UNVEILING THE SILENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA IN MICHAELIDES’S THE SILENT PATIENT: A PSYCHOANALYTIC STUDY

Abstract

The psychoanalytic study reveals the silence and psychological trauma in Michaelides’s The Silent Patient. The story revolves around Alicia Berenson, an artist who stays silent after being accused of killing her husband, Gabriel. Using psychoanalytic theory by Sigmund Freud, our research examines Alicia’s complex psychological layers that lead to her silence and the impact on her mental state. This study aims to analyse the main characters, Theo Faber and Alicia Berenson, through the lens of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic concepts such as the Id, ego, and superego. Through the silence and interactions of the other characters, the research seeks to reveal conflicts and unresolved issues that contribute to the psychological story. Furthermore, our research critically discusses a deeper understanding of the complex interaction between silence and trauma. The study highlights how Alicia’s silence works as both a defence mechanism and a manifestation of her oppressed emotions. By analysing Theo Faber’s obsession with Alicia’s case, the study also analyses the underlying psychological motivations that direct him to unveil her past. Additionally, the research delves into the role of childhood trauma in constructing the behaviours and personalities of both Alicia Berenson and Theo Faber. By applying Freud’s theory, this research aims to provide insights into the unconscious mind, revealing how restricted emotions and past experiences influence present actions.

Keywords: Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, The Silent Patient, silence, trauma, Id, ego, superego.