One may think this theory to be possible for a small few, but are quick to claim they do not and never have had a sexual attachment to their mother. But Freud claimed in a letter written to his colleague Wilhelm Fliess, “I have found…the phenomena of (a boy) being in love with (his) mother…a universal event in early childhood” (Breger 2000). Just as Freud believes this phenomena to be

Freud shows his desire as a patriarch in a patriarchal society to be in control whether it is at home or in the office. This oppression leads to hostility that is not desired by any, and one will seek to free themselves its shackles by any means.

In Freud’s Oedipus complex the boy, “craves exclusive sexual possession of the mother and feels antagonistic toward the father” (Hall 1954). But as was just argued, the boy does not “crave sexual possession”, but rather he longs to return to the feeling of security provided for him by his mother in which he had no responsibility and was loved and nurtured by her. So what then is the basis for the father son relationship if it is not based on a son’s jealousy and subsequent repression of those feelings? A look into the life of Freud, both as a child and as a parent will shine some light on the relationship between a father and his son.

An example of the oppressive rule a father has over his son is seen in the relationship between and his own children. Because of his belief in the Oedipus complex he refused to allow his sons to become physicians, entering into a competitive field. His son Martin reported that “medicine as a profession for any of his sons was strictly banned by father” (Breger 2000). Freud believed that any type of competition would steer his sons toward neurotic behavior, so he attempted to avoid it as much as possible. But his son suffered psychologically as explained by Freud to colleagues, “Oliver had extraordinary gifts… His character is faultless. Then the neurosis came over him and stripped off all the blooms. Being unfortunately strongly inhibited neurotically he had bad luck in life” (Breger 2000). Freud was unable to see that his son’s problems stemmed from his own need to control and maintain a tightly regulated life. His son was acting out against the oppression he felt from his father. Freud even used his authority as family patriarch to give names to his grandchildren. Even as an adult his son was still subject to his father’s will and wishes.

Freud’s own childhood proves it was not his father he felt the rivalry with, but it was his siblings. He was constantly competing with them for that special love a mother has for her infant. “The attachment to and dependence on the mother figure is more than an attachment to a person. It is a longing for a situation in which the child is protected and loved and has not yet any responsibility to bear” (Fromm 1980)

Some topics in this essay:
Der Elst, Jacob Sigmund, Sigmund Freud, Pinckney Pinckney, Freud’s Oedipus, Wilhelm Fliess, Sigmund Freud’s, oedipus complex, breger 2000, fromm 1980, , relationship mother, attachment mother, 2000 freud, patriarchal society, father son, breger 2000 freud, deep attachment mother, mother freud, feelings deep attachment, oppression leads,