Freud as a Tool of Literary Criticism: Unbalanced Personality Structures in Shel Silverstein's the Giving Tree
Abstract
While Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree is widely interpreted as a story of unconditional love and selfless giving, such interpretations may pay less attention to the unequal relational dynamics between the Boy and the Tree. Previous studies have predominantly examined the story from ethical, moral, or ecofeminist perspectives, leaving limited analysis of psychological dependence, personality structures, and unhealthy relational patterns between the two characters. This study addresses this gap by applying Freudian psychoanalysis as a framework for literary criticism. Using a qualitative descriptive method and in-depth textual analysis, the study examines the characters’ relationship through Freud’s concepts of personality structure (Id, Ego, and Superego), defense mechanisms, and instinct theory. The findings indicate an imbalance in personality structures: the Boy is predominantly driven by the Id and pleasure principle, while the Tree demonstrates a weak Ego and an excessive Superego through continuous self-sacrifice. Their interaction develops into a repetitive pattern of psychological dependence in which the Tree’s unconditional giving reinforces the Boy’s dependence. The study concludes that The Giving Tree can also be read as a representation of unhealthy relational dynamics and the psychological consequences of idealized self-sacrifice.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v11i5.3175
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