Displacement

= __Displacement & Psychoanalytic Theory__ = = = = =  According to Freud, displacement is an unconscious action of the mind in which certain impulses are redirected from an unacceptable target to a less threatening, or more acceptable target. The unconscious shift of emotions has to do with the concept of dreamwork, which is the mind's way of protecting the individual from the power of these intense emotions and desires. The unconscious thoughts are brought into dreams as images or situations that are non-threatening. Displacement is the transfer of an emotion from its original focus to another object, person, or situation. =**Displacement is an unconscious defense mechanism when bad thoughts are redirected to thoughts about objects that are safe. **= = = = =

 =__Displacement & Catcher __=

The concept of displacement when applied to literature looks at a seemingly insignificant symbol appearing in a story as the key to understanding the character. The fact that Holden is having traumatic problems is because of the loss of his brother. The moment his brother died, right then and there was the beginning of his displacement, when the trauma of his brother's death began to affect him deeply. Holden's unconscious begins to block his strong emotions, and redirects his feelings of loss towards other areas of his life, such as flunking out of school or believing everyone he meets is a phony.  

   
 * An example of this is the ducks at the pond. Holden thinks about the ducks and then wonders where they will find safety, but what he may be thinking of is how he will find safety. Or he might be using the ducks as a displaced symbol of his feelings for his brother Allie, specifically what will happen to Allie after he dies.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">These can be involuntary or seemingly insignificant actions, such as Holden's continued mistake of the lyrics from "Comin' Through the Rye" in which he says 'catch' rather than 'meet.' This small mistake is significant in that it is a displacement of his desire to preserve innocence.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">In a sense, a way in which this displacement has affected Holden is in the way he seems to push people away and sabotage relationships; he is unwilling to get close to people out of fear of losing them. Think of all of the failed attempts that occur during his journey in NYC.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Holden cannot hold good relationships with others. This can be seen with his roommates at school. One might notice Holden's jealousy of his roommate and it creates a conflict in their relationship. In a scene in the book, Holden's conversation with his roommate, Stradlater, ends in a physical fight. After that fight he goes to speak with his other roommate,Ackley, and their conversation ends in a verbal brawl as well.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">This applies to __The Catcher in the Rye__ because one may view Holden's red hunting cap as symbolizing his want to be protected from the evils of the world.

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