Comparison of selected works of Orhan Pamuk, Elfriede Jelinek and Alasdair Gray within the context of Freud's instinct theory

Psychoanalysis is a theoretical approach aimed at understanding the inner world of the individual, while literature serves as a medium through which this inner world can be expressed. With Sigmund Freud's application of psychoanalytic analysis to literary texts, psychoanalysis has gained a significant place within literary studies. It has become possible to examine not only real individuals but also fictional characters from a psychoanalytic perspective. In this study, the psyche of the individual is analyzed through literary texts within the framework of Freud's psychoanalytic theory. The research is conducted through the analysis of three novels from Turkish, Austrian, and Scottish literatures. The Red-Haired Woman (Kırmızı Saçlı Kadın) by Orhan Pamuk from Turkish literature, The Piano Teacher (Die Klavierspielerin) by Elfriede Jelinek from Austrian literature, and Poor Things by Alasdair Gray from Scottish literature constitute the primary texts of the analysis. These works are examined in relation to Freud's key theoretical concepts: the structures of Id, Ego, and Superego; the instinct of Eros and Thanatos; and the Oedipus/Electra complexes. Subsequently, the texts are evaluated through a comparative lens. The aim of the study is to reveal how characters from diverse ethnic backgrounds, cultures, historical periods, and gender identities reflect their inner worlds through literary narratives. Given the limited number of comparative psychoanalytic studies across these three national literatures, this tripartite analysis seeks to contribute to the field. While the primary methodology employed is psychoanalytic literary criticism, sociological and hermeneutic approaches are also occasionally applied to ensure a multidimensional analysis. Ultimately, despite the texts belonging to different periods and cultural contexts, the study reveals that they share psychoanalytic dynamics as much as they differ. KEYWORDS: Psychoanalytic, Id-Ego-Superego, Eros/Thanatos, Oedipus/Electra.