A Psychoanalytical Reading of the Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides: The Many Layers of Silence

Abstract

In Alex Michaelides' psychological thriller The Silent Patient, silence emerges as a powerful and enigmatic force shaping the narrative and inviting psychoanalytical inquiry. Beyond mere absence of speech, silence becomes a complex phenomenon, reflecting intricate human interactions, conveying deep trauma, and asserting personal agency. The novel challenges readers to examine the boundaries between expression and repression, art and speech, truth and deception. This article investigates the narrative through a psychoanalytical framework, employing Freudian and Lacanian theories to explore unconscious motivations, trauma, and identity. Alicia's silence is analyzed as a manifestation of trauma and resistance, revealing the defense mechanisms and desires embedded in the characters. Ultimately, the study highlights how the interplay of silence and psychological complexity deepens the novel's thematic richness and narrative intrigue.