Narcissism: why is Freud ‘made’ to bother us?

Narcissism is, for a simplified definition, the stripping of clothes (tira-roupa), dependence on the object’s provision. Also for psychoanalysis, the narcissist makes himself his own object. When this is taken to its ultimate consequences, the individual may even fall ill (him, and the system).

In a post-truth world, a postmodern world, there is a certain social appreciation for those who are able to love themselves. Hollywood and Instagram are preachers of “never give up on your dreams” (honestly, sometimes, give up). But that is fine.

There in Vienna, a century ago, Freud left us the mischief of relating narcissism and homosexuality. Yuck. From there one scores “right in the ring” (na rosca, Brazilian slang for the anus), as the writer Luca Rischbieter warns whenever he can.

You may counter-argue that “for the Viennese society of the early 20th century, homosexuality was regarded as an illness, so Freud cannot be judged by today’s standards.” Well. That is exactly what I am trying to say.

If the reading of Freud is taken “by fire and sword,” the reader runs the risk of losing the best of the theory. But how so? Hypothetically, let us put it this way so as not to scare anyone, the individual has a submerged world of themself that not even they can access, the unconscious.

It happens, however, that a significant part, if not all, of the individual’s decisions are made in the unconscious. Eventually, but not rarely, one who has established for themself an object that is themself may have difficulty contributing to the community.

Not to mention that, clear as crystal, a life that maintains the infatuation, let us call it that, infatuation with oneself to the point of being unable to recognize the other ends also in divorces, misery, suicides.

The unconscious, the Id (Isto), those visceral experiences, everything formed over the years and very well hidden, requires some effort to be known. One of the techniques of psychoanalysis is cursing at your mother (laughs).

Could the narcissus of the myth, the one who admires himself, then be “provoked” by the relation made in Freud between the “I deserve everything, and I am above everything” crowd and “go find a dick”?