Freuds theory is about the structural model of someones personality and how a persons personality is composed of three elements; the Id, Ego and Superego. According to Freud, the Id is the part of the persons personality that controls the instinctual, primitive side of humans minds, following the pleasure principle that seeks immediate gratification for all desires. The Superego part, controls all of our moral standards and ideals that we learn. It’s our sense of right and wrong, and it acts to civilize and perfect our behaviour. The last component of someones personality, the Ego is responsible for dealing with reality and ensures that impulses of the id can be expressed in a way that is realistically appropriate and acceptable to society. The Ego is the median balance between the Id and Superego.
In regards to the relationship between Heathcliff, Catherine and Edgar, the dynamics that bind them are that of Freud’s model, where each character represents a different element of a personality.
Heathcliff is the Id, he is composed purely of his primitive, impulsive desires. Whether it be his need of Catherine or his drive for revenge; all of Heathcliff's actions are driven by his emotions and impulses. Like when he got angry at Edgar and impulsively “seized a tureent of hot applesauce, and dashed it full against Edgars face” (Bronte, 61). Or when he hears Catherine say how “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff” (Bonte, 82), his feelings are hurt and he impulsively runs away for three years. Or even his consuming need for revenge against those who have wronged him, driven purely by his angry emotions and feelings of being mistreated. He admits to Nelly that “I don’t care how long I wait if I can only pay Hindley back at last...I only wish I knew the best way. Let me alone and I'll plan it out, while I'm thinking of that, I don't feel pain" (Bronte, 64).
Edgar, however, who is the Superego, is civilized and cultured, representing the rules of proper behaviour of society. He grew up in a quiet and gentle life at Thrushcross Grange. He was born into a rich family that is high ranking in society, and therefore, raised with the knowledge of societies standards that make him civilized and cultured. He is continuously described as being “rich”, “civilized”, “proper”, “a gentleman”, and “weak” throughout the novel.
Lastly, Catherine, the Ego, she represents the balance of both the ego and the Superego. She shows the Id component by participating in the impulses of the Id, Heathcliff, but also balancing it with the thoughtfulness of the Superego side by testing them against the real world and taming them. Nelly describes how, as a child, she “had more power over Heathcliff than his kindness; how the boy would do her bidding in anything, and his only when it suited his inclination” (Bronte, 46). She also shows the Superego by how she considers society, she rejects Heathcliff and marries Edgar because it is appropriate of her and her social standings. She says to Nelly that her desire to marry Edgar is based on how “he is rich, and I will be the greatest woman in the neighbourhood” (Bronte, 80). She avoids the degradation of yielding to her impulsive self, the id, by not marrying Heathcliff even though he is the one she loves; and follows the Superego side, marrying Edgar who is more appropriate.
However, she also expects Edgar to accept Heathcliff. When Heathcliff returns, she tells Edgar that “I know you didn’t like him... but, for my sake you must be friends now” (Bronte, 94). Thus, she tries to merge the different parts of her personality, the Id, Ego and Superego into one unified whole. She soon realises that the integration doesn’t work, that it’s too fragmented. When Edgar gives her the ultimatum that “It is impossible for you to be my friend and his at the same time, and I absolutely require to know which one you choose” (Bronte, 117), she realizes that she cannot have the both of them. Once this happens, she says how “You and Edgar have broken my heart, Heathcliff!” (Bronte, 155) and how “if I can’t keep Heathcliff as a friend- if Edgar will be mean and jealous, I’ll end up breaking their hearts by breaking my own” (Bronte, 116). The knowledge that the integration won’t work makes her very ill, and the disunity of them eventually kills her.
With all the clashing personalities, it’s no wonder why they don’t get along with each other. However the question remains: if each character didn’t have such different personalities; would their relationship be any less fragmented, or do their situations invoke too much jealousy and spite between them for there to be any hope?