You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
DISCUSSION: Dr. Phyllis Greenacre emphasized other aspects of the possible meaning of the padlock. She indicated that the secret padlock might reflect the many aspects of Dr. Johnson's polymorphous perverse tendencies. It could be a fetish used as part of sadomasochistic beating fantasies or activities, as well as a warning of the danger of madness which he feared might result from his compulsive masturbation. It seemed a symbol, too, of his love for Mrs. Thrale and his trust in her to help him and to keep secret the nature of his difficulties. Dr. Greenacre also emphasized the intricacy of his relationship to both Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, a situation which was revealed only by Mr. Thrale's illness and death. Dr. Stuart Feder presented five criteria which he felt are required for a responsible psychoanalytic approach to biography: parsimony, coherence, generation, comprehensiveness, and objectivity. By generation he meant the ability of the insights attained to accommodate new elements of biographical detail. Objectivity refers to the utilization of subjective responses as a tool for the achievement of insight. Dr. Feder praised Dr. Meyer's paper and demonstrated how it had met his criteria. He did question whether literary works could be equated with fantasy and also suggested that for "Dictionary Johnson" words themselves may have become erotized. Thus, the use of certain words, such as "rod" and "padlock," by him and Mrs. Thrale may have produced partial but perhaps adequate discharge of his perverse wishes.