The Lost Objects of Desire and the Symbolic Order
Table of Contents
In Lacanian psychoanalysis, the concept of " objet petit a " encompasses not only the literal preverbal fantasy union with our mother but also events or periods later in our youth that unconsciously remind us of that lost union. For instance, in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past , the madeleine acts as an " objet petit a ," triggering nostalgic memories and symbolizing a return to innocent youth before life's disappointments. Similarly, in The Great Gatsby , Jay Gatsby's fixation on the green light at the end of Daisy's dock can be seen as his " objet petit a ." Beyond representing the promise of Daisy, it also symbolizes the desire to regress to a time before he was disillusioned and corrupted by life, reflecting his yearning for a lost sense of completeness. The Role of Loss in Language Lacan underscores the crucial role of loss and lack in language and the Symbolic Order. Language itself implies loss, as words become necessary stand-ins f…