From the Introduction: In this volume Patrick Mullahy approaches the familiar problem of the Oedipus complex in an unfamiliar way. For the first time, Sophocles' Oedipus trilogy is published together with the various psychoanalytic interpretations of the Oedipus myth in one volume. That such an approach is new may seem surprising, since a thorough knowledge of the myth should be the premise for all interpretations. The reasons for the peculiar dissociation between the myth and the complex can be found in our general attitude toward myths. In the last century knowledge of Greek mythology was essential to being an educated person. People studied it and admired it. They interpreted it in a variety of ways-historically, philosophically or esthetically but hardly anyone thought of the possibility that the myth could have any connection with oneself and one's life here and now. With an increasing tendency not to bother with things which were not "practical," the Greek myth was relegated to a marginal area of superfluous and useless information. Then came a revival of just one Greek myth-that of Oedipus-because of the use one could make of it in psychotherapy. Oedipus returned through a back door, as it were.--page i.

"The Oedipus trilogy, by Sophocles: Oedipus Rex, Antigone, Oedipus at Colonus": pages [339]-506.

Introduction / Erich Fromm -- Preface -- Theories of Sigmund Freud: Primary Concepts: -- Pleasure principle -- Theory of instincts -- Ego -- Libido -- Evolution of the ego -- Evolution of the reality principle -- Theory of repression -- Theory of the unconscious -- Theory of infantile sexuality: -- Oral eroticism -- Auto-eroticism -- Reaction formations of the psyche -- Component impulses of the libido -- Oral stage -- Anal-sadistic stage -- Sexual activity in children -- Castration complex of the boy -- Penis envy of the girl -- Phallic stage -- Mystery of birth -- Child's interpretation of parental intercourse -- Role of the mother -- Roy's erotic love for his mother -- Sibling rivalry -- Beginning of repression -- Oedipus complex -- Roy's sexual rivalry with the mother for the father -- Ambivalence -- Parental preference -- Family complex -- Death wish and hate -- Passing of the Oedipus complex -- Latency period -- Adolescent's struggle for freedom -- Theories of Sigmund Freud: Later Additions And Modifications: -- Assumptions in therapy -- Repetition compulsion -- Beyond the pleasure principle -- Impact of World War I -- Traumatic neuroses -- Death instinct -- Theory of Eros -- Modification of the theory of libido -- Eros and the death instinct -- Basis of sadism and masochism -- Characteristics of the ego -- Revision of the theory of mental topography -- Characteristics of the id -- Ego's relation to the id -- Super ego -- Further development of the super ego -- Ego's three harsh masters: -- Theory of bisexuality -- Riddle of femininity -- Passivity and masochism in women -- Oedipus complex of the girl -- Avoidance of femininity -- Theories of Sigmund Freud And His Disciples: Additional Freudian Concepts: -- Theory of neurosis: -- Libidinal development -- Role of conflict -- Symptom formation and phantasy -- Fixation and regression -- Psychic reality and neurosis -- Role of primal phantasies -- Role of phantasy in life -- Economic factor in neurosis -- Secondary advantage in neurosis -- Role of anxiety -- Explanation -- Death instinct and neurosis -- Theory of character: -- Oral character -- Anal character -- Genital character -- Concluding remarks on character -- Individual's archaic heritage: -- Scientific myth of the primal father -- Origin of totemism -- Deification of the father ideal -- Triumph of authority -- Perpetuation of ambivalence -- Social significance of totemism -- Significance of original Oedipus complex -- Theory of the mass psyche -- Great man theory -- Theories Of Sigmund Freud And His Disciples: Symbolism -- Freud's interpretation of dreams -- Mythology -- Religion -- Aesthetics: -- Artist -- Poetry and literature -- Analysis of a poem -- Symbolism in Finnegan's Wake -- Theories of Alfred Adler: -- Organ inferiority -- Environmental factors -- Human situation -- Difficulties of the child situation -- Development of compensatory techniques -- Schemes of orientation -- Development of life goals -- Male dominance -- Relation of sex to the life goal -- Three great life problems -- Importance of social feeling -- Pampered child -- Oedipus complex -- Theories of C G Jung: -- Early doubts -- Psychological effects of parents on children -- Revision of libido theory -- Three phases of development -- Beginning of sexuality -- Evolution of the Oedipus and Electra complex -- Two modes of analysis -- Retrospective and prospective understanding -- Role of symbols: -- Freud versus Jung -- Three interpretations of the Electra complex -- Sexuality as a symbol -- Man's archaic heritage: -- Collective psyche -- Mother archetype -- Father archetype -- Effects of parental image -- Role of the unconscious -- Symbol and incest -- Theory of types: -- Extroverted attitude -- Introverted attitude -- Function types -- Role of religion -- Persona and individuality -- Theories of Otto Rank: -- Birth trauma: -- Oedipus complex -- Oedipus myth -- Genesis of art -- Creation of individuality: -- Concept of will -- Separation and individuality -- Three stages of individuality -- Origin of will -- Will and phantasy -- Average man -- Creative man -- Ego and consciousness -- Self-knowledge and sin -- Impulse, emotion and will -- Love and hate -- Sexuality and individuality -- Oedipus complex -- Psychology of women and men -- Struggle for self-perpetuation -- Oedipus saga -- Role of illusion and truth -- Theories of Karen Horney: -- Concept of neurosis -- Character and situation neuroses -- Concept of anxiety: -- Ways of escaping anxiety -- Role of hostility -- Basic structure of neurosis -- Neurotic trends: -- Neurotic striving for affection -- Neurotic striving for power -- Neurotic submissiveness -- Neurotic withdrawal -- Secondary satisfactions -- Culture and neurosis -- Oedipus complex -- Feminine psychology -- Narcissism -- Concept of a basic conflict -- Compliant type -- Aggressive type -- Detached type -- Four attempts at solution -- Idealized image -- Externalization -- Concluding remarks -- Theories of Erich Fromm: -- Concept of instinct -- Key problem of psychology, relatedness -- Existential and historical dichotomies -- Human situation -- Growth of individuality -- Mechanisms of escape: -- Masochism -- Sadism -- Destructiveness -- Automation conformity -- Assimilation and socialization -- Character and temperament: -- Receptive character -- Exploitative character -- Hoarding character -- Marketing character -- Productive character -- Authoritarianism -- Sex and happiness -- Ethics and human nature -- Oedipus myth -- Oedipus complex -- Theories of Harry Stack Sullivan: -- Goals of human behavior -- Concept of tension -- Power motive -- Empathy -- Three modes of experience -- Meaning of dynamism -- Evolution of the self -- Selective inattention and disassociation -- Meaning of interpersonal -- Stages of personality development: -- Infancy -- Childhood -- Juvenile era -- Preadolescence -- Adolescence -- Concept of situation -- Oedipus complex -- Conclusion -- Conclusion: A Brief Criticism And Appreciation: -- Freud -- Adler -- Jung -- Rank -- Horney -- Fromm -- Sullivan -- Final remarks -- Oedipus Trilogy / Sophocles: -- Oedipus Rex -- Oedipus at Colonus -- Antigone -- Footnotes -- Bibliography.