Therapy (novel)

Infobox Book |
name = Therapy
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author = David Lodge
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country = United Kingdom
language = English
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publisher = Secker & Warburg
release_date = 1995
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media_type = Print (hardcover, paperback)
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isbn = ISBN 0-436-20334-0 (hardcover), ISBN 0-436-20255-7 (paperback)
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"Therapy" (1995) is a novel by British author David Lodge.

The story concerns a successful sitcom writer, Laurence Passmore, plagued by middle-age neuroses and a failed marriage. His only problem seems to be an "internal derangement of the knee" but a mid-life crisis has struck and he is discovering angst. His familiar doses of cognitive therapy, aromatherapy, and acupuncture all offer no help, and he becomes obsessed with the philosophy of Kierkegaard. Moreover, Tubby undertakes a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in order to find his first love.

Structure of the novel

The novel is divided into four parts. The first part is written as a journal, the second part is written in dramatic monologues, the third part consists of journal entries and a memoir and the fourth part is a narrative written after the events happened and Tubby has returned to London.

In the first part, Tubby starts writing a journal triggered off by a description he had to write for his Cognitive Behavior Therapist. Before that Tubby only wrote screenplays but no narrative texts. During the writing Tubby reflects upon his problems and depression.

The dramatic monologues seem to present an outward look on Tubby but the reader finds out later that the monologues were written by Tubby himself which ruins the objectivity of this part. The reader cannot step out of Tubby's perspective but reads everything filtered through his eyes.

In the third part, the reader is presented the memoir about Maureen, Tubby's first love and his first girlfriend. It is by writing down their story that Tubby realizes what his problem is: He betrayed Maureen by dumping her in front of their friends.

The fourth part is written by Tubby looking backward on the events. He tells about his travel to Spain where he searched for Maureen on the Way of St. James. It is there, that Tubby comes to terms with his problems and finds peace.

Kierkegaardian Philosophy

While writing his journal and living out his habit of looking up words and names, Tubby encounters Søren Kierkegaard. A list of book titles from Kierkegaard catch his attention and make him to dive deep into Kierkegaard's journals and publications. Tubby feels that Kierkegaard went through the same troubles he experiences and hopes that he found a way out of his depression which can direct Tubby on his path as well. Even though Tubby denies Christianity it may be interpreted that he undergoes the three existential stages of Aesthetic, Ethicist and Religious and takes leaps of faith to come from one stage to another.

Further reading

* Köhler, Stefanie & Hotz-Davies, Ingrid. “Writing Cures? Doris Lessing’s Golden Notebook and Lodge’s Therapy.” "Psychoanalytic-ism. Uses of Psycho-analysis in Novels, Poems, Plays and Films". Ed. Ingrid Hotz-Davies & Anton Kirchhofer. Trier: WVT, 2000. 132-145.

* McLeod, John. “Postmodern Narrative Therapy: A Case Example.” "Narrative and Psychotherapy". London: Sage, 1997. 127-137.