Dream, Reality and Fantasy: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Sucker Punch

This paper explores the 2011 movie Sucker Punch directed by Zack Snyder through the lens of psychoanalytic criticism. The movie projects the many worlds of the protagonist Baby Doll in an attempt to mitigate the on-going psychological battle within her psyche. Utilizing the psychoanalytic theory the main character's journey within the movie will be analyzed. Baby Doll's projection or interpretation of her reality in other worlds where she sees her desires manifested in a character which differs absolutely with her reality is the crux of this paper. Using the theories propounded by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Jacques Lacan an attempt will be made to situate and redefine the characters and their stories to understand them in a different light.