Vor, in und hinter der Wirklichkeit. Die Annexion der Persönlichkeit in Ingmar Bergmans Filmnovelle "Persona" und in Martin Walsers Novelle "Ein fliehendes Pferd"

Abstract

Every existence is falsified by the form but man needs it to be able to be born. The protagonist of the film-novella Persona by Ingmar Bergman and the protagonist of the novella Runaway Horse by Martin Walser rise against the forms of social relations that deprive their being of authenticity. Elisabet turns back her existence to the prenatal period by which she disassembles both her form and all the forms begotten by reality. On the contrary, Helmut takes a game with them by conserving them that way: He pushes his existence to the postnatal period and arrives at the limit of death that finally destroys every form. In order to return to life that cannot get on without forms the protagonists must execute a transplantation of the personality: Elisabet tries to assume the identity of Alma and Helmut attempts to seize the identity of Klaus. The changes occurred in their personality get more evident from the perspective of the theory by Sigmund Freud who points to the dynamics, complexity and sensibility of the human psyche.