A Study On Anxiety Of Intellectuals In Possession

Antonia Susan Byatt is a famous British novelist,poet and literary critic in the 20 th century.Byatt’s representative work Possession was published in 1990 and won the Booker Prize.Possession mainly describes the anxiety of intellectuals in the Victorian era and modern society.Through the attention and exploration of the intellectuals’ inner world in Possession,Byatt examines the causes of intellectuals’ anxiety and the way of reconciliation.Based on Freud’s anxiety theory,this thesis aims to analyze the performance of intellectuals’ anxiety in Possession and the measures taken to relieve anxiety through three kinds of anxiety: realistic anxiety,neurotic anxiety and moral anxiety.This thesis attempts to combine the anxiety of intellectuals with the influence of specific social and historical background,and show and relieve the anxiety of intellectuals at different levels.In addition to the introduction and conclusion,this thesis is divided into four chapters.The introduction briefly introduces Byatt’s life,creation and her important work Possession.It summarizes the research status of this work at home and abroad.It puts forward the innovation of this thesis,and expounds the purpose,significance and structure of this thesis as well.The first chapter is the theoretical basis,which mainly introduces Freud’s anxiety theory,and expounds it from three aspects: realistic anxiety,neurotic anxiety and moral anxiety.The second chapter reveals the realistic anxiety of intellectuals due to external repression.Intellectuals face economic dilemmas such as low personal income and a lack of research funding,as well as academic dilemmas such as restrictions from authorities and a lack of innovation.Intellectuals adapt to reality by adapting to work and collection.The third chapter discusses the roots and manifestations of intellectuals’ neurotic anxiety.On the one hand,intellectuals are experiencing inner torment because of their fear of the unknown and the need of being recognized.On the other hand,negative emotions such as loneliness and low self-worth permeate the intellectual community.Intellectuals regain themselves by cultivating personal interest and collaboration.The fourth chapter discusses the moral anxiety of intellectuals,who experience moral paradoxes in their speech and behavior,and finally reach a reconciliation through being honest and returning to the right moral principles.The conclusion summarizes the main research results and deficiencies of the thesis.With the help of Freud’s anxiety theory,this thesis analyzes the realistic anxiety,neurotic anxiety and moral anxiety of intellectuals in Possession,and reveals the mental state of intellectuals.At the same time,Byatt’s novel shows the widespread anxiety consciousness,which makes contemporary people think about the anxiety problems that exist in today’s society.Discussing the anxiety of intellectuals in Byatt’s novels can provide a new perspective for the study of her novels.