The Study of Obsession in Patrick McGrath’s Asylum: Sexual Obsession, Obsessional Jealousy, Obsession with power
Esma Biroğlu

Abstract
The study sheds light on different types of obsession in Asylum and how each type of obsession affects the main characters in the novel. Sexual obsession is one of the types of obsession discussed in Asylumvia the female protagonist, Stella. Stella’s sexual obsession with Edgar who is a patient in the mental hospital destroys her sanity and ruins her life as well as that of her son and husband. Her obsession is catastrophic. The narrator describes Stella’s actions and gives the reasons for each activity. The reasons are based on psychiatric reasoning and they help the readers judge Stella’s behavior.Obsessional Jealousy is the second type of obsession in Asylum which is exhibited by Edgarwho suffers from a paranoid psychosis. As a result of jealousy, he murders his wife brutally and also contemplates of harming Stella when he suspects that she is being unfaithful. The third type of obsession in the story is the obsession with power through the psychiatric, Peter. Peter is obsessed with power and is filled with the desire to control Stella and marry her. The issues discussed in this novel are relevant even in the contemporary world effectively. The study further explores the definition and history of obsession as well as the critical reception of the story.

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