A psychoanalytic analysis of honey's character in Edward Albee's who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?

Abstract EN

The purpose of this study is to find out the unconscious psychological reasons for Honey's anxious personality, regression, an aversion of sex and fear of pregnancy, a matter that causes the dysfunction of her marriage.

This study also examines the influence of past traumatic experiences about sex and motherhood as well as internal conflicts, buried deep in the subconscious, on an individual's marital life through the analysis of the character of Honey in Edward Albee's Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

The analysis is carried out by applying the Freudian psychoanalytic theory, focusing on the defence mechanism of regression and Honey's sexual aversion disorder.

The findings of the study show that the forbidden sexual relationship of Honey with Nick and her hysterical pregnancy out of wedlock make her feel guilty, anxious and afraid of sex and childbirth.

Therefore, Honey regresses to earlier stages of childhood as a means to escape her adult responsibilities as a wife and protect her ego from pain and anxiety.

In addition, the strict upbringing of Honey causes her feelings of fear and guilt because she deviates from the ethical values of her father, the priest, i.e., the superego.