Daddy Issues in J. M. Coetzee’s In the Heart of the Country

Abstract

In this article, we try to explore the psychological problems of Magda, the main female character in J.M. Coetzee’s In the Heart of the Country, and the causes of the disorders. Using the theories of Oedipus Complex in females, we try to prove that Magda suffers from neurosis, which later develops into psychosis. The serious mental problems in the young lady result from her unsuccesful resolution of her sexual desire towards her own father. Magda’s female Oedipus Complex is caused by the absence of the mother figure, the sexual attachment to the father, and the unrevoked hatred toward the mother competitor.