12016-11-30T17:32:18-08:00Elizabeth Withers4c83cfe2d791828249eb6cc21e5e14580fecf72e130083plain2016-12-14T20:05:32-08:00Elizabeth Withers4c83cfe2d791828249eb6cc21e5e14580fecf72e Thanatos is a Freudian concept whose scope extends beyond dream analysis. In Freud's theory of psychonalysis, Thanatos, the death instinct, and Eros, the love instinct, are two conflicting aspects of human nature. Thanatos is characterized as a death wish, or a desire for destruction. It can also be the expression of a desire for control; if one can't control anything about his life, he might want to claim control over his own death.