Freud's perspective on psychoanalytic theory

Freud

Doris Lessing's "Through the Tunnel" is a coming-of-age story filled with sexual imagery and symbolism. An eleven-year-old boy is on vacation with his mother. Each day they go to the beach together but one day the boy wants to explore the rocky cliffs at the beach below. Eager to be friends with a group of older local boys, Jerry tries to impress them with his strong swimming skills. However, the boys outdo him by swimming through an underwater tunnel. Feeling socially stigmatized drives Jerry to practice holding his breath so he can swim through the tunnel too. Although he is unaware of his budding masculinity, Jerry is straddled between two worlds. One offers the safety and comfort of being mothered; the other offers the thrilling risks posed by independence and sexual exploration.

Freud's theories of psycho-sexual development and of the development of the ego can shed light on some of Lessing's imagery. The id explains Jerry's impulses: his desire to fit in with the boys; his desire to swim through the tunnel; and his desire to be home and safe too. Jerry's superego is not entirely developed. Instead, his mother represents the superego in Lessing's story. She is concerned about being too overprotective as Jerry gets older. She consciously makes an attempt to offer Jerry as much freedom as possible while at the same time showing maternal concern.

Jerry's ego development is a core theme of "Through the Tunnel." He reconciles his awareness of peer group norms with his need for safety. When Jerry swims, his ego keeps his id in check via common sense and the mature development of patience. Jerry's self-discipline is one example of how he succeeds in balancing the conflicting needs of his id and superego. However, his ego is also what creates the anxiety that Jerry feels and prompts him to idealize the group of tanned boys. Jerry's "unfailing impulse of contrition -- a sort of chivalry" struggles against the boy's impulse to be accepted and viewed as a man (3). The lack of father figure in the story underscores Jerry's preoccupation with the group of boys.

The symbolism in "Through the Tunnel" offers a perfect opportunity to explore Freudian theory. In fact, the symbolism emerges like it would in dreams. The titular tunnel is the central image, being an overt representation of the vaginal canal. Moreover, Jerry contemplates the opening of the canal, its vulva, for a long time before entering it. References to the "promontory" of the beach, "strokes," and finally an "explosion" offer phallic imagery too. Jerry is driven to explore the tunnel by a group of boys that he longed for with "a craving that filled his whole body," (5). The longing also suggests homosexuality, which is tempered soon by Jerry's deeper desire to make it through the tunnel.

Jerry matures into a "most unchildlike" preteen by the end of the story (11). His urge to dive is at first an impulsive id desire. However, the way the boy addresses his anxiety assures that he will not fixate at the phallic stage. Jerry navigates through the latency stage of development by honing his self-will, self-discipline, and self-control. He effectively balances his need for security with exploration.