Psychoanalytical lens (p.306-327)

The most distinct lens to view the final part of the novel is the psychoanalytical lens because the author uses Eli and his reflections to demonstrate his psychological state. In the final portion of the novel Eli takes  Charlie to a doctor in Jacksonville to treat his hand. The author reveals the sensitive and loving side of Eli. "My touching Charlie's arm like this would not ever have happened when it was attached, and as such i blushed from the foreignness of it. I found myself running my thumb over the coarse of black hairs. I felt very close to Charlie when I did this." (P.311) Eli feels unloved which is why he tries to connect with women or gives them money because he thinks its his responsibility to take care of them. When Eli holds on to Charlie's severed arm he feels close to Charlie because Charlie doesn't show any love or appreciation. After the operation Eli goes into a restaurant and becomes very angry, he yells at the waiter even though the waiter didn't deserve to be yelled at. This is called anger displacement. After the operation the brothers go to their shack just outside Oregon City and Eli finds their savings stolen. Eli doesn't seem to care much, he is determined to kill the commodore and nothing will come in the way of this. "I matched his eyes with mine. I was surprised by what I saw, because he was only afraid  just like all the others who had died...I had wanted him to see me and lament that he had not shown me the proper respect"(p.318) Eli finally got to take his anger out on the man who truly deserved it, On the journey to the commodores house Eli is very determined which shows the amount of anger he has bottled up. The fact that Eli drowns the commodore instead of stabbing him in the heart with a blunt knife shows that Eli enjoyed the few seconds watching the commodore drown.

 

During the epilogue Eli and Charlie arrive to their mothers house. The author uses a lot of imagery which emphasises the fact that Eli had been looking for something to replace his mother but he finally realises that her love is irreplaceable  "When I see you, I feel the same. it is when I am away that I lose myself."(p.322) Eli expresses his feelings to his mother which enforces the idea of Oedipus complex not only in Charlie but also in Eli's unconscious mind.