions about complex matters can be better approached with
unconscious thought. the relations between the theory and decision strategies and between
. the theory and intuition are discussed . We end by discussing caveats and future directions
.] Loran : Loran F Nordgren , (1) ; 2006 [
 Section Three
2- The Psychological Context of Wilde’s The Happy Prince
o Reflection of The Victorian Area’s Focus on Morality and Charity

Abstract
The Social context in the period of Victorian era is a valuable point to study. Those who belonged
to the upper class lived wealthily and irresponsibly . One reverse side was that although they were
in the high social status, they seemed to be poor in knowledge and tried to act as if they had had
profound understanding of everything. In addition, the statue of the Happy prince was considered
a punishment for the leader who had been irresponsible for the life of his local citizens during his
lifetime. When he died, he had to witness everything and endured what the local citizens had
experienced such as the utter misery and the harshness of the weather. This research is aimed at
giving critiques on the social context of the late Victorian era and analyzing deeply the theme of
sacrifice through Oscar Wilde’s “The happy Prince” . the Victorian era was Known as the era of
materialism and individualism in which the luxurious life of the rich was depicted clearly ; and
self – importance was on top of everything and that resulted in the ignorance of the poor’s lives.

end of the eighteenth century. In recent times, social criticism has described a particular kind of
social reality and particular economic and social theory. Social critics were most active in the
1930s and in the late nineteenth century during the Great Depression. They applauded literature
that portrayed the struggles of the poor and downtrodden especially when they engaged in strikes
against oppressive capitalist bosses (Roberts & Roberts, 1985).

Social Condition in the Victorian Era:

The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen of Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837
until her dead on 22 January 1901. It was known as a long period of peace, prosperity, excellent
sensibilities and national se confidence. However, it was also the stage when religious morality
changed significantly. When Queen Victor took the throne, the Anglican Church had the power in
running schools and universities, and with high ranking churchman holding offices in the Houses
of Lords. The Church's power continued to rule in rural areas through the Victorian Era. However,
that was not the case in industrialized cities. In the cities, those who were against
church were many; the disagreement and rejection were everywhere
(Roberts & Roberts, 1985 , SOCIAL CRITICIM TOWARDS LATE VICTORIAN SOCIETY AND THE THEME OF
SCRIFICE IN OSCAR WILDE’S THE HAPPY PRINCE).
 o Symbolism of the statue and the swallow.

1- The little Swallow:

o Description : A small , Delicate bird with vibrant plumage, who forms a deep bon with the
Happy prince.

2- The Happy Prince:instructs the Swallow to pluck out his eyes and take his gold and jewels to
the needy,
demonstrating his profound compassion and willingness to sacrifice himself for the welfare
of others.

3- Swallow's Change of Heart: swallow delays his trip to Egypt, captivated by the prince's
statue.
He's initially hesitant to help ("I don't think I like boys"), but the prince's sadness convinces him
to stay.
4- Swallow Feels Warmth: After delivering the ruby, the swallow experiences a strange
sensation despite the cold - a sign of his good deed.
5- Swallow's Death: Weakened by the cold and his selfless acts, the swallow dies at the prince's
feet.
(Oscar wirld’s , 1888 , The Happy Prince )
 3. Psychoanalytic Analysis of Redemption and Sacrifice:
o The Prince's guilt and unconscious drive for redemption.

The Theme of Sacrifice:

The theme of sacrifice can be explored in the story. That the Happy Prince wept when seeing the
misery of the local citizens showed his compassion towards them. He shared with the Swallow
that he did not know what tears were when he had a human heart, but now, although his heart was
made of lead, he could not control the emotion. His sacrifice was shown through asking the
Swallow to take out the precious parts of his body and bring them to those who needed a helping
hand. He asked the Swallow to take the ruby out of his sword-hilt to give to the seamstress with a
son who was ill. He told the Swallow to take out one of his eyes which were made of sapphires
originated in India a thousand years ago and bring it to the students in a garret. His other eye was
plucked out and sent to a little match-girl who would be beat by her father if she did not bring
home some money, The Happy Prince asked the Swallow to take off the gold-covered layer of his
body in leaf by leaf and give to the poor including the beggars sitting at the gates of the beautiful
bouses, the starving children looking out listlessly at the black street and the two little boys lying
under the archway of the bridge. Consequently, the Happy Prince's body turned dull and grey. We
can sec not only the Happy Prince who had made sacrifices but also the Swallow which had
intended to fly to Egypt. but stayed with the Prince permanently at last (Raby, 1988). On several
occasions, he could have abandoned the Happy Prince but he decided to be by his side as the
Happy Prince helped others. In brief, The Happy Prince and the Swallow were more concerned
about others than they were about themselves. They were selfless.

(Oscar Wilde , 1888 , The Happy Prince )

o Th Swallow Loyalty as an act of Self_actualization.

In "The Swallow's Sacrifice," the author masterfully depicts the poignant tale of a swallow's
unwavering loyalty to the Happy Prince amidst the harsh winter. As the frigid temperatures
intensify, the swallow's vitality gradually wanes, yet he valiantly elects to remain by the side of
the noble statue, forsaking his own well-being. This selfless act of devotion ultimately leads to the
swallow's tragic demise, succumbing to the merciless grip of the freezing cold. The author's deft
portrayal of sacrifice and the profound bond between the swallow and the Happy Prince evokes a
profound sense of empathy and serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of friendship
and sacrifice.
The Swallow
The Swallow is portrayed as innocent, loyal, and empathetic. He demonstrates a willingness to
help others, even at the risk of his own well-being. The Swallow's loyalty to the Happy Prince and
his growing understanding of the world's inequalities serve as catalysts for his own character
development.
( Oscar Wirld’s ,1888 , 3 , Happy Prince )
 4- Conclusion
o The psychological depth in Wilde’s Portrayal of Sacrifice and redemption.
o Sacrifice
The Happy Prince throughout the story is the only one who thinks logically.
o
and practically. He knows that his ruby, sapphire and gold is worth more to those in need
than it is to him. In reality the Happy Prince sacrifices everything that he has, including his
eyesight, in order to help others. Yet the Mayor and the Councillors do nothing to help
others. Being too preoccupied with their own sense of self-importance. For the Mayor and
the Councillors their roles in the town mean more to them than actually helping the people
of the town. They are driven by their egos and the self-belief that they know best. Yet many
in the town live in poverty. Though it is clear that the Happy Prince has made a sacrifice, so
too has the Swallow, He has left it too late to fly to Egypt and as such the cold of winter
kills him. This is important as it highlights just how dedicated the Swallow is to the Happy
Prince. On several occasions he could have abandoned the Happy Prince but choose to stay
with him as the Happy Prince helped others. If anything the Swallow has served the Happy
Prince well even though he did pay the ultimate price for his actions. How powerful the
Happy Prince's feelings for the citizens in the town is also noticed by the sadness he feels
when he sees them struggle. It is this sadness that triggers the generosity and practicality of
the Happy Prince. Though the Happy Prince knows that he is being stripped of everything
he possesses he continues to help those in need. He can see that there are others who are
more in need than himself. At all stages in the story the Happy Prince is concerned more
about others than he is about himself. He is selfless. While the prince gives away his ruby,
eyes and gold leaves, the little swallow sacrifices his life to serve humanity. The bird did
not reach Egypt to meet its companions, instead stayed with the prince in harsh cold
weather and at last died at the feet of the statue.
( Oscar Wild’s ,1888 , 4 , Happy Prince )
 Reference
Source Subject N
- Freud & Sigmund Freud 255–256
( 1856 – 1939 ) Overview of
psychoanalytic Theory .1

Psychoanalytic studies of the

- (W,R ,D, Fair brains, 1952, 1 )
Personality: .2

- ( Tyson : Lois Tyson , 12 , 2015) psychoanalytic criticism :- .3

; Loran : Loran F Nordgren , (1) [ - A Theory of unconscious
.] 2006 thought: .4

-(Oscar Wilde , 1888 , The Happy Prince ) The Psychological Context of

.5
Wilde’s The Happy Prince