Abstract
In character development in plays, especially in the case of main characters, they undergo changes resulting from the character’s movement within framework of the narrative progression and cause-and-effect relationships. This progression can be considered equivalent to personal growth. The character of Dr. Stockmann in the play “An Enemy of the People” also follows this process of personal growth. Furthermore, the study of character growth using psychological theories is scientifically feasible. Lacan is who has theorized about the progression of psychological growth in characters. Lacan divides the psyche into three major structures: the Imaginary Order, the Symbolic Order, and the Real Order. This research explores the similarities between Lacan’s theories regarding the Imaginary and Symbolic Orders and the psychological growth of Dr. Stockmann’s character. Therefore, an attempt has been made to examine how this theory is applied in playwriting and the extent to which Dr. Stockmann’s character adheres to this theory. Accordingly, by explaining the three major structures of the psyche according to Lacan, including the Imaginary Order, the Symbolic Order, and the Real Order, and their consequences such as alienation, identification, separation, etc., components for examining this theory within the framework of the play are discovered. Moreover, these components have been compared to examples from the text and narrative of the play “An Enemy of the People.” This study demonstrates that the characterization of Dr. Stockmann aligns with Lacan’s psychological orders and undergoes conscious transformation throughout the narrative of the play, following the patterns of this theory.
Presenters
Arman NorouzzadehStudent, Bamdad Drama and Stage Reading Summer Festival, Dramatic Literature, Khorasan, Iran
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Dr. Thomas stockmann, An enemy of the people, Henrik Ibsen, Imaginary Order, Symbolic Order, Jacques Lacan
