I Ll Give You The Sun Literary Analysis

In “I’ll Give You The Sun” by Jandy Nelson the author employs motif and tone to explore the literary theories of Freudian psychoanalysis and queer theory. Sigmund Freud in his work talked of peoples unconscious desires and defenses, id-ego and how it drives motivation versus superego and how it drives judgment, and the Oedipus complex and how the childhood affects adulthood (Purdue OWL: Sigmund Freud). Another literary critic Gerhard Richter talks about how psychosexual development and the Oedipus complex are connected and how it affects adulthood (Purdue Owl: Gender[s], Power, and Marginalization). These theories connect to the novel because the development of the two main characters, who are twins, grow as binary opposites. Nelson uses the

The Art schools’ importance to the twins becomes the only way to receive attention from their mother. The devastation and impact of the acceptance letters broke the twins apart: “When he found out I got in and he didn't, he destroyed everything he'd ever made. Not even a doodle remains. He hasn't picked up a pencil, pastel, stick of charcoal, or paintbrush since" (34). The anger felt by Noah had overcome him, with already having anxiety from his homosexuality and trying to hide it, brought on even graver challenges. As the break for Noah destroyed everything he had ever done and become “normal” by dissociating himself from the world and only finding solace in one friend instead of constant betrayal of his sibling. But before Noah can dissuade himself, he betrays his twin just like she did to him: “I put my finger on the delete button and press hard, press murderously. I call the rest up, each one more awesome and strange and cooler than the next, and wipe them out, one by one, until every trace of my sister's talent is gone from the world and then the only mine is left" (141). The sabotage between the twins grows as their separation becomes imminent. The problems they face with each other grow as they

The twins grew slowly apart as they’re put against each other which didn’t fit together because of their stubborn one-sided opinions. Their progress of prepared sabotage, the twins fight for their chance at attention and redemption that seems unachievable. Using queer literary theory, the story shows that the psychosexual developments of the twins makes them drastically different and grow in totally different ways. In I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson the author uses motifs and themes of guilt and dread in the art to describe the emotions of characters that seem unattainable because of the envy the twins have for each other, so gratifying that they break their bonds. This portrays importance because while looking through the lenses of these literary theories, they can be applied to many circumstances in life. Overall in this novel the teenage years that are exampled, the twins face their greatest difficulties, and in real life, the path of self-exploration