Can't hurt me (2018) by David Goggins à luz da crítica psicanalítica: “from the weakest piece of shit on the planet into the hardest man god ever created, or so i tell myself”

Abstract

Through the study of literary works, Literary Criticism enables the reader to understand multiple aspects that are intrinsic and extrinsic to their reality. With this in mind, this research problematizes concepts of Psychoanalytic Criticism in the book Can’t Hurt Me (2018), written by David Goggins. Taking this into consideration, this study aims to answer, in the light of psychoanalytic criticism, the following question: what are the defense mechanisms present in David Goggins’ experiences when dealing with physical and psychological traumas and how do they affect his way of thinking, feeling and acting? In order to answer this question, the following general objective was established: to investigate, in light of psychoanalytic criticism, what are the defense mechanisms present in David Goggins’ experiences when dealing with physical and psychological traumas and how do they affect his way of feeling, thinking and acting. To achieve the general objective, the following specific objectives were established: to discuss the theoretical assumptions of Psychoanalytic Criticism, with an emphasis on the first Freudian topic: conscious and unconscious, from the perspective of trauma and defense mechanisms; to identify the genesis, nature and types of physical and psychological violence suffered by David Goggins in the different stages of his human development: childhood, adolescence and adulthood; to describe the traumas caused by the physical and psychological violence suffered by David Goggins and to find out how they were overcome. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative, exploratory, bibliographical study was conducted, based on the studies of Tyson (2015), Freud (2003, 1920, 1963), Anna Freud (1943, 1966), Berger (1991), Ferenczi (1988), among others. The findings demonstrate that David Goggins' life was profoundly and completely affected by the violence suffered in his childhood, adolescence and adulthood, with traumas that when overcome, determined his ways of thinking, feeling and acting.