Beckett and Bion : The (Im)Patient Voice in Psychotherapy and Literature

This book focuses on Samuel Beckett's psychoanalytic psychotherapy with W.R. Bion as a central aspect both of Beckett's and Bion's radical transformations of literature and psychoanalysis. The recent publication of Beckett's correspondence during the period of his psychotherapy with Bion provides a starting place for an imaginative reconstruction of this psychotherapy, culminating with Bion's famous invitation to his patient to dinner and a lecture by C.G. Jung. Following from the course of this psychotherapy, Miller and Souter trace the development of Beckett's radical use of clinical psychoanalytic method in his writing, suggesting the development within his characters of a literary-analytic working through of transference to an idealized auditor known by various names, apparently based on Bion. Miller and Souter link this pursuit to Beckett's breakthrough from prose to drama, as the psychology of projective identification is transformed to physical enactment. Read more... Abstract: This book focuses on Samuel Beckett's psychoanalytic psychotherapy with W.R. Bion as a central aspect both of Beckett's and Bion's radical transformations of literature and psychoanalysis. The recent publication of Beckett's correspondence during the period of his psychotherapy with Bion provides a starting place for an imaginative reconstruction of this psychotherapy, culminating with Bion's famous invitation to his patient to dinner and a lecture by C.G. Jung. Following from the course of this psychotherapy, Miller and Souter trace the development of Beckett's radical use of clinical psychoanalytic method in his writing, suggesting the development within his characters of a literary-analytic working through of transference to an idealized auditor known by various names, apparently based on Bion. Miller and Souter link this pursuit to Beckett's breakthrough from prose to drama, as the psychology of projective identification is transformed to physical enactment This Book Focuses On Samuel Beckett's Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy With W. R. Bion As A Central Aspect Both Of Beckett's And Bion's Radical Transformations Of Literature And Psychoanalysis. The Recent Publication Of Beckett's Correspondence During The Period Of His Psychotherapy With Bion Provides A Starting Place For An Imaginative Reconstruction Of This Psychotherapy, Culminating With Bion's Famous Invitation To His Patient To Dinner And A Lecture By C.g. Jung. Following From The Course Of This Psychotherapy, Miller And Souter Trace The Development Of Beckett's Radical Use Of Clinical Psychoanalytic Method In His Writing, Suggesting The Development Within His Characters Of A Literary-analytic Working Through Of Transference To An Idealized Auditor Known By Various Names, Apparently Based On Bion. Miller And Souter Link This Pursuit To Beckett's Breakthrough From Prose To Drama, As The Psychology Of Projective Identification Is Transformed To Physical Enactment. They Also Locate Bion's Memory And Re-working Of His Clinical Contact With Beckett, Who Figures As The 'patient Zero' Of Bion's Pioneering Postmodern Psychoanalytic Clinical Theories. Part One: The Context And Events Of Beckett's Psychotherapy With Bion -- 1. Presenting Problems -- 2. Proust As Metapsychology -- 3. The First Year Of Treatment: 1934 -- 4. Year Two: 1935 -- 5. Broadening The Context Of This Psychotherapy -- 6. Beckett's Bion And Bion's Bion -- Part Two: An Interpretative Construction Of Beckett's Literary Development And Bion's Later Clinical Theories -- 7. Free Association: Beckett's Private Theatre -- 8. The Novellas: Part One -- 9. The Novellas: Part Two -- 10. Three Essays On The Trilogy -- 11. The Pschology Of Characters -- 12. Reaching The Limit Of Free Association -- 13. Patient Zero: Learning From The Beckett Experience Ian S. Miller ; With Contributions By Kay Souter. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 223-228) And Index. "Between 1978 and 1985 Dr Herbert Rosenfeld was one of a number of British analysts invited by a group of Societa di Psicoanalisi Italiani members to conduct a series of seminars and supervisions for the purpose of deepening and refining that group's clinical skills and theoretical understanding. This book is an illuminating record of that encounter, and a warm tribute to the significant influence of Rosenfeld's contribution.It is divided into two parts - 'Theoretical' and 'Clinical', and based on a selection of verbatim transcripts recorded at the time. These transcripts, with their dialogical form, succeed in capturing much of the specificity of oral exchange, and thus convey a strong impression of Rosenfeld the man as much as clinician or theoretician.Rosenfeld remained to the end a continuously creative analyst and these 'last thoughts' provide the reader with ample evidence of his undimmed gifts. His subtle intuitions, meticulously close attention to both patient's and analyst's interpretations, and fine appreciation of the intricacies of the analytic encounter, are abundantly present."--Provided by publisher This book is a psychoanalytic discussion on the effects of trauma and torture on children, with a specific focus on how professionals can use an approach focused on resiliency rather than vulnerability to help the child reach wellbeing.The author argues that in a world where the torture, maltreatment and neglect of children shamefully persist, it is incumbent upon all of us to intervene appropriately to put a stop to it. Whether in conference rooms developing more comprehensive policy to hold perpetrators accountable or working in clinics where traumatised children and their families seek help Natural healing intelligence is one of the great mysteries of the psyche. It is inherently elusive yet lies at the core of all efforts to cure emotional wounds. This book is intended to help those who suffer such emotional wounds by illuminating the path of healing as well as to provide deep insight and effective methods for the practitioner.