The Duality of Obsession and Repression in Thirst for Love

Abstract

The duality of obsession and repression refers to the simultaneous existence and interplay of these two opposing psychological forces within an individual. Literature and psychology explore this concept to illustrate the complexities of human behaviour and emotion. In Yukio Mishima’s Thirst for Love, Etsuko’s character is defined by intense obsessions and repression, first with Ryosuke and later with Saburo. This all-encompassing desire for love and validation and her relentless thoughts and actions depict obsessive longing and the destructive potential of unfulfilled desires. Through Freud and Jung's psychoanalytic theories, this article explores Mishima’s portrayal of the multifaceted force of obsession that dehumanises and humanises Etsuko’s emotions. Etsuko's efforts to repress pain and desire that reflect her stoic demeanour and self-imposed isolation symbolise her struggle against cultural and gender expectations of post-war Japan as seen through Carl Jung's "shadow" and "persona", demonstrating how individuals suppress socially unacceptable aspects while projecting an idealised version of themselves.