Question

Brutalizing is the only adjective for the public schools of that district around 1908 and ’09… Few teachers had the true vocation for their work. They taught because it was one of the few jobs open to them; because it was better paying than factory work; because they had a long summer vacation; because they got a pension when they retired.

They taught because no one wanted to marry them… These barren women spent their fury on other women’s children in a twisted authoritative manner.” “The cruelest teachers were those who had come from homes similar to those of the poor children.

It seemed that in their bitterness towards those unfortunate little ones, they were somehow exorcising their own fearful background.” Extract from Smith, B. (2005). A tree grows in Brooklyn (reprint), p. 153. Harper Perennial Modern Classics.

Question:

Compare and contrast how Freudian and neo-Freudian concepts have influenced this novelist’s writing by applying both approaches to examine how she formed such impressions of public school teachers during that time. In particular, make reference to relevant defense mechanisms, Erik Erikson, and Karen Horney to guide your analysis.