Life, 1918-11-14 · page 23 of 34
Life — November 14, 1918 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the early 20th-century American fascination with Freudian psychoanalysis. The poem by Christopher Morley mocks the tendency to apply Freud's theories to everyday situations, particularly child-rearing. The humor works on multiple levels: a parent attempting to psychoanalyze their child into sleep by probing for "repressed motives" and "unfulfilled desires"—treating bedtime like a therapy session. The absurdity peaks when the parent admits they might fall asleep first while analyzing the child "in the mode of Mr. Freud." The accompanying illustrations show rural laborers engaged in physical work, with captions like "Fall back yet, heist!" and "I did it, und still it iss!"—appearing to contrast practical, working-class reality against the intellectual pretensions of psychoanalytic theory. The satire targets how fashionable Freudian analysis had become among educated, middle-class Americans who applied it indiscriminately to mundane domestic life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Freudian Lullaby ULLABY, my precious child, Psychoanalyze your mind! keful though you are, and wild, Let us see if you can find Motives that you have repressed \Which might interrupt your rest? Have you unfulfilled desires In your mystic little head? Dreams of toys with rubber tires That must be interpreted? Lullaby and tranquil keep— I impose the will-to-sleep. Lullaby and close your eyes, For your nap must be enjoyed: I will psychoanalyze In the mode of Mr. Freud— In unconsciousness immersed, Maybe I shall slumber first! Christopher Morley, “Y Dip 17, UND STILL IT Iss!” comicbooks.com