Psychoanalysis in Mrs. Warren’s Profession

-          DENIAL: a condition in which someone will not admit that something sad, painful, etc., is true or false

a.       Vivie: Don’t suppose anything, Mr Praed. I hardly know my mother. [...] But don’t imagine I know anything about my mother. I know far less than you do.

Praed: [very ill at ease] In that case—[He stops, quite at a loss. Then, with a forced attempt at gaiety] But what nonsense we are talking! Of course you and your mother will get on capitally. [He rises, and looks abroad at the view]. What a charming little place you have here!

·         Praed supposedly knows all about Vivie’s mother, Mrs. Warren. He understands how the relationship between Mrs. Warren and Vivie actually is, in which they are quiet seldom to meet each other since Vivie was child. However, Praed denies the fact then says that Vivie and her mother will get on capitally. It means that Praed tries to hide something and the aim of doing that.

b.      Mrs Warren: Yes; and young people have to get all that nonsense taken out of them, and good deal more besides. Don’t you interfere, Praddy: I know how to treat my own child as well as you do. [...] What does he take it like that for?

Crofts: [morosely] Youre afraid of Praed.

Mrs Warren: What! Me! Afraid of dear old Praddy! Why, a fly wouldn’t be afraid of him.

·         “Don’t you interfere, Praddy”, Mrs. Warren said. “Interfere” is to become involved in the activities and concerns of other people when the involvement is not wanted. Mrs. Warren is actually afraid of the involvement of Praed in treating Vivie which influences him getting angry to Praed. Nevertheless, she denies her anxious to have defence mechanism.

-          SUBLIMATION: the transformation of an impulse into something socially constructive; to express a desire or feeling by changing it into a form that is socially acceptable.

Vivie: I’m supposed to know something about science; but I know nothing except the

mathematics it involves. I can make calculations for engineers, electricians, insurance

companies, and so on; but I know next to nothing about engineering or electricity or

insurance. I don’t even know arithmetic well.

Vivie’s transformation:

            Vivie: I shall set up chambers in the City, and work at actuarial calculations and     conveyancing. Under cover of that I shall do some law, with one eye on the Stock            Exchange all the time. I’ve come down here by myself to read law: not for a holiday,            as my mother imagines. I hate holidays.

·         Sublimation can be meant by positive self-release. Vivie is bad in science, weak in engineering or electricity or insurance, even does not know arithmetic well. To cover her weakness, she reads more about law and will set up chambers in the city and work at actuarial both calculations and conveyancing. It balances the weakness and overplus in the positive way.

-          PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE: being marked by, displaying behaviour characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way (as through procrastination and stubbornness).

[Crofts advances to Vivie with his most courtly manner. She nods, but makes no motion to shake hands.]

·         Although Vivie never says she hates Crofts, but her misanthropy is quiet obvious when she treats Crofts badly and impolitely. Vivie shows her passive-aggressive by assuming that Crofts is an enemy and not reasonable to be respected. Besides, “no motion to shake hands” above can be categorized as passive action of her hatred toward Crofts, because it is so different with how she behaves Praed well in the beginning of the story.

-          ACTING OUT: emotional outburst

Praed [rising indignantly] Really, Crofts—!

·         Praed is failed to control his emotion in which influences to stand angrily. His action, standing, shows that he is in the highest anger.

-          REGRESSION: reverting back to immature behaviour from an earlier stage of development

Frank: The babes in the wood: Vivie and little Frank. [He nestles against her like a weary child]. Lets go and get covered up with leaves.

Vivie: [rhythmically, rocking him like a nurse] Fast asleep, hand in hand, under the trees.

·         Frank and Vivie try to be happy with pretending like a little boy with his nurse. Frank nestles against Vivie like a weary child is like a child behaviour which is not suitable for his mature age any longer. So, he retreats his self in earlier level.

-           INCEST: sexual intercourse between people who are very closely related

Frank: Neither did I. You are my first playmate. [He catches her hand to kiss it, but checks himself to look around first. Very unexpectedly, he sees Crofts emerging from the box hedge]. Oh damn!

Vivie: Why damn, dear?

·         Whereas Frank and Vivie have not known yet about what their relation actually is, which are half-sister and brother, Vivie and Frank are considered as incest. Frank still tries to retake Vivie’s love even after he knows Vivie is his half-sister.