From Symbolism to Consciousness - Essay Example

Many of Freud's ideas, however, are sex-oriented. Proust also expounded on the importance of memory-past experiences which may either be good or bad. In the complex realm of our existence, the truth remains that ugliness and perversion abound which we try to prevent from surfacing in our conscious mind. These however may find their way into consciousness in our unguarded moments. Proust was a realist and at the same time a symbolist. As such he portrays mental awareness as a stream of consciousness.

This reduces man's dignity as a human being. Common to Freud and Proust's work is the prevalence or integration of sex into their hierarchy of value.