Kate's Entry

Richard Appignanesi and Oscar Zarate present all of Freud's theories without a commentary, which is definitely the best choice.  I much prefer it over the tone of  Marx for Beginners, but I think it poses a delicate problem.  The title proclaims that the book is intended for people who are unfamiliar with Freud's theories. Yes, the book does acquaint beginners with his work, but without a context, without the knowledge that some of his theories have been abandoned because they are sexist drivel.  Instead of writing "Freud believed that girls discover that...", the authors write "The girl's discovery that neither she nor her mother possesses a penis is real.  It is not like the boy's fantasy-fear of being castrated" (86).    When I have studied Freud in various classes, my professors have been very clear that his theories, especially the ones about women, have been largely discredited or extensively altered.

The authors think that after spending six pages on Freud's female theory, they can tack on a disclaimer and pacify their readers, who by this time are probably infuriated.  They quote Freud's closing sentence to a lecture on these theories.  He said, "What I've had to say about femininity doesn't always sound friendly.  It is incomplete.  If you want to know more, look at your own experience of life...or wait until science can give you deeper information!" (91).  That's pretty much the most sensible line in the entire book, and it's exactly what I intend to do.