A Psychoanalytic Analysis of Illusion Versus Reality in Rawi Hage’s Cockroach (2008)

Immigrants worldwide see Canada as a land of freedom, peace, and a place where their dreams will become a reality. However, the harsh reality is that most new immigrants to Canada have trouble finding work upon arrival. New immigrants in Canada make significantly less than the rest of the population, even though they make up for over twenty percent of the overall population. Although, some people may say that there is not a direct correlation between reaching your dreams and income, there is no denying that it plays a crucial part in whether or not the individual is put in a position to reach it. The novel Cockroach is an excellent example of this truth. The protagonist of the story is the narrator, who is unnamed throughout the novel. The novel Cockroach, explores the life of the narrator who is an immigrant that is struggling to survive in the Canadian economy. Throughout the novel, the protagonist is struggling with mental instability while still maintaining his day to day life. The theme of illusion versus reality is significant to the text. Furthermore, this novel can be analyzed through the use of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. In turn, the psychoanalytic theory, can be an extremely useful tool in the analysis of illusion versus reality in the novel Cockroach. Three aspects of psychoanalytic theory that are relevant to an analysis of this novel, in terms of the theme of illusion versus reality are the id, ego, and the superego.
Firstly, according to Sigmund Freud, the Id is the part of one’s psyche that is thought to be present from birth. The Id is the segment of our brain that is completely unfiltered and contains the needs and wants as well as the primal instincts of an individual, which are commonly known as the primal instincts. The main focus of the Id is to make every effort possible in order to be truly satisfied. This segment is imperative at birth so that a newborn infant has all of its needs met in order to live and grow. The Id is...