Psychopathology in Medieval Literature

Literature provides several writings about mothers from different centuries and cultures, unveiling the relationship between mothers and children. Among these writings, the mother Medea in ancient Greek mythology, dramatized by Euripides, comes to the forefront as a murderous mother figure. Since the twentieth century, psychoanalysts have focused on the Medea Complex originating from the  Greek Medea myth. A mother figure opens a space for exploring the perception of mother-husband-child relations in medieval literary narratives of England. Such a psychiatric disturbance illustrates a mental case in which mothers have homicidal wishes toward children due to their hatred against their husbands. This project first explores how the literary narratives of medieval England emphasizes the mother-son relationship in psychoanalysis, particularly with the Medea Complex.