Depiction of dissociation and identity crisis in the novel Tell Me Your Dreams: a psychoanalytic analysis of the protagonist Ashley Patterson

ABSTRACT

Through narratives, characters, and themes, psychological fiction provides readers with a unique lens through which they can contemplate and reflect on the complexity of the human psyche. This research paper predominantly focuses on the psychoanalytic portrayal of the protagonist in the novel Tell Me Your Dreams to understand how the text depicts the themes of dissociation and identity crisis in detail. The paper also emphasizes the role of childhood trauma and abuse in shaping the protagonist's identity who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychology
• dissociation
• trauma
• identity
• fiction
• disorder

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Ph.D. Cell and the Department of Humanities and Linguistics at Sarala Birla University, Ranchi. We would also like to thank the editors and reviewers of the Journal of Poetry Therapy for their valuable guidance during the review and publication processes. A special word of thanks to Ms. Ramya Jayaram Paleri for her constant support and suggestions during the review of the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).