Studies in feminine psychology: VI. Kundry

Journal/Book: American Journal of Psychoanalysis. 1993; 53: 237-245.

Abstract: Analyzes the rage and borderline behavior of Kundry, a character in Wagner's opera, Parsifal. It is suggested that Kundry illustrates the problem of feminine rage, feminine psychology, and feminine self destruction, which must be understood as multiply determined and not merely an appropriate manifestation of social inequality in a male-dominated culture. Kundry suffers from pathological splitting, in which she oscillates from mature nurturing service to hatred, seduction, and destruction of men. However, Kundry receives no understanding from the men around her. An argument is made that Wagner's intuition emphasizes her conflict and guilt (which she suffers due to her awareness of the splitting and its consequences for her) rather than the splitting and deficits, making her redemption possible. ABSTRACT 2: The problem of feminine rage, feminine psychology, and feminine self-destruction must be understood as multiply determined and not merely an appropriate manifestation of social inequality in a male-dominated culture. This is illustrated by a study of pathological and borderline women, in the present paper represented by Wagner's creation from Parsifal, Kundry. Kundry suffers from pathological splitting, in which she oscillates from mature nurturing service to hatred, seduction, and destruction of men. What is most emphasized is her misery and guilt, which is a consequence of her reality testing being sufficiently intact for her to be aware of this splitting and its consequences for her. She receives no understanding from the men around her; even the hero or "pure fool" Parsifal at first attempts to strangle her like an animal. But Wagner's intuition emphasizes her conflict and guilt rather than the splitting and deficits, making her redemption possible. This approach to borderline psychopathology has a more hopeful prognosis, given the presence of a dedicated, determined, and competent psychoanalytic psychotherapist.

Note: feminine psychology interpretation of Kundry in R. Wagner's "Parsifal"

Keyword(s): Feminism ; psychoanalytic interpretation; music. Borderline Personality Disorder psychology; Character ; Countertransference Psychology; Drama history; Family ; Germany ; History of Medicine, 19th Cent.; Music history Drama ; Psychoanalytic Interpretation; Women psychology Female; Human

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