Junji Itō's graphic novel Uzumaki seen through a prism of Sigmund Freud's concept of death drive.

Abstract

The concept of the death drive was introduced in 1920 by Sigmund Freud in Beyond the pleasure principle, which examined the organization of the human psyche. Subsequently, Jacques Lacan's interpretation of Freud’s theory of Thanatos and Eros functioning as a united entity is considered, i.e. in every case of the life drive we are dealing with the influence of the death drive as well. This paper examines the abstract and surreal concept of the Spiral in the graphic novel Uzumaki by horror author Junji Itō. This element, as an omnipotent and inexplicable force, is investigated in the interpretation of the action of the death drive.