Lacan and 'A Doll's House'

Notes by Kanasu, III yr FEP

The Four Kinds of Discourses of Lacan.

What does one mean when they say that something is a woman’s play? It means that the play should evoke the female symbolic. It needs to create a woman’s world. It should not re-emphasize the male world and therefore, evoke the male symbolic.

1. Discourse of the Master
2. Discourse of the University
3. Discourse of the Analyst
4. Discourse of the Hysteric

Each of these discourses is characterized by an equation. The numerator on the left hand side of the equation holds the most dominant position, and it constantly endeavors to achieve the will of the numerator on the right hand side of the subject.

Each of these discourses is characterized by an equation. The numerator on the left hand side of the equation holds the most dominant position, and it constantly endeavors to achieve the will of the numerator on the right hand side of the subject.

The S₁ stands for the conscious subject.

The S₂ stands for opposite of the conscious subject (the other of the conscious subject) and is always trying to usurp the position of S₁.

$ stands for the unconscious subject.

a stands for the object that wants or needs to be possessed. It is the object of desire. It is something that can never be fathomed but will always be longed for.

1. Discourse of the Master

In the master’s discourse, the conscious subject is the master, and what he says becomes the dominant discourse. The unconscious subject is pushed down, and the master’s discourse is constantly absorbed by S₂. Here, the master’s discourse is accepted without question.

2. Discourse of The University

Here, you accept the other as it is. The concept becomes more important than the unconscious subject. The unconscious subject is pushed to the last position. No suppressed feelings or ideologies are encouraged in this discourse. It is least important. There is a constant endeavor to understand the concept, ‘a’ in this discourse. Moreover, the knowledge becomes more important than the person seeking the knowledge itself.

3. Discourse of the Analyst

In the discourse of the analyst, the unconscious is not confronted face to face. However, the unconscious is not suppressed but asked to open up to the analyst. The conscious subject S₁ is pushed to the last position. Here, there is no ideology that is being mapped onto the unconscious. It is only an attempt to discover the unconscious.

4. Discourse of the Hysteric

Here, the unconscious subject comes to the dominant position. The dominant position becomes important and almost becomes the conscious subject. The structures of S₁ and

S₂ are not recognized. The unconscious does not recognize the structure of S₁ or S₂ which are both part of patriarchy (in the case of Doll’s House). It is least bothered about the other.

The Hysteric, then, becomes the female symbolic.

Is Doll’s House then, a woman’s play?

It can only be a woman’s play if it evokes a female symbolic, if it tries to evoke the hysteric (in this case), and not necessarily about the suffering of women.

Keeping these things in mind, if it is a woman’s play, then how? If it is not a woman’s play, then how?

Reference:

Pinto, Anil. Class Lecture. Is there a Woman's Play. Christ University. Bangalore, India. 07 Mar 2009.