The Burden of Psychological Self-Awareness: A psychoanalytic study of Flowers for Algernon, Frankenstein and Brave New World.

Abstract

This paper explores the psychological consequences of self-awareness and scientific advancement in Flowers for Algernon, Frankenstein, and Brave New World through a psychoanalytic lens. Drawing on Freud’s structural model of the psyche and Lacan’s concept of the mirror stage, the study examines how alienation, identity crises, and repression shape the protagonists’ psychological trajectories. Charlie Gordon, Victor Frankenstein, the Creature, and John "the Savage" each grapple with the burden of heightened self-awareness, leading to profound personal suffering and societal critique. The analysis highlights the destructive consequences of transcending natural boundaries, revealing how the repression of desires and the failure to integrate newfound consciousness contribute to their tragic fates. By comparing these narratives, this study argues that the pursuit of knowledge often results in psychological fragmentation, reinforcing broader questions about the ethical and emotional costs of human progress.