This book returns to the repressed theory of passions in Freud's own thinking, arguing that the repression, fixation and rhythmic movement of affects make up the roots and branches of psychoanalytic thinking.
The contribution of psychoanalysis to theories in feminism, gay and lesbian studies and postcolonialism is evaluated here, along with a possibility of renegotiation of the symbolic system of psychoanalysis as a valuable method of interpreting cultural theory.