The focus was placed on Frank McCourt's trilogy (Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man), with careful consideration of each text's thematic elements related to trauma, repression, and self-defense mechanisms. These texts were critically analyzed, with particular attention to passages that illustrate key psychoanalytic concepts.

A thorough review of existing scholarship on Frank McCourt's work was conducted, including journal articles, book chapters, and critical essays. Particular focus was placed on studies that discuss McCourt's portrayal of trauma, identity, and the immigrant experience. Additionally, critiques of McCourt’s writing style, narrative techniques, and thematic concerns were reviewed to provide a comprehensive analysis.

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory was selected as the primary theoretical framework. Essential texts by Freud, such as The Interpretation of Dreams, Beyond the Pleasure Principle, and Civilization and Its Discontents, were reviewed to extract relevant concepts such as repression, the unconscious, and defense mechanisms. Secondary sources on Freudian psychoanalysis were also consulted to provide contemporary interpretations and applications of Freud’s theories.

The literature review synthesized the findings from the analysis of McCourt's trilogy with the principles of Freudian psychoanalysis. This involved mapping the psychological dynamics of McCourt's characters onto Freudian concepts, thereby creating a dialogue between the literary texts and psychoanalytic theory.

The review also considered broader cultural and historical contexts, examining how McCourt’s work fits within the tradition of Irish-American literature and memoir. Comparisons with other literary works dealing with trauma and immigration were made to highlight McCourt’s unique contribution to these themes.

The literature review concluded with a critical evaluation of the existing scholarship, identifying gaps in the research and positioning the current study as a contribution to the ongoing discussion of trauma and psychoanalysis in literature.

This dissertation concludes that Frank McCourt’s trilogy of memoirs—Angela’s Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man—serves as a poignant exploration of trauma and its lasting impact on the human psyche, particularly within the context of the Irish-American immigrant experience. By applying Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, this study demonstrates how McCourt's narratives reveal the complex interplay between repression, identity formation, and the development of self-defense mechanisms. The trilogy illustrates that while trauma is a pervasive and inescapable force, it can also be confronted and articulated through the act of storytelling. McCourt’s memoirs not only document his personal struggles but also serve as a broader commentary on the collective suffering of the Irish diaspora, providing a voice to the often-silenced experiences of poverty, religious oppression, and cultural displacement. In doing so, McCourt’s work reaffirms the power of narrative as a means of processing and resisting trauma, suggesting that while trauma may haunt the individual, it is through narrative expression that one can achieve a measure of understanding and reconciliation. Ultimately, this dissertation asserts that McCourt’s trilogy stands as a significant literary achievement, offering profound insights into the nature of trauma and the human capacity for resilience and recovery.