The Portrayal of Mary as a Selfish Mother in Jane Austen's Persuasion: A Psychoanalytical Criticism

Zullefi, Fakhrani (2025) The Portrayal of Mary as a Selfish Mother in Jane Austen's Persuasion: A Psychoanalytical Criticism. S1 thesis, Universitas Andalas.

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Abstract

This thesis analyzes the theme of motherhood in Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion (1817), focusing on the supporting character of Mary Musgrove. This research seeks to identify the factors that contribute to Mary’s behavior as a selfish mother. In addition, this thesis examines how Mary’s childhood experiences shape her behavior as an adult and as a mother. This thesis applies Sigmund Freud’s dynamics of personality theory and Nancy Chodorow’s concept of the reproduction of mothering as described in her book The Reproduction of Mothering: Psychoanalysis and the Sociology of Gender (1978). The results of this analysis are presented descriptively. The findings reveal that five factors contributed to Mary becoming selfish as a mother. Moreover, in identifying Mary’s behavior, this thesis shows that childhood experiences significantly impact emotional development, and the imbalance between the dynamics of personality leads to Mary’s continued selfishness. This thesis also identifies several factors that contribute to Mary becoming a selfish mother. One of the factors that most influenced Mary’s behavior was the effects of early mothering. In the long term, this may affect the child's foundation for attachment, emotional, and social development.

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