Theme and Thematic Analysis

Abstract

Jean Paul Weber who based his approach on the psychoanalytic thematic criticism of the concept, founded his critical system on the data furnished by the modern psychoanalysis. His view on thematic criticism starts from the suggestions and the points of view offered Ch. Mauron's psychocriticism and Bachelard's phenomenology. He also retains Freud's statement concerning the fact that some trauma of childhood has important consequences in shaping an adult's personality. Yet, he enlarges this aspect and and thinks that one should also take into consideration the infantile life as a whole. Starting from this premises he considers that it is necessary to investigate both the sensorial-affective complexes and the sensual and social ones. This conception led him to the presentation of a specific theme in a work of art. That is why, in his opinion, each artist has a certain personal theme which he expresses unconsciously by means of a number of symbols. In his work "Genese de l'oeuvre poetique" the French writer states: "We understand by the concept of theme an infantile event or situation (in its broadest meaning) which is susceptible to manifest itself unconsciously, in the work of art or in an aggregate of works of art (poetical, literary, pictorial) either symbolically or directly, being clear enough that by symbol we understand any analogical substitute of the symbolised"1.The definition of the concept of theme appears clearer in his "Domaines thematiques". He specifies here again: "Nous entendons par theme, ici comme dans notre precedent ouvrage, la trace qu'un souvenir d'enfance a lassaiee dans la memoire d'un ecrivain (et en generalisant, dans celle d'un savant, d'un philosophe)"2.This remembrance, or thematic recollection is not always unconscious. However, unconscious usually remains the relationship between the theme and the work of art. Weber establishes some distinctions between personal and impersonal themes. The personal themes, he says, are specific and allow to dehne the personality of the artist, while the imperonal themes may be common for several writers.Closely connected with the concept of theme he introduces the concept of symbolised theme. This concept shows that one can transplant a theme from one held into another, this being an unconscious act, the symbol constituting itself as a consequence of a direct intention. Moreover he is convinced that the majority of the literary works have a monothematic character, though he doesn't argue the possibility of plurithematic works, mentioning that the themes can be gathered in a hypertheme based on a system of symbols.Conceived as the expression of the unconscious, the theme may be represented by an object, for exemple the clock in Poe's works, by a painting, by several objects, and so on. The theme can also emerge from the gathering of several recollections from childhood. Here he gives the exemple of the reminiscences concerning the capturing of the birds. The reminiscences are gathered in the theme of the dead bird which is to be found in Malarme's work.Speaking about a theme to be found in different works he points out that the various shades of meaning under which it appears pleading for its uniqueness. His exemple is again from Poe with whom the theme of the clocks appears under the form of the hour plate, the meeting of the hour hands, the traject of the time piece which goes up and down.Yet two important questions arise as far as the analysis of the creation process is concerned: how could one demonstrate that an author's work centres on a unique theme?; what are the means and ways of detecting this theme?In order to answer these questions J.P.Weber proposes a series of steps that should be taken. Firstly, the critic must look for the clear and distinct recollection which may be related with the author's works. Secondly, he must look for simple texts with a symbolic significance. Thirdly, he must clear up the stylistic obsessions and vocabulary obsessions connected with certain recollections which in their turn may be attested in some texts. …