Hidden Strings: The Art of Manipulation in Freida McFadden's 'The Housemaid' through Psychoanalytic Study

Fakiha Arain; Waqar Hussain

doi:10.59890/xe80r088

Authors

Fakiha Arain Department of English, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Nawabsha Author
Waqar Hussain Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Department of English, Science and Technology, Nawabshah Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59890/xe80r088

Keywords:

Emotional Manipulation, Psychoanalytic Criticism, The Housemaid

Abstract

This research delves into the motif of manipulation in Freida McFadden's novel, The Housemaid, using a psychoanalytic framework. Employing a qualitative approach centered on textual analysis, the study examines the psychological dynamics between the protagonist, Millie Calloway, and the affluent Winchester family. The research raises important ethical questions by examining how emotional intelligence is used to manipulate others through close examination of the character interactions. It reveals the psychological tensions and unconscious reasons underlying the characters' actions, illuminating the negative aspects of emotional intelligence and how they affect identity and self-worth. The study promotes increased awareness and ethical issues in interpersonal relationships and advances our understanding of manipulation in both literary and real-world circumstances. It also places the novel's critique amid broader considerations of power dynamics and social injustices, providing a nuanced view on the intricacies of human interactions. This research demonstrates how manipulative strategies can result in significant psychological suffering and emphasizes the significance of ethical norms in the application of emotional intelligence. In the final stages, the study adds to the conversation on psychological health, moral behavior, and emotional manipulation by highlighting the necessity of a nuanced understanding of emotional intelligence in both literature and society. The study shows how manipulation can undermine one's sense of self and identity by delving into the unconscious motivations and psychological conflicts of McFadden's characters. This reflects the novel's larger critique of society power structures and disparities

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