A quick comment on the Puella Aeternus Anna Freud

Author: Christopher Chayban

One could argue Anna Freud remained a child throughout her life as a “fille a papa” or “Daddy’s Girl” as Ellenberger says with her Father Sigmund. In Jungian terms, she would be embodying the archetype of the “Puella Aeternus.” Perhaps this is why she worked with children. It was a way to work on herself. She explored the phenomena of separation from the parents but more on the mother side. Interesting you never hear about Sigmund’s Wife, Anna’s Mother in this whole process of the child and mother dyad. Did Sigmund serve as Mother and Father to Anna? Is that why his grip was so powerful on her and contributing not only to Anna’s inability to form a relationship with a man, but it seems with her “War” with Melanie Klein, the relationship with the female wasn’t all too developed either. Granted her relationship with Klein is one person and one example. But it seems that Anna was severely behind in her own development and could never come to terms with either. She remained a genderless Puella child. At least, this is how I see it within this limited frame.

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