Downstream · Theme
Sexuality and Repression
How Downstream develops Sexuality and Repression.
Hedvig's religious upbringing and fear of the 'Bogey Man' lead to a tortured relationship with her own body and sexuality, while Laura uses her femininity as a tool for manipulation, and Tord's wild instincts drive him toward destructive behavior.
Where it surfaces
- V: Fear
Hedvig's curiosity about sin and her conflicted attraction to Brundin illustrate repressed sexuality born from fear.
- September Spring
Laura's transformation into a pale, frail figure and her flirtation with Herman are tied to repressed desires and a performance of feminine fragility to gain power.
- X: Laura's Marriage
Laura's rejection of nursing and physical intimacy, Herman's desperate affair, and the tension between desire and control.
- XI: The Spanish Saint
Hedvig's religious gloom and horror of nudity contrast with Percy's sensual art; their platonic marriage is a 'Selamb insurance' against life's demands, highlighting repressed desires.
- XIII: Tord's Exile
Tord's restless pursuit of women and his eventual relationship with Dagmar, a 'beautiful witch,' highlight his repressed desires and the tension between instinct and social propriety.
- II: Peter the Boss in Love
Peter's repressed boyhood dreams about Frida resurface, leading to a clumsy and anxious courtship. His love is mingled with worry about expense and vulnerability, showing his struggle with desire and control.
- III: The Angel of Death
Hedvig's repression of her sexuality is central: she denies Percy physical intimacy for years, only to later unleash her desires in a passionate night, then revert to bitterness and control.