“Beauty, Blood, and Boundaries: Interrogating Genre and Morality in ‘Haunting Adeline’ Novel written by H.D. Carlton Using Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory”
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Abstract
Purpose – This Literature Research will analyze the themes of beauty, violence, and moral tension in H. D. Carlton's novel Haunting Adeline using Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory.
Methodology – By focusing on key Freudian concepts such as the id, ego, superego, repression, and the life–death drives, this study examines how the novel portrays desire and boundary-breaking behavior within the dark romance genre.
Findings – Through close reading, the analysis shows how the characters' actions reflect unconscious impulses that challenge traditional ideas of morality, consent, and emotional control.
Novelty – The results suggest that the novel's blend of attraction and danger creates a space where psychological conflict becomes central to the reader's experience.
Significance – Overall, this study argues that Haunting Adeline not only pushes the limits of romantic storytelling but also highlights how human behavior is shaped by complex inner forces, making it a meaningful text for understanding the relationship between genre, morality, and the unconscious mind.
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References
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