Martha Bernays, best known as the wife of Sigmund Freud, played a significant role in supporting the life and work of the father of psychoanalysis. Although most of the attention was on Freud, Martha’s influence and contributions to their family and Freud’s career were significant. And beyond her role as Freud’s wife, Martha Bernays is from a prestigious background surrounded by intellectual and cultural figures.
Early Life and Family Background
Martha Bernays was born in Hamburg (Germany) on July 26, 1861 into an influential and scholarly Jewish family. She was the daughter of Berman Bernays and Emmeline Philipp, both of intellectual and religious heritage. The Bernays family boasted a rich heritage of rabbis, scholars, and academics, providing Martha with an upbringing that emphasized education, culture, and tradition.
Her paternal grandfather, Isaac Bernays, was a famous Hamburg chief rabbi who modernized Judaism by mixing traditional Jewish teachings with intellectual spirit of the Enlightenment. This gave Martha pride and academic curiosity.
Siblings and Extended Family
Martha had several siblings, although little is known of them. But her extended family included some particularly notable people. Her uncle was the philologist and literary historian, Michael Bernays, who worked on Goethe and Schiller. Also, Martha’s nephew, Edward Bernays, became one of the pioneers of public relations and propaganda, often called the “father of public relations.”
Martha Bernays Marriage to Sigmund Freud
Martha Bernays met Sigmund Freud in 1882, and their courtship quickly blossomed into a deep and lasting relationship. The couple married on September 13, 1886, in Hamburg, despite financial and professional uncertainty during Freud’s early career.
Their relationship was marked by traditional gender roles of the time but demonstrated an emotional bond. Freud wrote frequently to Martha during their engagement, with over 1,500 letters surviving today, giving insight into their affection.
The couple eventually settled in Vienna, where Freud established his medical practice and began to formulate his theories which would form the basis of psychoanalysis.
Family Life and Children
Martha and Sigmund Freud had six children together. They include, Mathilde Freud, their eldest daughter who married businessman, Robert Hollitscher. Jean-Martin Freud named after the neuroscientist, Jean-Martin Charcot, a lawyer and soldier. Oliver Freud, a civil engineer by profession. Ernst L. Freud, a renowned architect who designed modernist buildings in Berlin and later London. Sophie Freud who married photographer, Max Halberstadt. Perhaps, Anna Freud, their most famous child, followed in her father’s footsteps, becoming a child psychoanalyst.
Anna Freud’s contributions to psychoanalysis, especially child development remain influential. Her theories were developed and she set up the Hampstead Child Therapy Course and Clinic in London.
Martha Bernays’ Role in Freud’s Career and Life
Martha Bernays managed the Freud household so Sigmund could concentrate on his medical practice and groundbreaking psychological research. While Martha did not work directly with Freud on his psychoanalytic work, she certainly had an impact on how she protected the family from outside pressures. Freud’s letters to Martha show he frequently sought her counsel and wisdom, suggesting her opinions shaped his thinking in subtle but meaningful ways.