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A review by _wandering_thoughts_
The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann
4.0
I read this after reading Freud's essay about the Uncanny in order to have read the work he based a lot of his theories on. I've come to the conclusion that Freud knew fuck all about this story.
Although a lot of his theories about the Uncanny make sense (repetition of familiar situations combined with a feeling of helplessness, seeing the familiar in the unfamiliar and vice versa...) it really seems like a stretch for him to claim that this story proves his point that the fear of losing ones eyes is actually castration anxiety. I read this more in a communal than an uncanny way. For me it was more a commentary on how high society goes along with whatever ridiculous customs the host sets, a satire of the gender roles (see the dismissal of independent thought from Clara compared to the lifeless "attention" Olympia pays to Nathaniel's sub-par poetry) and physical attraction over actual human connection.
However, it is interesting to note that Clara clearly articulates a lot of Freud's theories about the unconscious. But he can't admit to that, because then he would be contradicting his theories about women being stupid baby-machines that run on penis envy and daddy issues.
Tldr: This was a fun, quick read, and Freud sucks!
Although a lot of his theories about the Uncanny make sense (repetition of familiar situations combined with a feeling of helplessness, seeing the familiar in the unfamiliar and vice versa...) it really seems like a stretch for him to claim that this story proves his point that the fear of losing ones eyes is actually castration anxiety. I read this more in a communal than an uncanny way. For me it was more a commentary on how high society goes along with whatever ridiculous customs the host sets, a satire of the gender roles (see the dismissal of independent thought from Clara compared to the lifeless "attention" Olympia pays to Nathaniel's sub-par poetry) and physical attraction over actual human connection.
However, it is interesting to note that Clara clearly articulates a lot of Freud's theories about the unconscious. But he can't admit to that, because then he would be contradicting his theories about women being stupid baby-machines that run on penis envy and daddy issues.
Tldr: This was a fun, quick read, and Freud sucks!