Citation

Demeule C. Champ Psychosomatique 2004; 35(3): 23-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004)

DOI

10.3917/cpsy.035.0023

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

From my experience in a maxillo-facial surgery's unit, I carry out psychoanalytical research into the deformities of this body's part. The persons with mutilated faces make up an " extreme clinical " set-up which continuously confronts everyone with monstrosity. Inborn malformations lead one to meditate the development of narcissism; acquired deformations (accidents, cancers and suicide attempts) raise questions about psychical issues in the disfigurement itself and the surgical reconstruction. The concept of monstrosity is pertinent regarding clinic as well as theory: it sheds light on the mechanisms of monstrous psyche, as shown by the recurrent articulations between the freak and the unconscious in Freudian works. The subject with a deformed face is considered to be a freak because he reflects the monstrosity of our own psychic functioning. I have chosen to illustrate these ideas through two literary freaks: Gwynplaine (V. Hugo) and Epiphane Otos (A. Nothomb).

Language: fr

Keywords

Face; Deformity; Freak; Mirror; Paradox