Irving Aron's novel When Nietzsche Crys reveals several core propositions of existentialism: death, freedom, loneliness and meaninglessness through "talk therapy" between Nietzsche and Breul under the disguise of existentialist philosopher Nietzsche and medical master (Freud's teacher) Breul (19) and related archetypes and historical events in the history of psychology. Faced with these important propositions, different people have different explorations and responses, and psychoanalytic diagnosis still helps us understand these explorations and responses. As an existentialist and relationship-oriented psychological counselor, Owen Allen also actively absorbs and integrates the ideas and techniques of psychoanalysis. The novel presents various methods to realize the subconscious in psychoanalysis, including free association, dream interpretation, hypnosis and so on. This paper attempts to understand the personality characteristics of Nietzsche and Boolean, the protagonists in the novel, from the perspective of psychodynamics.
Before entering the analysis and comparison, let's briefly review the synopsis of the story: before Zarathustra was finished, the philosopher Nietzsche had a short love affair with his admirer and literary woman Salome. When Salome rejected his proposal, Nietzsche fell into madness and despair. Salome worried about her suicide, and found Dr. Buchal to save Nietzsche with a new "talk therapy", but reminded Buchal that Nietzsche was extremely sensitive to the transfer of power and would not accept tolerance.
The first meeting with Nietzsche confirmed this. He doesn't admit that his "despair" is just a "migraine", nor does he admit that he has a lot of anxiety, because he is carefree and free. In particular, he had strong doubts about buhrer's motivation to provide him with free treatment, and made it clear that he was unwilling to give him control in an unexplained way. Prompted by student Freud, Bougel decided to exchange with Nietzsche: he would become Nietzsche's physical doctor to treat migraine, and Nietzsche would become his psychiatrist to help him out of despair. Nietzsche agreed and quickly entered the role. With the help of each other, they finally saw their true selves and chose different lives. The novel describes this process, depicts the characters of their companionship and talk therapy, and shows the similarities and differences between the two protagonists in symptoms and troubles, as well as their personality characteristics and defense styles.
Because buhrer appeared in the whole novel for the first time, he also exposed himself psychologically in their treatment, so let's take a look at buhrer first. Buhrer is a professional doctor. His family is complete and looks normal, but he knows very well that he is trapped by his lust for Bertha and can't betray his family and lose everything. He often feels pain and despair. He exposed his private thoughts to Nietzsche. Judging from their interaction, buhrer's personality and defense mechanism show the following characteristics:
1, personality characteristics: introverted depression
Buhrer has a sense of guilt and self-hatred about his lust, and thinks that his whole depressed state is related to this shameless selfish thought. Through the subconscious excavation in the process of dialogue, we find that his depression and sexual fantasies have deeper reasons: the loss of his mother in his early years is the basis of his depression, while Bertha, as the object of sexual fantasies, is not the source of his anxiety, but his source is the fear of emptiness, forgetfulness, aging and death.
2. Defense mechanism: two levels.
Main defense mechanism:
Sexualization: First of all, buhrer unconsciously used sexualization to appease his deeper fears, but in essence, sex is non-sexual. Buhrer's sexual fantasies have injected many contents into the subconscious: missing attachment, desire for protection and independent power, and so on.
Identity of projection and projection: With the above internal drive, Buller will have similar projection when he meets the right object. For example, for Bertha and Salome, he will unconsciously have an irresistible desire to help and save, and at the same time, he will easily have a projective identity with them for repeatedly "hunting" the opposite sex through asking for help.
Secondary defense mechanism:
However, at the second level, buhrer used a more advanced defense mechanism to suppress or transform this primary instinctive reaction.
Rationalization: buhrer usually uses his social role and responsibility to suppress his sexual fantasies and behaviors. Faced with the charming Salome being belittled by Nietzsche and attacking himself angrily, he can stick to his promise with Nietzsche and not reveal his dialogue with Nietzsche. This part reflects Burla's powerful superego.
Regression: In the therapeutic relationship with Nietzsche, buhrer took the initiative to retreat to the weak position and was hypnotized by Nietzsche and Freud. Although Nietzsche accepted the treatment of reversal strategy on the conscious level, he chose to expose and release himself in a safer environment on the subconscious level. It can be understood as a regression. This retrogression helps him to present and accept his truer self in a supportive environment.
Identification: buhrer has his own side to suppress, and he also chooses to accept it beautifully. In the exchange and dialogue with students Freud and master Nietzsche, no matter what the position, they can agree with and absorb their reasonable views to adjust or integrate themselves.
Judging from the ending of the whole story, some people will regret that Bougel did not get rid of the unchanging old life and move towards freedom. However, from the perspective of psychotherapy, although Bougel didn't get rid of his original life, he happily accepted his fate, settled himself down and devoted himself to his wife and children, freeing him from his previous pain and despair. With the help of Nietzsche and Freud, it has something to do with seeing the true self clearly and letting a more mature survival strategy (perhaps better than the defense mechanism) replace the low-level defense mechanism. When he finally thanked Nietzsche, he said:
We can imagine that when Dembray found out that these "real enemies" were also traveling companions and didn't need to fight, he would gain more freedom. The restored family and warmth in his heart can help him solve this potential fear.
Related Links: Personality Analysis of the Hero in When Nietzsche Crys 2-Nietzsche