Susan's Ashes Psychoanalytic Lens

Looking back to the novel with a psychoanalytic lens, a reader is able see how Jane’s up-bringing molded her into a person see in the novel. With her repressed wounds and fears caused by the belittling by her mother and the lack of a father Jane needed a person to support her and she found that in Vincent. Vincent fulfilled her need for an outlet to vent her aggressions against her mother, her mother did not see Vincent as a sexual threat yet Jane yearned to have sex with him. Vincent also assumed the role of father figure to Jane, this completed her need to have a complete family unit yet Jane psychologically still needed more. This is where the need for Vincent’s support turned into an obsession. Jane’s idolization of Vincent could be seen

Jane’s mother continually reminds Jane of the dangers of sex before marriage, “None of what she called consequences… Babies and marriage, in that order.” (Atwood 91) This idea of being abstinent is one that is used in Christianity and Jane’s mother is one example of how not abiding by that rule could change your life, “It was like having sex, in high school, in those days before the Pill, even if you took precautions.” (Atwood 90). Jane’s mother is not shown in a good light and this could be an underlying symbol of sin. The imagery of the falling apple also adds to this idea and a parallel to the story of creation, of Adam and Eve. It is significant that Jane’s mother is the one telling us how women’s bodies are like the fruit of sin, “you were young briefly and then you fell. You plummeted downwards like an overripe apple and hit the ground with a squash; you fell…” (Atwood 92). This tells Jane that she must be careful, a threat to keep her body sacred. Her mother warns against other boys Jane has been with, yet she is not worried about Jane and Vincent’s relationship. This brings another idea that Vincent could be seen as a Christ-figure, that he will not hurt Jane. Jane’s mother could be seeing Vincent as being with Jane like people believe Christ is with them, in a beautiful and caring way, not