The Shadow, the Unconscious and Dreams
When I taught university students a variety of psychological classes, I always took pleasure in giving a seminar on "The Shadow, the Unconscious and Dreams". If you wonder, what's the relation of these three to one another, well, through your dreams you can get in touch with your shadow and unconscious and therefore become aware of yourself, of those parts in you which until now you have denied and rejected as part of "who you are". Then, when you are self-aware, you are more empowered to live your life to the fullest.
The "shadow" in each one of us
Whether we like it or not, in each one of us there is a "shadow"- those parts of us which we deny and reject as being part of us. These parts - characteristics, thoughts and emotions - are usually those which make us shamed, anxious, afraid and uncomfortable. These can be "negative" feelings - such as jealousy, cruelty, sexuality, aggressiveness, etc. - feelings which we think are not socially valued. These can also be personal characteristics which we possess yet prefer to deny as part of ourselves, such as controlling, stinginess, egoism, stubbornness, etc.
But as much as we reject these from being part of us, we nonetheless are attracted to and fascinated by stories (as well as films) which depict such feelings and characteristics.
Becoming aware of yourself, of those parts in you which you have denied and rejected as part of "who you are" is therefore a first step in being empowered to live your life to the fullest, as well as better able to develop successful personal and professional relationships.
The shadow as being reflected in Edgar Allan Poe's stories
When we understand the concept of the "shadow" we can then understand what makes the stories of Edgar Allan Poe so fascinating to us. They are macabre in nature; delve into the mysteries of our soul; depict episodes which make us fearful and anxious, on the one hand, yet motivate us to keep reading, hoping to "discover" what's happening, curious to know what the end will be.
Poe's life and stories
Some literary critics say that a "great writer" (a definition of "a great writer" is still being continuously debated... ) is one whose life was in a shamble. They mention authors such as the French writer Honoré de Balzac, the American writer Truman Capote and the Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun (famous for his book "Hunger").
Some literary critics say that a "great writer" (a definition of "a great writer" is still being continuously debated... ) is one whose life was in a shamble. They mention authors such as the French writer Honoré de Balzac, the American writer Truman Capote and the Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun (famous for his book "Hunger").
Edgar Allan Poe, an American author (1809 - 1849) can certainly be included in this category. Dying at the young age of 40 his life was a continuous struggle with complex problems and relationships (it is interesting to note the similarity between Poe the writer to the Nederland's painter Van Gogh [1853 - 1890] who died at the age of 37 and, just like Poe, has had a hard life, part of which was attributed to his mental illness).
Peter Ackroyd's biography "Poe: A Life Cut Short"
The complexity of Poe's life is adequately described in Peter Ackroyd's biography "Poe: A Life Cut Short" (2009). Although written in a chronological order, it nonetheless begins with Poe's tragic death, the reason being that his death is, in some respect, a symbol of Poe's life as a continuous accumulation of one misery after another. Not only was Poe financially poor for most of his life, he was also "disillusioned" about his attempts at intimate relationships with women. It seems like his macabre psychological stories are a mirror to his own soul, reflecting his own misery (as well as mirroring the "shadow" which exists in each one of us).
Throughout his short life Poe was engaged with many "vocations": a soldier, a journalist, an editor, always busy producing stories after stories. But moving from one vocation to another, from one relationship to another, must have been intrinsically related to the inner stress by which he was engulfed.
Ackroy'd book is a fascinating chronological account of Poe's life vis-à-vis the societal-cultural times in which he lived. Fascinating as well is the realization that the miseries Poe has endured throughout his life are not unique to his times: other human beings throughout history have suffered and might still be suffering a similar existence. What makes Poe unique, though, is his virtuosity as a writer, his diversity of style and themes, which Peter Ackroyd has so artistically painted in front of our eyes.
Poe's tormented soul, his complex relationships with women - due to his complex relationships with himself! - his gambling and alcohol problems are coming to life in Ackroyd's book, a page-turner biography, depicting a complex personality which is in a constant struggle with its inner as well as outer world, to the bitter end...
Poe's "demons" and "shadow" have not only tormented him all his life, but, being an artist, came to life in his many stories. In such he, as a writer, might have been different from many of us who are not artists in nature and do not have the means to express our own shadow and demons. Being unable to express these is driving many of us to reject them, denying their existence in us. Nonetheless, they often surface uncontrollably and without our awareness (for example: in our projections and judgements), therefore harming our relationships.
Poe's "demons" and "shadow" have not only tormented him all his life, but, being an artist, came to life in his many stories. In such he, as a writer, might have been different from many of us who are not artists in nature and do not have the means to express our own shadow and demons. Being unable to express these is driving many of us to reject them, denying their existence in us. Nonetheless, they often surface uncontrollably and without our awareness (for example: in our projections and judgements), therefore harming our relationships.
We are better equipped to deal with our own issues than Poe was
Poe might not have had sufficient means to deal with his complex psychological issues, except to express them in his writings (not always being aware of the fact that his writings reflect his own issues). We, on the other hand, living in the 21st century, might be better encircled with various means by which we can become aware of our own shadow, demons and psychological issues, learn how to cope with them and become able to stop them from tormenting us, thus moving on to developing a quality life and healthy relationships.
Doron Gil, Ph.D., an expert on Self-Awareness and Relationships, is a university teacher, workshop leader, counsellor and consultant, and the author of: "The Self-Awareness Guide to a Successful Intimate Relationship. The book includes more than 200 real-life anecdotes illustrating how to become conscious and empowered to develop a healthy and satisfying intimate relationship: http://www.amazon.com/Self-Awareness-Guide-Successful-Intimate-Relationship/dp/143925141X/
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