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Slide 1: The Aim of The Study

The significance of my presentation is a deeper understanding of Sigmund Freud’s concept of the

uncanny. Although previous studies have explored the uncanny in various literary works, this
kind of study has not yet been done on the Carrie and The Shining novels.

Slide 2: Introduction

Stephen King is an American author of contemporary horror, supernatural fiction, suspense,

science fiction, and fantasy. More than 350 million copies of his books have been sold, and many
of them have been adapted into feature films and television movies. Some of his most famous
works include "Carrie," "The Shining," "It," "Misery," "The Stand," and "The Dark Tower"
series. King's writing often explores human nature's dark and mysterious aspects.

Slide 3: Theoretical Framework

Psychoanalytic theory is a framework for understanding the human mind and behavior. It was
developed by Sigmund Freud, a famous psychologist who studied the unconscious mind and its
impact on human behavior. Now, I will talk about one of Sigmund Freud's renowned concepts:
the uncanny.

Slide 4: Uncanny

The concept of the uncanny was first explored psychologically by Ernst Jentsch in a 1906 essay,
On the Psychology of the Uncanny. The concept of the Uncanny was later elaborated on and
developed by Sigmund Freud in his 1919 essay "Das Unheimliche" or "The Uncanny." The term
"uncanny" originates from the German word "unheimlich," which means "unhomely" or
"unfamiliar." It refers to a feeling of discomfort or eeriness that arises when something familiar
becomes unfamiliar or when something should be familiar but feels strange. Several key
elements and themes contribute to the uncanny concept / Key elements contributing to the
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uncanny concept include exploring social issues, the double theme, madness and psychological
instability, supernatural elements, and isolation.

 One such element is exploring social issues: Exploring social issues can add an uncanny
dimension to literature. When societal norms are twisted or distorted, it creates a sense of
the unfamiliar within the familiar.

 Another significant contributor, the double, often called a doppelganger in German, is

one of literature's most popular themes of the uncanny. The double can be classified into
several types, including twins, shadows, ghosts, two people with the same name, and a
person's past or future self. According to Freud, the double is the: “insurance against
destruction of the ego”. In other words, people have two separate personalities: one that
fits in with social rules and the other that is shaped by the person's repressed personality
traits.

 Madness and psychological instability are potent sources of the uncanny. When
characters question their sanity, or the narrative becomes unreliable, it contributes to the
uncanny. (the uncanny effect is often and easily produced by effacing the distinction
between imagination and reality). Also, the uncanny is closely linked to repressed desires
and emotions. The uncanny often reveals hidden or suppressed aspects of the psyche.

 The presence of supernatural elements or powers can evoke the uncanny by challenging
the natural order of things. Whether it's ghosts, magic, telepathy or otherworldly
phenomena, the supernatural intrusion disrupts the expected reality and introduces an
uncanny element. When characters or situations defy the laws of nature, it creates a sense
of unease.

 Freud connected the uncanny with situations that induce discomfort, and the feeling of
being confined within one's isolation can intensify this discomfort.
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Each of these elements plays a role in creating an atmosphere of the uncanny by destabilizing the
expected and introducing elements that evoke both anxiety and discomfort. So, the uncanny
concept is complex and multifaceted, and its interpretation can vary based on cultural and
individual perspectives.

The writer Anneleen Masschelein suggests that the term uncanny itself “is untranslatable qua
form and content”. As long as the uncanny cannot be interpreted literally, its ambiguity will
continue to be open to various interpretations.

Slide 5: we have two similar themes in the novels

Isolation

 Isolation is a similar theme in both "Carrie" and The Shining. The theme of isolation can
be considered uncanny because it involves a psychological and emotional experience that
is both familiar and strange, creating a sense of unease and discomfort. Freud connected
the uncanny with situations that induce discomfort, and the feeling of being confined
within one's isolation can intensify this discomfort. For example, King uses the theme of
isolation in Carrie to emphasise the protagonist’s isolation in various aspects of the novel,
such as the toxic and unhealthy environment at home and school, Carrie’s superpowers,
appearance, and lack of knowledge, all of which contribute to her isolation. The isolation
in "The Shining" contributes significantly to the novel's suspense and horror. The
characters' physical isolation, psychological struggles, and the supernatural nature of the
hotel create an environment where the uncanny thrives, making isolation a fundamental
aspect of the novel's atmospheric and psychological impact.

Supernatural Power

A related theme in both "Carrie" and "The Shining" revolves around supernatural power,
serving not only as a plot device but as a manifestation of the characters' internal
struggles and the repressed aspects of their consciousness. In "Carrie," the story mixes the
supernatural with everyday life as the main character, a teenage girl named Carrie, deals
with special abilities like telepathy and telekinesis. She faces bullying and harm at school
and home, leading her to suppress her anger. Her telekinetic power becomes a symbolic
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resurgence of the repressed. In "The Shining," the supernatural element is telepathy,

called shining. A five-year-old named Danny can shine, seeing past and future events.
The telepathic communication among characters with this ability creates an uncanny
atmosphere in the novel.

Slide 6: we have two different themes in novels

Carrie: In Carrie, we have revenge and religion.

 The theme of religion in "Carrie" revolves around Margaret White's extreme

interpretation of Christian religious teachings, creating an uncanny and unsettling
atmosphere for readers. Margaret employs practices such as self-flagellation, isolation,
and locking Carrie in the "prayer closet" and her severe punishment methods as a means
of raising her daughter, reflecting a distorted understanding of religion. Even though the
core concept of religion is still known, Margaret's extreme behaviour and beliefs make it
strange and unsettling, as they are different from the more common Christian teachings,
which emphasise love, forgiveness, and mercy. As a result of Margaret planting a
distorted idea of God-belief in Carrie's mind, this adversely reflected Carrie's ideas about
religion as a whole, which led her to write a poem concerning her religious convictions,
saying:
“Jesus watches from the wall,
But his face is cold as stone,
And if he loves me
As she tells me
Why do I feel so all alone?” (King, 1975, p.71)

So, the connection between the theme of religion and the uncanny is based on Freud's
definition of the uncanny, which refers to something familiar that becomes unfamiliar,
and this is exactly what happened. The theme of religion is familiar, but when it is
distorted, it becomes unfamiliar.
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 There are numerous causes for Carrie's act of revenge, including bullying and verbal
abuse, which are significant plot elements. Verbal abuse refers to using words, language,
or communication to demean, belittle, humiliate, or emotionally harm someone. For
example, her peers call Carrie “truck-face” (King, 1975, p. 8). Once, Chris asks her: “If
she knew that pig poop was spelt CA-R-R-I-E” (p. 9). Moreover, someone scribbles
something on the school desk that says, “Carrie White eats shit”. Even Carrie's neighbor,
a child named Tommy, made fun of Carrie by calling her “fart-face” (p. 23). Apart from
her classmates, her mother is one of her abusers; she calls her: “Devil’s child, Devil’s
child, Satan spawn—” (p. 96). So, the revenge manifests the suppressed anger and pain
that Carrie has endured throughout her life and her revenge can be seen as an uncanny
eruption of repressed emotions and supernatural abilities.

The Shining: In The Shining, we have madness and Representation of double characters

 According to Freud, the uncanny effect is often and easily produced by effacing the
distinction between imagination and reality. In The Shining, Jack's madness, driven by
the evil forces of the hotel, blurs the boundaries between the familiar and the unfamiliar.
His psychological unraveling is portrayed as a transformation from normal human
behavior to descent into madness. This uncanny element is amplified by the hotel's dark
history and supernatural occurrences, which influence Jack's behavior. Jack's madness
becomes increasingly annoying as the story progresses, creating an uncanny and
unsettling atmosphere.

 The concept of "the double" is a significant theme in Sigmund Freud's essay "The
Uncanny" (published in 1919). Throughout the novel, Jack faces a constant internal
conflict between his affectionate, family-loving nature and the evil personality that
emerges under the hotel’s malevolent influence. However, as the story progresses, his
personality undergoes a dramatic change. His descent into madness and violence creates
a duality or double nature in his character. The uncanny aspect lies in how his ordinary
self becomes increasingly unfamiliar and eerie as he succumbs to the evil forces of the
hotel. Danny also introduces the double, who has an “imaginary friend” named Tony.
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Tony allows Danny to see what will happen in the future or show him what has occurred
in the past when Danny is in a trance state.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this research critically analyzes King’s Carrie and The Shining by utilizing the
framework of psychoanalytic theory and the uncanny concept. Through this perspective, the
study reveals elements and themes of a social and psychological nature that concern readers.
Although the uncanny has been the topic of numerous studies, its development based on the
unfamiliar suggests that traditional definitions may not capture its total essence, mainly when
applied to contemporary literature. Therefore, this concept constantly evolves, and each new
study provides a new meaning.

Stephen King employs the uncanny in "Carrie" and "The Shining" to evoke fear and unease in
the reader. By introducing familiar yet uncanny or unsettling elements, authors can tap into deep-
seated fears and provoke a visceral emotional response. Blurring boundaries between the known
and unknown, the ordinary and extraordinary, amplifies this sense of dread.

The investigation into the human psyche gives the characters greater depth and enables a more
in-depth comprehension of the reasons behind their actions.