A Children’s Game /A Dystopian Nightmare: A Psychoanalytic and Hermeneutic Study of the Doll of Doom in the Moral Landscape of the Netflix Series Squid Game

Document Type : Original Article

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Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature - Department of Humanities - College of Language & Communication - Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport - Heliopolis-Cairo-Egypt

Abstract

present study provides a nuanced analysis of Young-hee, the enigmatic animatronic doll, featured within the Netflix South Korean dystopian survival thriller, Squid Game. Young-hee’s initial childlike appearance – starkly juxtaposed with her subsequent lethal role – creates a profound psychological impact. Her shocking betrayal of the contestants’ expectations and trust induces fear and anxiety among the contestants, adds complexity to their experiences and decisions, and highlights the unforgiving nature of the competition. Capturing the various dimensions of her character – from her cultural resonance and aesthetic significance to her psychological impact and narrative function, the study highlights how this figure serves as a potent dissonant symbol, evoking innocence on the one hand, and terror on the other hand. For this purpose, the study draws on the psychoanalytic approach to understand how Young-hee’s duality and the fear she induces relate to notions of the Uncanny and the Return of the Repressed and explore the mental and emotional toll of the game on both the contestants and audience. The study also draws on the hermeneutic approach to deconstruct the visual and cultural symbols embedded within Young-hee and provide insights into the contribution of these elements to the narrative and thematic depth of the series. The study finally reaches the conclusion that Young-hee is a multidimensional figure whose significance extends beyond her immediate actions. It offers a rich tapestry of meanings, reflecting the series’ visual outlook, thematic depth, and emotional resonance and commenting on the precarious cultural, psychological, ethical, and existential dimensions of South Korea.

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