The psychoanalytic approach to literature best helps one understand the novel. All My Puny Sorrows, a novel written by Miriam Toews, explores the relationship between two sisters, Elfrieda and Yolandi. Elf, the older sister, is determined to die whereas Yoli spends most of her time trying to keep her alive. The family dynamics present in this novel influence the characters to a great extent. When applied to the novel, this approach helps one understand that family influences one’s decisions. It also helps the reader realize that family control makes one become disobedient. Finally, the novel illustrates that childhood experiences from family contribute to the way one later functions as an adult.
Yoli is the main character in the novel who shows that family dynamics influence one’s decisions. When Elf asks Yoli to take her to Switzerland, Yoli is uncertain about whether she should …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, Yoli states “this particular visit was about Elf planning to go to university to study music. She was only fifteen but the authorities had heard from a local snitch that Elf had “expressed an indiscreet longing to leave the community” and they were apoplectically suspicious of higher learning–especially for girls” (Toews). Despite the Mennonite views, Elf still went on to Oslo to study music. This reveals that Elf did not believe in the strict conformity of the Mennonite community and followed through on what she wanted to do.
Moreover, another example of this is shown when Yoli and Nora have a conversation about Nora’s boyfriend sleeping over while she is in Winnipeg. “It was a text from Nora: if Will’s coming, tell him it’s okay if Anders sleeps over. I texted back: It’s NOT okay! … Nora: Mom! Me: N, you’re only fourteen years old” (Toews). This shows that even though Yoli didn’t want Nora’s boyfriend to sleepover, she did not listen and rebelled against her