[]Ogden, T.H. (1998), Reverie and Interpretation Sensing Something Human.pdf
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Transcript of []Ogden, T.H. (1998), Reverie and Interpretation Sensing Something Human.pdf
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O t h e r B o o k s b y T h o m a s O g d e n
Projective Identification and Psychotherapeutic
Technique
The Matrix
ofthe
Mind: Object Relations and the
Psychoanalytic Dialogue
The Primitive Edge of Experience
Subjects of Analysis
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R e v e r i e a n d
I n t e r p r e t a t i o n
Sensing Something Hum an
T H O M A S H . O G D E N , M . D .
o \
J A S O N A R O N S O N I N C .
N o r t h v a l e ,
New
J e r s e y
L o n d o n
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t 9
3 3
? 9 7
Certain chapters in this book are based on prior publications ofthe author. H e
gratefully acknowledges
permission from
the following
journals to reprint this
previously published material.
Chapter
2: Analysing Forms
of
Aliveness
and
Deadness
of the Transference-
Countertransference, International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 76:695-709, 1995
(Copyright
© Institute
of
Psycho-Analysis).
Chapter 3: "The Perverse Subject of Analysis, Journal ofthe American
Psychoanalytic Association,
44:1121-1146,
1996
(Copyright
© The
American
Psychoanalytic Association).
Chapters 4 and 5: "Reconsidering Three Aspects of Psychoanalytic Technique,
The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 77:883-899, 1996 (Copyright©
Institute of Psycho-Analysis).
Chapter
6: Reverie
and Interpretation,"
The
Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 66:567-595,
1997 (Copyright © The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, Inc.).
Chapter
7; Some Thoughts
on the
Use
of Language in Psychoanalysis,"
Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 7:1-21, 1997 (Copyright© The Analytic Press).
Chapter
8:
"Listening: Three Frost
Poems,
Psychoanalytic Dialogues,
7:619-639,
1997 (Copyright © The Analytic Press).
The author also gratefully acknowledges permission to reprint:
- in Chapter 2, the poem from
yorg-e Luis Borges Selected Poems 1923-1967 by
Jorge Luis Borges. Copyright © 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 by Jorge Luis Borges,
Emece Editores, S.A. and Norman Thomas DiGiovanni. Used by permission of
Delacorte Press/Seymour Lawrence, a division of Bantam Doubleday
Dell
Publish
ing Group, Inc.
- in Chapter
8,
the
poems
from
The Poetry of Robert Frost,
edited
by Edward
Con-
nery Lathem. Copyright 1941, 1942 by Robert Frost. © 1970 by Lesley Frost Ballan-
tine. © 1969 by Henry Holt & Co., Inc. Reprinted by permission of Henry Holt &
Co.,
Inc.
Director of Editorial Production: Robert D. Hack
This book was set in 12 pt. New Baskerville byFASTpages of Nanuet, NY.
Copyright © 1997 by Thomas H. Ogden.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
AU ri hts reserved. No
part of
this book may be
used or reproduced
in any
manner
whatsoever without written permission from Jason Aronson Inc. except in the case
of brief quotations
in
reviews for inclusion in
a
magazine, newspaper, o r broadcast.
Library
of
Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ogden, Thomas H.
Reverie and interpretation: sensing something human / Thomas H.
Ogden.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7657-0076-X
I. Psychoanalysis. 2. Psychoanalytic interpretation. I. Tide.
RC509.O33 1997
616.89'17—dc21 97-9833
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper. For information and
catalog write to Jason Aronson Inc., 230 Livingston Street, Northvale, New Jersey
07647-1726. Or
visit
our
website:
http://www.aronson.com
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In memory of Jane Hew itt,
wh ose vitality and love were
so
Fierce
and so tender
that I will never know their like again
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C o n t e n
t s
1 O n t h e A r t o f P s y c h o a n a l y s i s 1
2 A n a l y z i n g F o r m s o f A l i v e n es s a n d D e a d n e s s 2 1
3 T h e P e r v e r s e S u b j e c t o f A n a l y s i s 6 5
4 P r iv a c y , R e v e r i e , a n d A n a l y t i c T e c h n i q u e 1 0 5
5 D r e a m A s s o c i a t io n s 1 3 5
6 R e v e r i e a n d I n t e r p r e t a t i o n 1 5 5
7 O n t h e U s e o f L a n g u a g e i n P s y c h o a n a l y s i s 1 9 9
8 L i s t e n i n g : T h r e e F r o s t P o e m s 2 3 3
R e f e r e n c e s 2 6 5
I n d e x 2 7 7
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S i t t i n g i n t h a t c h a i r , r o c k i n g a n d
g a z i n g a t t h e w a l l p a p e r , o n e s e e m e d
t o t u r n i n t o a m e r e t a n g l e o f r i s i n g a n d
f a l l in g t e n d r i l s t h a t w o u l d g r o w w i t h i n
a c o u p l e o f s e c o n d s f r o m n o t h i n g n e s s
t o t h e i r f u ll s i z e a n d t h e n a s r a p i d l y
d i s a p p e a r i n t o t h e m s e l v e s a g a i n .
R o b e r t
Musil , Five Wom en,
1 9 2 4
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1
O n t h e A r t of Psychoanalysis
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W o r d s a n d s e n t e n c e s , l i k e p e o p l e , m u s t b e a l l o w e d a
c e r t a i n s l i p p a g e . I d o n o t m e a n t o s u g g e s t t h a t w o r d s ,
s e n t e n c e s ( a n d h u m a n b e i n g s ) c a n b e s a id t o m e a n ( o r
b e ) a n y t h i n g w e w i s h t h e m t o m e a n ( o r b e ) . R a t h e r , I
a m d r a w i n g a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s t if l i n g e f f ec t o n i m a g i n a
t i o n o f o u r e f f o r t s t o d e f i n e , t o s p e c i f y w i t h e v e r i n c r e a s
i n g p r e c i s i o n , w h a t w e m e a n ( w h o w e a r e ) . I m a g i n a t i o n
d e p e n d s o n t h e p l a y o f p o s s i b i l i t i e s . I n t h i s v o l u m e ,
w o r d s a n d s e n t e n c e s a t t h e i r b e s t w il l b e o n l y l o o s e l y
" f a s t e n e d t o t h e
p a g e
( F r o s t 1 9 2 9 , p . 7 1 3 ) . I
will
u s e
w o r d s s u c h a s " a l i v en e s s " a n d " d e a d n e s s , " " h u m a n " a n d
" p e r v e r s e , " " s i n c e r e " a n d i n a u t h e n t i c w i t h o u t d e f i n
i n g t h e m
e x c e p t — a n d
t h i s i s a l a r g e
e x c e p t i o n — e x c e p t
i n t h e w a y t h e y a r e u s e d i n s e n t e n c e s . I w i l l a t d i f f e r e n t
t i m e s u s e t h e w o r d s " e m p t y , " " s t a g n a n t , " " s t a l e " a n d
s t i l lborn t o t a l k a b o u t a n e x p e r i e n c e o f e m o t i o n a l
d e a d n e s s . T h e r e a d e r m i g h t r e a s o n a b l y a s k , " W h i c h o f
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Reverie
and Interpretation
t h e s e f e e l i n g s o r s t a t e s , i f a n y , d o e s O g d e n h a v e i n
m i n d w h e n h e s p e a k s o f e m o t i o n a l d e a d n e s s ? M o r e
o v e r , i s n ' t t h e v e r y i d e a o f t h e experience o f e m o t i o n a l
d e a d n e s s a n o x y m o r o n ? " I w ill a s k t h e r e a d e r t o a l l o w
m e ( a n d h i m s e l f ) r o o m i n w h i c h a s e n s e o f e m p t i n e s s
m i g h t s l i d e i n t o a f e e l i n g o f d e a d n e s s , a n d t h e n i n t o a
d e a d n e s s o f f e e l i n g , a n d t h e n b a c k a g a i n i n t o a n
e xpe
r i e n c e o f e m p t i n e s s , p i c k i n g u p s h a d i n g s o f m e a n i n g
a l o n g t h e w a y. I t is i m p o r t a n t t h a t w o r d s b e u s e d ( a n d
r e a d ) i n a w a y t h a t a l l o w s t h e i r a c c r u e d m e a n i n g s t o b e
a l t e r e d b y ( a n d t o a f f ec t) e a c h n e w e m o t i o n a l c o n t e x t
i n w h i c h t h e y a r e s p o k e n o r w r i t t e n o r r e a d .
I t h a s i n c r e a s i n g l y s e e m e d t o m e t h a t t h e s e n s e o f
a l iv e n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s o f a g i v e n m o m e n t o f a n a n a
ly ti c h o u r is p e r h a p s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t g a u g e o f t h e
a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s . T h e a t t e m p t t o u s e l a n g u a g e t o cap
t u r e / c o n v e y a s e n s e o f t h i s d e l i c a t e i n t e r p l a y o f a li v e
n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s o f h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e a n a l y t i c
s e t t i n g r e p r e s e n t s a m a j o r c h a l l e n g e t o c o n t e m p o r a r y
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a n d w i l l b e a c e n t r a l c o n c e r n o f t h i s
b o o k . A l t h o u g h t h i s f a c e t ' o f t h e an a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e
w il l n o t o c c u p y t h e f o r e g r o u n d o f e a c h c h a p t e r , i t is m y
h o p e t h a t i t w i ll b e f e l t t o l i e i n t h e w i n g s o f v i r t u a l l y
e v e r y s e n t e n c e .
I n a t t e m p t i n g t o c a p t u r e s o m e t h i n g o f t h e e x p e r i
e n c e o f b e i n g a l i ve i n w o r d s , t h e w o r d s t h e m s e l v e s m u s t
b e a l i ve . W o r d s , w h e n t h e y a r e l iv i n g a n d b r e a t h i n g , a r e
l ik e m u s i c a l c h o r d s . T h e fu ll r e s o n a n c e o f t h e c h o r d o r
p h r a s e m u s t b e a l l o w e d t o b e h e a r d i n a ll o f i ts s u g g e s
t i ve i m p r e c i s i o n . W e m u s t a t t e m p t i n o u r u s e o f
lan-
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On the Art of Psychoanalysis
g u a g e , b o t h i n o u r t h e o r y - m a k i n g a n d i n o u r a n a l y t i c
p r a c t i c e , t o b e m a k e r s o f m u s i c , r a t h e r t h a n p l a y e r s o f
n o t e s . T o t h a t e n d , w e h a v e l i t t l e c h o i c e b u t t o a c c e p t
t h a t a w o r d o r a s e n t e n c e is n o t a s ti l l p o i n t o f m e a n i n g
a n d w il l n o t s o u n d t h e s a m e o r m e a n t h e s a m e t h i n g a
m o m e n t l a t e r . W h e n a p a t i e n t a sk s m e t o r e p e a t w h a t I
h a v e j u s t s a i d , I m a y te l l h i m s o m e t h i n g t o t h e e f fe c t
t h a t I c a n n o t s i n c e t h a t m o m e n t is g o n e . I a d d t h a t h e
a n d I m i g h t t r y t o s ay s o m e t h i n g t h a t t a k e s a s i ts s ta r t
i n g p o i n t h i s f e e l i n g a b o u t w h a t h a s j u s t o c c u r r e d .
W o r d s a n d s e n t e n c e s , l ik e p e o p l e , a r e f o r e v e r i n
m o t i o n . T h e a t t e m p t t o
fix
t h e m e a n i n g s o f w o r d s a n d
s e n t e n c e s t u r n s t h e m i n t o l if el es s e ff ig ie s, i m m o b i l e
s t a i n e d cells p r e s e r v e d o n l a b o r a t o r y s l id e s t h a t a r e
o n l y b a r e l y s u g g e s t i v e o f t h e l i v i n g t i s s u e f r o m w h i c h
t h e y c a m e . W h e n t h e l a n g u a g e o f a n a l y s t o r a n a l y s a n d
b e c o m e s s t a g n a n t , i t is n o l o n g e r o f a n y u s e i n t h e t a s k
o f c o n v e y i n g a s e n s e o f l iv i n g h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e . W h a t
I a s p i r e t o i n t h e u s e o f l a n g u a g e i n t h e a n a l y t i c d i a
l o g u e is c a p t u r e d i n A . R . A m n i o n s ' ( 1 9 6 8 ) c o m p a r i s o n
o f l i v i n g l a n g u a g e i n p o e t r y t o a w a l k : " A w a l k i n v o l v e s
t h e w h o l e p e r s o n ; i t is n o t r e p r o d u c i b l e ; i t s s h a p e
o c c u r s , u n f o l d s ; it h a s a m o t i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e
w a l k e r " ( p . 1 1 8 ) .
W h a t i t m e a n s t o b r i n g a p e r s o n , a f e e l i n g , a n i d e a ,
t o l if e i n w r i t i n g is t o b e f o u n d i n t h e reader's experi
ence of reading or hearing t h e w o r d s a n d s e n t e n c e s
b e i n g s a i d ( w r i t t e n ) b y t h e w r i t e r . T h i s is t h e c h a l l e n g e
o f a ll l i t e r a t u r e a n d o f a l l a n a l y t i c w r i t i n g s i n c e b o t h a r e
f u n d a m e n t a l l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e t a s k o f u s i n g
Ian-
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Reverie and Interpretation
g u a g e t o c a p t u r e s o m e t h i n g o f h u m a n
e x p e r i e n c e .
I f
w e a s r e a d e r s c a n n o t s e n s e s o m e t h i n g h u m a n , h o w e v e r
f a i n t , i n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g a n a n a l y t ic p a p e r , a
p o e m , a n e ss ay , o r a n o v e l , t h e n w e c o m e a w a y e m p t y -
h a n d e d . T h e w o r k o f t h e a n a l y t i c w r i t e r , l ik e t h e w r i t e r
o f p o e t r y o r f i c t i o n , b e g i n s a n d e n d s w i t h h i s e f f o r t t o
c r e a t e in t h e l a n g u a g e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f h u m a n a liv e
n e s s . I f a n a n a l y t i c w r i t e r c o n t e n t s h i m s e l f w i t h t a l k i n g
" a b o u t " a l iv e n e s s o r d e a d n e s s ( t h a t " s t o l i d w o r d abouf
[Wm.
J a m e s 1 8 9 0 , p . 2 4 6 ] ) , h i s e f f o r t s w i ll c e r t a i n l y b e
i n v a i n . T h i s b o o k , i f i t is t o a c h i e v e a n y t h i n g o f it s g o a l
o f c a p t u r i n g s o m e t h i n g o f h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e
a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g , m u s t a t t e m p t a t a l l t i m e s t o b e a n
e x p e r i m e n t i n w h i c h t h e w r i t e r i n t h e a c t o f w r i t i n g a n d
t h e r e a d e r i n t h e a c t o f r e a d i n g experiences a s e n s e o f
a l i v e n e s s t h a t e x is t s i n t h e l a n g u a g e b e i n g u s e d . T h i s
b o o k w i ll b e o f v a l u e i n t h e s e n s e I a m d e s c r i b i n g t o t h e
e x t e n t t h a t t h e r e a d e r n o w a n d a g a i n h a s t h e e x p e r i
e n c e o f
feeling
w h a t a l i v e n e s s is i n w h a t i t f e e l s l i k e t o
r e a d t h e s e n t e n c e s , o r a s F r o s t ( 1 9 6 2 ) l i k e d t o p u t it ,
" t o s a y t h e l i n e s " ( p . 9 1 1 ) .
T h e r e a d e r m u s t d o a t l e a s t h a l f t h e w o r k i n g a i n
i n g f r o m t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h i s b o o k a s e n s e o f w h a t i t is
t o b e a l iv e . " T h e p r o c e s s o f r e a d i n g is n o t a h a l f - s l e e p ,
b u t , i n h i g h e s t s e n s e , a n e x e r c i s e , a g y m n a s t ' s s t r u g g l e .
. . . T h e r e a d e r i s t o d o s o m e t h i n g f o r h i m s e l f , m u s t b e
o n t h e a l e r t , m u s t h i m s e l f o r h e r s e l f i n s t r u c t i n d e e d t h e
p o e m , a r g u m e n t , h i s to r y , m e t a p h y s i c a l essay—the t e x t
f u r n i s h i n g t h e h i n t s , t h e c l u e , t h e s t a r t o r f r a m e w o r k "
( W h i t m a n 1 8 7 1 , p . 9 9 2 ) . T h e b l a c k a n d w h i t e s h a p e s
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On the Art of Psychoanalysis
o n t h e p a g e a n d t h e w h i t e s p a c e t h a t s u r r o u n d s t h o s e
m a r k i n g s a r e i n e r t . T h e r e a d e r m u s t d o s o m e t h i n g w i t h
t h e m . H e m u s t a c t i ve ly , e v e n p a s s i o n a t e l y , e n g a g e w i t h
t h e w o r d s i n t h e a c t o f u s i n g h i m s e l f t o c r e a t e s o m e
t h i n g h u m a n o f h i s o w n , i n h i s o w n t e r m s . A f t e r a l l,
w h a t t e r m s , o t h e r t h a n o n e ' s o w n , a r e t h e r e w i t h w h i c h
t o c r e a t e a n e x p e r i e n c e t h a t is h u m a n ?
A m o n g t h e m o s t a s tu t e c o m m e n t s c o n c e r n i n g w h a t
i t m e a n s f o r a n a n a l y s is t o b e a l iv e h a s c o m e ( a s o n e
m i g h t e x p e c t ) , n o t f r o m a n a n a l y s t, b u t f r o m a n o v e l i s t
a n d e ss a yi st , s p e a k i n g i n 1 8 8 4 a b o u t t h e a r t o f f i c t i o n :
T h e g o o d h e a l t h o f a n a r t w h i c h u n d e r t a k e s t o
r e p r o d u c e l i f e m u s t d e m a n d t h a t i t b e p e r f e c t l y
f r e e ; I t l iv es u p o n e x e r c i s e a n d t h e v e r y m e a n i n g o f
e x e r c i s e is f r e e d o m . T h e o n l y o b l i g a t i o n t o w h i c h
i n a d v a n c e w e m a y h o l d a n o v e l , w i t h o u t i n c u r r i n g
t h e a c c u s a t i o n o f b e i n g a r b i t r a r y , is t h a t i t b e i n t e r
e s t i n g .
[ H e n r y
J a m e s 1 8 8 4 , p . 4 9 ]
J a m e s ' s t a t e m e n t a b o u t t h e n o v e l ( a n d im p l i c i t l y
a b o u t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f w r i t e r a n d r e a d e r ) h a s i m p o r
t a n t r e l e v a n c e t o t h e a r t o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a n d t o t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d . T h e i d e a t h a t a b o v e a l l a n a n al y si s m u s t b e
i n t e r e s t i n g is f o r m e b o t h s e l f -e v i d e n t a n d a r e v o l u t i o n
a r y c o n c e p t i o n ( cf . P h i l l i p s 1 9 9 6 ) . T o b e i n t e r e s t i n g ,
t h e a n a l y s i s m u s t b e f r e e t o " e x e r c i s e , " t o s h a p e i ts e l f
a n d b e g i v e n s h a p e i n a n y w a y t h a t t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s a r e
a b l e t o i n v e n t . T h e f r e e d o m t o " e x e r c i s e " is t h e f r e e -
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Reverie and Interpretation
d o m t o e x p e r i m e n t : " A r t l iv es u p o n d i s c u s s i o n , u p o n
e x p e r i m e n t , u p o n c u r io s i t y , u p o n v a r i e t y o f a t t e m p t ,
u p o n t h e e x c h a n g e o f v ie w s a n d t h e c o m p a r i s o n o f
s t a n d p o i n t s " ( H . J a m e s 1 8 8 4 , p p . 4 4 - 4 5 ) . W h e n t h e
a n a l y s i s is a l i v e, i t u n s e l f c o n s c i o u s l y m a n a g e s f o r p e r i
o d s o f t i m e t o b e a n e x p e r i m e n t t h a t h a s le f t t h e w e l l
c h a r t e d w a t e r s o f p r e s c r i b e d f o r m ; i t is a d i s c u s s i o n
f u e l e d b y c u r i o s i t y a n d b y v a r i e t y o f a t t e m p t ; i t is a n
e n d e a v o r t h a t d e p e n d s u p o n g e n u i n e e x c h a n g e o f
v ie w s a n d c o m p a r i s o n o f s t a n d p o i n t s . A n a l y s i s t h a t has
b e c o m e a r o u t i n i z e d f o r m i n w h i c h " k n o w l e d g e " is c o n
v e y e d f r o m a n a l y s t t o a n a l y s a n d is u n i n t e r e s t i n g ; i t is n o
l o n g e r a n e x p e r i m e n t s i n c e t h e a n s w e r s , a t l e a s t i n
b r o a d o u t l i n e , a r e k n o w n f r o m t h e o u t s e t . T h e f o r m o f
a n o v e l a n d o f a n a n a l y s i s m u s t n o t b e p r e - s c r i b e d . T o
d o s o is t o f o r e c l o s e e x p e r i m e n t :
T h e f o r m , it s e e m s t o m e , is t o b e a p p r e c i a t e d a f t e r
t h e fa ct : t h e n t h e a u t h o r ' s c h o i c e h a s b e e n m a d e . . . ;
t h e n w e c a n f o ll o w l i n e s a n d d i r e c t i o n s T h e exe
c u t i o n b e l o n g s to t h e a u t h o r a l o n e ; i t is w h a t is m o s t
p e r s o n a l t o h i m , a n d w e m e a s u r e h i m b y t h a t T h e
advantage,
t h e l u x u r y , a s
well
a s t h e t o r m e n t a n d
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f a n o v e l i s t i s t h a t t h e r e is n o l i m i t t o
w h a t h e m a y a t t e m p t as a n
e x e c u t a n t — n o
l i m i t t o h i s
p o s s i b l e e x p e r i m e n t s , e f f o r t s , d i s c o v e r i e s , s u c c e s s e s .
[ H . J a m e s 1 8 8 4 , p . 5 0 ]
A s is t h e c a s e w i t h t h e n o v e l , t h e f o r m o f a n a n a l y s i s
c a n o n l y b e a p p r e c i a t e d i n h i n d s i g h t . F o r e x a m p l e , a n
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On the Art of Psychoanalysis
a n a l y s t d o e s n o t p l a n t o p l a y a r o l e i n a p e r v e r s e s c e n e i n
a n a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p . T h e " s c r i p t " o r f o r m o f t h e p e r
v e r s e s c e n a r i o i s a r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s i n t e r n a l
o b j e c t w o r l d a n d is g i v e n s h a p e a s a n u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r
s u b j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d . U n d e r
s t a n d i n g o f t h e m e a n i n g s o f t h e f o r m is a l m o s t a lw a ys
r e t r o s p e c t i v e a n d t h i s f o r m is i n d e e d w h a t is m o s t p e r
s o n a l t o i ts a u t h o r s . W e a s k a g r e a t d e a l o f o u r s e l v e s a s
a n a ly s t s a n d a s a n a l y s a n d s i n d e m a n d i n g t h a t w e n o t r e l y
o n " p r e - s c r i b e d " f o r m , t h a t w e a t t e m p t t o b e o p e n t o
e x p e r i m e n t : " T h e r e is n o l i m i t [ i n r a n g e , i n t e n s i t y a n d
c o m p l e x i t y o f f e e l i n g a n d t h o u g h t ] t o w h a t h e [ a n a ly s t
o r a n a l y s a n d ] m a y a t t e m p t . " M o r e o v e r , w e a s k o f o u r
s e lv e s t h a t w e b e u n c o n s c i o u s l y a v a i l a b l e t o b e s u b j e c t s i n
t h e u n c o n s c i o u s e x p e r i m e n t o f t h e o t h e r . W e a s a n a l ys ts
a t t e m p t t o r e n d e r o u r s e lv e s u n c o n s c i o u s l y recept ive , to
b e i n g m a d e u s e o f i n p l a y i n g a v a r i e ty o f r o l e s i n t h e
u n c o n s c i o u s life o f t h e a n a l y s a n d . U n c o n s c i o u s r e c e p t iv
i ty o f t h i s s o r t ( B i o n ' s [ 1 9 6 2 a ] s t a t e o f " r e v e r i e " ) i n v o l v e s
( a p a r t i a l ) g i v i n g o v e r o f o n e ' s s e p a r a t e in d i v i d u a l i t y t o a
t h i r d s u b j e c t , a s u b j e c t t h a t is n e i t h e r a n a l y s t n o r
a n a l y s a n d b u t a t h i r d s u b je c ti v it y u n c o n s c i o u s l y g e n e r
a t e d b y t h e a n a l y t i c p a i r ( O g d e n 1 9 9 4 a ) . T o c o n s i s t e n t l y
o f f e r o n e s e l f i n t h i s w a y is n o s m a l l m a t t e r : i t r e p r e s e n t s
a n e m o t i o n a l l y d r a i n i n g u n d e r t a k i n g i n w h i c h a n a l y st
a n d a n a l y s a n d e a c h t o a d e g r e e " lo s es h i s m i n d " ( h i s
c a p a c i t y t o t h i n k a n d c r e a t e e x p e r i e n c e a s a d i s t i n c t l y
s e p a r a t e i n d i v i d u a l ) .
I t is o n l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f t e r m i n a t i n g a n a n a l y s i s
t h a t a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d " r e t r i e v e " t h e i r s e p a r a t e
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<Dn the Art of Psychoanalysis
11
t h a t I t h i n k h a s n o t b e e n s u f f ic i en t ly r e c o g n i z e d . W e
u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e p r e s s u r e g e n e r a t e d b y t h e a n a ly s t ' s
( l a r g e ly u n c o n s c i o u s ) k n o w l e d g e t h a t h e ( a l o n g w i t h
a l m o s t e v e ry p a r e n t ) h a s i m p l i c i d y p r o m i s e d w h a t h e
c a n n o t p o s s i b l y
g u a r a n t e e — t o
s t ay a l i ve l o n g e n o u g h
f o r t h e a n a l y s a n d ( o r c h i l d ) t o r e t r i e v e / c r e a t e a m i n d
o f h i s o w n c a p a b l e o f g e n e r a t i n g a s e p a r a t e p l a c e i n
w h i c h t o l iv e t h a t i s o u t s i d e o f , a n d y e t n e v e r c o m
p l e t e l y s e p a r a t e f r o m , t h e s h a r e d m e n t a l s p a c e i n w h i c h
h e h a s g r o w n u p .
T h e a r t o f a n a l y s i s is a n a r t f o r m t h a t r e q u i r e s n o t
o n l y t h a t w e s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e p r o b l e m o f c r e a t i n g a
p l a c e w h e r e a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d m i g h t l iv e, b u t a l so
r e q u i r e s t h a t w e d e v e l o p a u s e o f l a n g u a g e a d e q u a t e t o
g i v i n g v o i c e t o o u r e x p e r i e n c e o f w h a t l i fe f e e ls l i k e i n
t h a t e v e r s h i f t i n g p l a c e . W e a s k o f o u r s e l v e s ( a n d o f o u r
a n a l y s a n d s ) t h a t w e a t t e m p t t o s p e a k i n o u r o w n v o i c e
w i t h o u r o w n w o r d s , f o r t h i s is a v e r y l a r g e p a r t o f w h a t
a l lo w s a n a l y s is t o b e a h u m a n e v e n t . " T h e e x e c u t i o n
b e l o n g s t o t h e a u t h o r a l o n e ; i t is w h a t is m o s t p e r s o n a l
t o h i m . . . ." P a r a d o x i c a l l y , i t r e q u i r e s a g r e a t d e a l o f
t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e t o b e a b l e t o t a lk i n a w a y t h a t
f ee ls a n d s o u n d s s p o n t a n e o u s , u n p r a c t i c e d , u n c o n -
t r iv e d , u n d i c t a t e d b y a n a l y t ic c o n v e n t i o n o r prescr ip
tion. T h i s i s n o t s i m p l y a m a t t e r o f t h e a n a l y s t ' s
g r o w i n g , o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f tim e, t o f e e l m o r e f a m i l i a r
w i t h , a n d c o m f o r t a b l e i n , t h e r o l e o f a n a l y s t . A n a n a l y s t
a t a n y s t a g e o f h i s c a r e e r m a y c o m e t o s u b s t i t u t e f o r t h e
s o u n d o f h i s o w n v o i c e a n d t h e c h o i c e o f h i s o w n w o r d s
t h e s t a l e f o r m u l a i c s o u n d o f " a c c e p t e d " t e c h n i q u e a s
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12
Reverie
and Interpretation
d e f i n e d b y a n af f i l ia t i o n t o a s c h o o l o f a n a l y t i c t h o u g h t
o r b y a c o n s c i o u s o r u n c o n s c i o u s i m i t a t i o n o f o r i d e n t i
f i c a t i o n w i t h h i s o w n a n a l y s t ( s ) , s u p e r v i s o r s , o r o t h e r
a n a ly s t s w h o m h e c u r r e n t l y r e s p e c t s a n d a d m i r e s .
I t is a v e r y g r e a t a c h i e v e m e n t i n d e e d f o r a n a n a l y s t
t o d e v e l o p t h e c a p a c i t y t o " s i m p l y t a l k " t o h i s
a n a l y s a n d . T h e i d e a o f " s i m p l y t a l k i n g " m i g h t b e
t h o u g h t o f a s t h e a n a l o g u e t o F r e u d ' s ( 1 9 1 2 ) i n s t r u c
t i o n t o t h e a n a l y s t : " S i m p l y l i s t e n " ( p . 112) . S o o f t e n
t h e r a p i s t s a n d a n a ly s t s s p e a k i n a " t h e r a p e u t i c v o i c e "
( p a r o d i e d i n a n o f t e n d i s c o n c e r t i n g l y a c c u r a t e w a y i n
f i l m s s u c h a s
Annie Hall
a n d S e x ,
Lies and Video
Tape). S u c h s t if f t h e r a p e u t i c t o n e s a r e l ik e t h o s e h e a r d
i n n o o t h e r f o r m o f h u m a n d i s c o u r s e .
L e a r n i n g t o t a l k w i t h p a t i e n t s w i t h a v o i c e o f o n e ' s
o w n a n d w i t h w o r d s o f o n e ' s o w n r e q u i r e s t h a t o n e
l e a r n t o h e a r a n d t o u s e " t h e
living
s o u n d s o f s p e e c h "
( F r o s t 1 9 1 5 , p . 6 8 7 ) : " t h e v i ta l t h i n g t h e n i n a ll c o m p o
s i t i o n , i n p r o s e a n d v e r s e . . . is t h e A C T I O N o f t h e
v o i c e . . . . G e t t h e stuff o f l i f e i n t o t h e t e c h n i q u e o f
y o u r w r i t i n g . T h a t ' s t h e o n l y e s c a p e f r o m d r y r h e t o r i c "
( p . 6 8 8 ) . I t i s also t h e a n a l y s t ' s o n l y e s c a p e f r o m d r y
" t h e r a p e u t i c " r h e t o r i c , o r d e a d l a n g u a g e . T h e a n a l y s t ' s
s p e e c h m u s t b e t h e c r e a t i o n o f a p e r s o n w h o is a l iv e i n
t h a t m o m e n t . L i v i n g h u m a n s p e e c h is a s d i f f i c u l t t o
c o m e b y i n t h e a n a l y s t ' s s p o k e n u s e o f l a n g u a g e a s i t is
i n w r i t t e n p r o s e o r v e r s e .
S o m e y e a r s l a t e r , F r o s t ( 1 9 2 9 ) e x p a n d e d o n t h e
i d e a o f " J iv i n g s o u n d s o f s p e e c h " :
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On the Art of Psychoanalysis
13
E v e r y t h i n g w r i t t e n is a s g o o d as i t is d r a m a t i c . . . . A
d r a m a t i c n e c e s s i ty g o e s d e e p i n t o t h e n a t u r e
o f t he
s e n t e n c e . S e n t e n c e s a r e n o t d i f f e r e n t e n o u g h t o
h o l d t h e a t t e n t i o n u n l e s s t h e y a r e d r a m a t i c . N o
i n g e n u i t y o f v a r y i n g s t r u c t u r e w i l l d o . A l l t h a t c a n
s a ve t h e m is t h e s p e a k i n g t o n e o f v o i c e s o m e h o w
e n t a n g l e d i n t h e w o r d s . . . f o r t h e e a r o f t h e i m a g
i n a t i o n .
[p.713]
I n t h i s p a s s a g e , F r o s t ' s w o r d " d r a m a t i c " i s i t s e l f
d r a m a t i c . I t i s a w o r d t h a t i s u n e x p e c t e d a n d c o n v e y s a
g o o d
d e a l o f w h a t F r o s t c a l ls t h e " f e t c h i n g " ( 1 9 1 8 , p .
6 9 4 ) u s e o f e v e r y d a y w o r d s , s o m e h o w t r a n s f o r m e d
i n t o n e w l y m a d e w o r d s ( w o r d s " f e t c h e d " f r o m t h e i r
c u s t o m a r y p l a c e ) . T h e w o r d " d r a m a t i c " h a s b e e n
n e w l y m a d e h e r e s o t h a t i t n o l o n g e r m e a n s h i s t r i o n i c ,
h y s t e r i c a l , s h o c k i n g , f la sh y , g l a m o r o u s , t h e a t r i c a l , a n d
t h e l i k e . I t s e e m s m o r e t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e l a n g u a g e i s
p e r s o n a l , u n i q u e t o t h e p e r s o n s p e a k i n g i t , p a r t i c u l a r
t o t h e s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h i t is s p o k e n a n d t o t h e p e r s o n
t o w h o m i t i s s p o k e n . A s a r e s u l t , " d r a m a t i c " s p e e c h
( q u i t e t h e o p p o s i t e o f b e i n g s t a g e d ) is a h i g h l y r e v e a l
i n g a n d i n t i m a t e u s e o f l a n g u a g e i n t h a t o n e h a s
o f f e r e d a n d e n t r u s t e d t o a n o t h e r p e r s o n s o m e t h i n g
t h a t o n e h a s m a d e for him t o u s e a s h e w i l l . I t i s a u s e
o f l a n g u a g e t h a t is r i s k - t a k i n g i n t h a t i t a s k s s o m e t h i n g
o f t h e l i s t e n e r i n t h e p r o c e s s o f m a k i n g s o m e t h i n g f o r
h i m . I n b e i n g a l i ve a n d p r e s e n t i n o n e ' s l a n g u a g e , i n
h a v i n g " o n e ' s s p e a k i n g t o n e o f v o i c e s o m e h o w . . .
e n t a n g l e d i n t h e w o r d s , " t h e s p e a k e r a s k s t h a t a n
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14
.Reverie and Interpretation
a s p e c t o f h i m s e l f b e r e c o g n i z e d " b y t h e e a r o f t h e [ l i s
t e n e r ' s ] i m a g i n a t i o n . "
T o h a v e o n e ' s a t t e m p t s t o s p e a k " d r a m a t i c a l l y "
( i n t i m a t e l y a n d p e r s o n a l l y ) g o u n h e a r d a n d u n u s e d is
n o smal l e v e n t f o r e i t h e r a n a l y s t o r a n a l y s a n d . W h e n
t h e a n a l y s t ' s w o r d s g o u n h e a r d , i t is a n i s o l a t i n g , f ru s
t r a t i n g a n d d i s a p p o i n t i n g e v e n t . W h e n t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s
w o r d s ( a n d t h e a s p e c t o f h i m s e l f t h a t is e n t a n g l e d i n
h i s w o r d s a n d s p e a k i n g t o n e o f v o i c e ) g o u n h e a r d b y
t h e a n a l y s t , it is a f a r m o r e s e r i o u s m a t t e r : i t is a r e f l e c
t i on
o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a n a l y s t , f o r t h e m o m e n t , is n o
l o n g e r a b l e t o p r o v i d e " a n i m a g i n i n g e a r , " a l i v in g
h u m a n p r e s e n c e to b e w i t h a n d t o b e t a l k e d t o . T h e
a n a l y s a n d ' s s e l f - p r o t e c t i v e w i t h d r a w a l w ill a l m o s t c e r
t a i n l y f o l l o w ( f o r e x a m p l e , i n t h e f o r m o f a c t i n g - i n o r
a c t i n g o u t , s o m a t i z a t i o n , r e l i a n c e o n m a n i c , p a r a n o i d ,
a n d a u t i s t i c d e f e n s e s , a n d s o o n ) . S u c h is t h e n a t u r e o f
h u m a n d i s c o u r s e : a l a p s e o f t h i s s o r t o n t h e p a r t
o f t h e
a n a l y s t is p a i n f u l , b u t n o t t r a g i c . I t is p a r t o f t h e r h y t h m
o f a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e a n d o f a ll o t h e r f o r m s o f h u m a n
d i s c o u r s e . H o w e v e r , i f t h i s p a t t e r n c o n t i n u e s u n a b a t e d
a n d u n e x a m i n e d i n a n a n a ly t i c s e t t i n g , s o m e t h i n g f a r
m o r e d e s t r u c t i v e t o t h e a n a ly s i s is s e t i n m o t i o n . W h e n
t h e a n a ly s t is u n a b l e t o a n a l y z e t h e u n c o n s c i o u s
t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s ( o f t e n m a n i f e s t e d i n
t h e a n a l y s t ' s r e v e r i e e x p e r i e n c e ) t h a t a r e p r e v e n t i n g
h i m f r o m l i s t e n i n g f r e e ly a n d i m a g i n a t i v e l y , a g u l f
b e t w e e n t h e a n a l y s t a n d t h e a n a l y s a n d g r o w s . U n t i l t h i s
s t a t e o f a ff a i rs is r e c o g n i z e d a n d f o l d e d i n t o t h e s e lf -
r e f l e c t iv e w o r k o f t h e a n a l ys is , e i t h e r t h r o u g h c o u n t e r -
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On the
Art
of Psychoanalysis
15
t r a n s f e r e n c e a n a ly s is , o r t h r o u g h t h e p a t i e n t ' s su c c e ss
f u l l y b r i n g i n g t h e m a t t e r t o t h e a w a r e n e s s o f t h e
a n a l y s t , g e n u i n e a n a ly t i c w o r k h a s c o m e t o a n e n d .
S u c h im p a s s e s o f t e n r e q u i r e t h a t t h e a n a l y s t s e e k c o n
s u l t a t i o n o r f u r t h e r p e r s o n a l a n a ly s is .
A s w il l b e d i s c u s s e d i n l a t e r c h a p t e r s , I b e l i e v e t h a t
t h e a n a l y t i c t a s k m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l l y i n v o l v e s t h e e f f o r t
o f t h e a n a l y t i c p a i r t o h e l p t h e a n a l y s a n d b e c o m e
h u m a n i n a f u l l e r s e n s e t h a n h e h a s b e e n a b l e t o
a c h i e v e t o t h is p o i n t . T h i s is n o a b s t r a c t , p h i l o s o p h i c a l
q u e s t ; i t is a r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h e s p e c i e s a s b a s i c a s t h e
n e e d f o r f o o d a n d a i r . T h e e f f o r t t o b e c o m e h u m a n i s
a m o n g t h e v e r y f ew t h i n g s i n a p e r s o n ' s l i f e t h a t m a y
o v e r t i m e c o m e t o f e e l m o r e i m p o r t a n t t o h i m t h a n h i s
p e r s o n a l s u r v i v a l .
A g a i n , I w il l t u r n t o a p o e t a n d p l a y w r i g h t t o p r o
v i d e l a n g u a g e w i t h w h i c h t o c o n v e y a s e n s e o f t h e w a y
i n w h i c h t h e s u r v iv a l o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l is q u i t e d i f f e r e n t
f r o m the experience o f b e i n g a l i v e. G o e t h e ' s F a u s t
( 1 8 0 8 ) is f o r m e o n e o f t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l e x p r e s s i o n s
i n
l i t e r a t u r e
o f t h e b a t t l e f o r l i f e a s a h u m a n b e i n g . T h e
c o m p l e x i t y o f Faust is l o s t w h e n t h e p r o t a g o n i s t is
v i e w e d a s a m a n w h o " m a k e s a d e a l w i t h t h e d e v i l " i n
w h i c h h e t r a d e s h i s s o u l f o r u n r e s t r i c t e d a c c e s s t o l i f e 's
p l e a s u r e s
( m a n y o f w h i c h a r e " f o r b i d d e n " s e n s u a l p l e a
s u r e s ) . T h e o p e n i n g s c e n e s o f
Faust I
t o m y m i n d
p r e s e n t a f a r m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g a n d c o m p l e x c h a r a c t e r
a n d d i l e m m a . W e a r e i n t r o d u c e d t o F a u s t a s a m a n w h o
is i n a s t a t e o f d e e p d e s p a i r a f t e r h a v i n g d e v o t e d h i s li f e
t o s t u d y i n g " P h i l o s o p h y , L a w ,
M e d i c i n e — a n d
w h a t i s
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16
Reverie and Interpretation
wors t—Theology . Ye t
I a m a w r e t c h e d f o o l / a n d s t i l l
n o w i s e r t h a n b e f o r e . " " I g e t n o j o y f r o m a n y t h i n g . "
" N o d o g w o u l d w a n t t o l i n g e r o n l i k e th i s . "
I t t a k e s s o m e time f o r t h e r e a d e r / a u d i e n c e t o g e t a
s e n s e o f t h e s o u r c e s o f t h i s d e s p a i r . F a u s t h a s s t u d i e d i n
v a i n a n d h a s c o m e t o v ie w G o d a s u s e l e s s t o h i m , n o t
b e c a u s e h e w a n t s t o b e c o m e m o r e t h a n h u m a n i n o r d e r
t o g a i n a c c e ss t o p l e a s u r e s f o r b i d d e n t o m o r t a l m e n .
Q u i t e t h e c o n t r a r y . W h a t F a u s t l o n g s f o r is t o b e a m o r t a l
m a n ( t h e v e r y t h i n g h e f ee ls t h a t G o d h a s d e n i e d h i m ) .
M e p h i s t o p h e l e s fa i ls t o u n d e r s t a n d t h i s a n d o f fe rs
him
u n e n d i n g e a r t h l y d e l i g h t s ( ' Y o u c a n s a m p l e w h a t e v e r
y o u l i k e " ) , b u t F a u s t is n o t i n t h e l e a s t i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e
p r o s p e c t o f b e i n g able t o " s n a t c h w h a t s u i ts [ h i s ] p a s s i n g
f a n c y ." F a u s t y e a r n s n o t f o r a p r i v i l e g e d p l a c e o u t s i d e o f
h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e a n d t i m e , b u t r a t h e r s e e k s a p l a c e
w i t h i n i t : " L e t ' s p l u n g e i n t o t h e t o r r e n t s o f t i m e / i n t o t h e
w o r l d o f e v e n t fu l e x p e r i e n c e " ( p . 4 5 ) . F a u s t g o e s o n :
a n d I ' m r e s o l v e d m y m o s t i n m o s t b e i n g s h a l l
s h a r e i n w h a t ' s t h e l o t o f a l l m a n k i n d t h a t I s h a l l
u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r h e i g h t s a n d d e p t h s , s h a l l fill m y
h e a r t w i t h a ll t h e i r j o y s a n d g r ie f s , a n d s o e x p a n d
m y s e l f t o t h e i r s a n d , l i k e t h e m , s u f f e r s h i p w r e c k
t o o . [ p . 4 6 ]
F a u s t f e e ls t h a t h e h a s n o t e x p e r i e n c e d w h a t i t is t o
b e h u m a n ( " t h e l o t o f a ll m a n k i n d " ) a n d u s e s t h e
w o r d s " t h e i r " a n d " t h e m " i n a w a y t h a t r e f l e c t s h i s f ee l
i n g t h a t h e o c c u p i e s a p o s i t i o n o u t s i d e o f h u m a n k i n d .
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On the Art of Psychoanalysis
17
G o e t h e ' s f r a m i n g o f F a u s t ' s d i l e m m a i n t h i s w a y
c a p t u r e s f o r m e w h a t is m o s t b a s i c t o t h e t h e r a p e u t i c
t a s k o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s : t h e e f f o r t t o c r e a t e c o n d i t i o n s i n
w h i c h a p a r t i c u l a r t y p e o f d i s c o u r s e m i g h t t a k e p l a c e i n
w h i c h t h e a n a l y s a n d a n d t h e a n a l y s t a t t e m p t t o
e n h a n c e t h e i r c a p a c i ty t o t a k e p a r t
in
" e v e n t f u l e x p e r i
e n c e , " t o e x p e r i e n c e a fu ll r a n g e o f the j o y s a n d g r i e f s ,
t h e h e i g h t s a n d d e p t h s " o f h u m a n e m o t i o n .
A l t h o u g h t h e c a p a c i t y t o b e h u m a n i n t h i s s e n s e is
v i e w e d b y F a u s t a s " t h e l o t o f a ll m a n k i n d , " F a u s t d o e s
n o t y e t u n d e r s t a n d ( o r , p e r h a p s m o r e a c c u r a t e l y , c a n
n o t b e a r t h e t h o u g h t ) i n t h e s e o p e n i n g s c e n e s t h a t t h e
inability
t o b e f u ll y h u m a n is i t se l f a n a s p e c t o f " t h e l o t
o f a ll m a n k i n d . " A l l m a n k i n d is e x c l u d e d t o v a r y i n g
d e g r e e s f r o m " e v e n t f u l e x p e r i e n c e " a n d i n t h e d e s p e r a
tion a n d f r u s t r a t i o n t h a t w e s h a r e w i t h F a u s t i n o u r
e f f o rt s t o b e c o m e m o r e fu lly h u m a n , w e e a c h m a k e o u r
o w n s i l e n t ( l a r g e l y u n c o n s c i o u s ) " d e a l s " w i t h o u r s e l v e s .
T h e s e " d e a l s " ( w h i c h i n t e c h n i c a l t e r m s m i g h t b e
c a l l e d " p a t h o l o g i c a l s o l u t i o n s " ) a r e n o t m a d e f o r t h e
p u r p o s e o f b e c o m i n g s u p e r - h u m a n ( w h i c h is t o
b e c o m e n o n - h u m a n ) ,
b u t
f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f b e c o m i n g
m o r e f u lly h u m a n . H o w e v e r , i n u n c o n s c i o u s l y m a k i n g
t h e s e " d e a l s " w i t h o u r s e l v e s , w e u n w i t t i n g l y e n t e r m o r e
d e e p l y i n t o t h e n o n - h u m a n — t h a t i s , i n t o f o r m s o f sub
s t i t u t i o n f o r l i f e t h a t s u p e r f i c ia l ly a p p e a r h u m a n , b u t
u l t i m a t e l y d o n o t f e e l e i t h e r h u m a n . o r a li ve . F o r e x a m
p l e , as w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r 3 , t h e p e r v e r s e i n d i
v i d u a l a t t e m p t s to b r i n g h i m s e l f t o l i f e b y m e a n s o f
c o m p u l s i v e l y s c r i p t e d f o r m s o f s e x u a l e x c i t e m e n t o n l y
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On the Art of Psychoanalysis
19
t o p l a y , t o i m a g i n e a n d t o u s e v e r b a l a n d n o n - v e r b a l
s y m b o l s t o c r e a t e / r e p r e s e n t o n e ' s e x p e r i e n c e . W e n o t
o n l y a c c e p t , b u t e m b r a c e t h e s e a n d o t h e r l i m i t a t i o n s o f
o u r c a p a c i t y t o b e a l i ve w h e n t h e p r o s p e c t o f b e i n g
m o r e f ul ly a li v e a s a h u m a n b e i n g is f e l t t o i n v o l v e a
f o r m o f p s y c h i c p a i n t h a t w e a r e a f r a i d w e c a n n o t
e n d u r e . I n e m b r a c i n g t h e s e f o r m s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l
d e a d n e s s , w e s a c r i f ic e a p a r t o f o u r s e l v e s f o r t h e s u r
v iv a l o f t h e w h o l e , b u t find t h a t t h e " w h o l e " h a s b e e n
s a p p e d o f a g o o d d e a l o f v i ta l it y i n t h e p r o c e s s .
W h e n I a t t e m p t t o find w o r d s t o d e s c r i b e o u r r e la
tionship t o o u r s e l v e s i n o u r e f f o r t s t o a v o i d e n t e r i n g
i n t o t h e s e u n c o n s c i o u s " d e a l s " w i t h o u r s e l v e s , I a m
r e m i n d e d o f F a u l k n e r ' s ( 1 9 4 6 ) t e r s e , d a r k ly h u m o r o u s
d e s c r i p t i o n o f C a d d i e , t h e f e m a l e p r o t a g o n i s t o f
The
Sound and the Fury. D o o m e d
a n d k n e w i t" ( p . 1 0 ) .
( C a d d i e is n o t e v e n g i v en t h e b e n e f i t o f a p r o n o u n i n
t h i s c a s u a l l y d a m n i n g v e r d i c t t h a t is s p i t o u t i n f o u r
m o n o s y l l a b i c w o r d s . ) W e a s a n a l y s t s a r e s o m e h o w d i m l y
a w a r e o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h w e a r e " d o o m e d " ( o r a t l e a s t
i l l - fa t e d ) i n o u r s t r i v i n g s t o b e c o m e f ul ly h u m a n a n d i n
o u r e f f o r ts t o a s s is t t h e a n a l y s a n d in h i s a t t e m p t s t o d o
s o . N o n e t h e l e s s , i t is i n t h i s e f f o r t t o b e c o m e m o r e f ul l y
h u m a n t h a t w e a r e a l iv e a s a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d ; i t is i n
t h i s e x p e r i m e n t t h a t t h e a r t o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s l iv es .
I n t h e c h a p t e r s t h a t f o l lo w , I e x p l o r e t h e w a y s i n
w h i c h t h e a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e is a f a b r i c w o v e n f r o m
t h e w a r p a n d t h e w o o f o f a l i v e n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s , o f re v
e r i e a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , o f p r i v a cy a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n ,
o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y a n d i n t e r s u b j e c t iv i t y , o f t h e s e e m i n g l y
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20
Reverie
and Interpretation
o r d i n a r y a n d t h e d e e p l y p e r s o n a l , o f a f r e e d o m t o
e x p e r i m e n t a n d a g r o u n d e d n e s s i n e x i s t i n g f o r m s , o f a
l o v e o f i m a g i n a t i v e l a n g u a g e f o r i ts e l f a n d t h e u s e o f
l a n g u a g e a s a m e a n s t o a t h e r a p e u t i c e n d .
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We'll hunt for a third tiger now, butlike
The others this one too will be a form
Of what I dream,
a
structure of words, a nd not
The flesh and bone tiger that beyond all myths
Paces the earth, I know these things quite well,
Yet nonetheless some force keeps driving me
In this vague, unreasonable, and ancient quest,
And I go on pursuing through the hours
Another tiger, the beast not found in verse.
" T h e O t h e r T i g e r , " J . L . B o r g e s , 1 9 6 0
I h a v e b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y a w a r e o v e r t h e p a s t s e v e r a l
y e a r s t h a t t h e s e n s e o f a l i v e n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s o f t h e
t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e is , f o r m e , p e r h a p s
t h e s i n g l e m o s t i m p o r t a n t m e a s u r e o f t h e m o m e n t - t o -
m o m e n t s t a t u s o f t h e a n a l y t ic p r o c e s s . I n t h e c o u r s e o f
f o u r c l i n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s , I s h a l l e x p l o r e t h e i d e a t h a t a n
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24
Reverie and Interpretation
e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t o f a n a l y t ic t e c h n i q u e i n v o lv e s t h e
a n a l y s t ' s m a k i n g u s e o f h i s e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e t o a d d r e s s s p e c i f i c e x p r e s s i v e a n d d e f e n
s iv e r o l e s o f t h e s e n s e o f a l i v e n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s o f t h e
a n a l y s i s a s w e l l a s t h e p a r t i c u l a r f u n c t i o n o f t h e s e q u a l i
ties o f e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e l a n d s c a p e o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s
i n t e r n a l o b j e c t w o r l d a n d o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p s . F r o m
t h i s p e r s p e c t i v e , t h e p r o b l e m s o f c e n t r a l c o n c e r n t o
a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d t e n d t o f o c u s i n c r e a s i n g l y o n
s u c h q u e s t i o n s as: J W h e n w a s t h e l a s t t i m e t h e a n a l y s i s
f e l t a l iv e t o b o t h p a r t i c i p a n t s ? Is t h e r e a d i s g u i s e d v i ta l
i t y t h a t c a n n o t b e a c k n o w l e d g e d b y a n a ly s t a n d / o r
a n a l y s a n d f o r f e a r o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f i t s r e c o g n i
t i o n ? W h a t s o r t s o f s u b s t i t u t e f o r m a t i o n s m i g h t b e
m a s k i n g t h e l i f e le s s n e s s o f t h e a n a l y s i s , e . g . , m a n i c
e x c i t e m e n t , p e r v e r s e p l e a s u r e , h y s t e r i c a l a c t i n g - i n a n d
a c t i n g - o u t , as-if c o n s t r u c t i o n s , p a r a s i t i c d e p e n d e n c e o n
t h e i n n e r l i f e o f t h e a n a l y s t , a n d s o o n ?
T h e id e a s t h a t I shal l p r e s e n t a r e b a s e d i n l a r g e
p a r t o n W i n n i c o t t ' s ( 1 9 7 1 a ) c o n c e p t i o n
o f t h e
" p l a c e
w h e r e w e l i v e " ( a t h i r d a r e a o f e x p e r i e n c i n g b e t w e e n
r e a l i t y a n d f a n ta s y [ 1 9 5 1 ] ) a n d t h e p r o b l e m s i n v o l v e d
i n g e n e r a t i n g s u c h a " p l a c e " ( i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e s t a t e o f
m i n d ) i n t h e a n a l y s is . I a m a l s o d r a w i n g h e a v i l y u p o n
B i o n ' s ( 1 9 5 9 ) n o t i o n t h a t t h e a n a l y s t / m o t h e r k e e p s
a l i v e, a n d i n a s e n s e b r i n g s t o l i f e, t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s /
i n f a n t ' s p r o j e c t e d a s p e c t s o f s e l f t h r o u g h t h e s u c c e s s f u l
t c o n t a i n m e n t o f p r o j e c t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t io n s . S y m i n g t o n ' s
( 1 9 8 3 ) a n d C o l t a r t ' s ( 1 9 8 6 ) d i s c u s s i o n s
o f t h e
a n a l y s t ' s
f r e e d o m t o t h i n k r e p r e s e n t i m p o r t a n t a p p l i c a t i o n s t o
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Analyzing Forms of Aliveness and Deadness
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a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e o f t h e w o r k o f B i o n a n d W i n n i c o t t .
G r e e n ( 1 9 8 3 ) h a s m a d e a p i v o t a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e
a n a ly t i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f d e a d n e s s
a s a n e a r l y i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s s t a t e o f
t h e d e p r e s s e d m o t h e r .
A g r e a t d e a l h a s b e e n w r i t t e n i n r e c e n t y e a r s a b o u t
t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e a n a l y s t ' s " r e a l n e s s , " i .e . , h i s
c a p a c i t y f o r s p o n t a n e i t y a n d f r e e d o m t o r e s p o n d t o t h e
a n a l y s a n d f r o m h i s own- e xpe r i e nc e i n t h e a n a l y t i c s i t u
a t i o n i n a w a y t h a t i s n o t s t r a n g u l a t e d b y s t i l t e d c a r i c a
t u r e s o f a n a l y t i c n e u t r a l i t y ( s e e f o r e x a m p l e , B o l l a s
1 9 8 7 , C a s e m e n t 1 9 8 5 , M e a r e s 1 9 9 3 , M i t c h e l l 1 9 9 3 ,
S t e w a r t 1 9 7 7 ) . A s w i ll b e c l i n i c a l ly i l l u s t r a t e d , m y o w n
t e c h n i q u e r a r e l y i n c l u d e s d i s c u s s i n g t h e c o u n t e r t r a n s
f e r e n c e w i t h t h e p a t i e n t d i r e c t ly . I n s t e a d , t h e c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e
1
is i m p l i c i t ly p r e s e n t e d i n t h e w a y c o n
d u c t m y s e l f a s a n a n a ly s t , f o r e x a m p l e , i n t h e m a n a g e
m e n t o f t h e a n a l y t i c f r a m e , t h e t o n e , w o r d i n g a n d
c o n t e n t o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d o t h e r i n t e r v e n t i o n s ; i n
t h e p r e m i u m t h a t is p l a c e d o n s y m b o l i z a t io n a s
o p p o s e d t o
tens ion-di ss ipa t ing
a c t io n ; a n d s o o n .
1. I use th e term countertransference to refer to th e analy st 's
exper ience of and cont r ibut ion to the transference-countertrans-
ference . The la t ter term refers to an unconscious intersubject ive
construction generated by the analytic pair. I do not view transfer
enc e an d co un tert ran sfere nce as separa ble ent i ties that arise in
response to one ano ther ; ra the r , I un der s tand these te rms to re fer
to
aspects.of
a single intersubjective totality ex pe rie nc ed separately
(an d individually) by analyst an d analysan d.
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26
J?everie and Interpretation
I s h a l l a t t e m p t t o d e v e l o p s e v e r a l i d e a s h a v i n g t o
d o w i t h t e c h n i c a l p r o b l e m s i n v o l v e d i n r e c o g n i z i n g ,
s y m b o l i z i n g a n d i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e s e n s e o f a l iv e n e s s a n d
d e a d n e s s
o f t h e
a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e . I b e l i e v e t h a t e v e r y
f o r m o f p s y c h o p a t h o l o g y r e p r e s e n t s a s p e c if i c t y p e o f
l i m i t a t i o n
o f t h e
i n d i v i d u a l ' s c a p a c i t y t o b e f u ll y a l i v e a s
a h u m a n b e i n g . T h e g o a l o f a n a ly s i s f r o m t h i s p o i n t o f
v i e w is l a r g e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f u n c o n s c i o u s
i n t r a p s y c h i c c o n f l ic t , t h e d i m i n u t i o n o f s y m p t o m a t o l
o g y , t h e e n h a n c e m e n t o f r e f le c t iv e s u b j e c t iv i t y a n d s el f -
u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d - t h e i n c r e a s e o f o n e ' s s e n s e o f p e r
s o n a l a g e n c y . A l t h o u g h o n e ' s s e n s e o f b e i n g a l i ve is
i n t i m a t e l y i n t e r t w i n e d w i t h e a c h o f t h e a b o v e - m e n
tioned c a p a c i t i e s , I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a l iv e
n e s s is a q u a l i t y t h a t is s u p e r o r d i n a t e t o t h e s e c a p a c i t i e s
a n d m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d a s a n a s p e c t o f t h e a n a l y t i c
e x p e r i e n c e in its own terms.
T h e f o c u s o f t h i s c h a p t e r is c l i n i c a l . M y e f f o r t w i ll
n o t b e t o d e f i n e p s y c h o l o g i c a l a l i v e n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s
o r e v e n t o a t t e m p t t o d e s c r i b e h o w w e d e t e r m i n e
w h e t h e r , o r t o w h a t e x t e n t , a g i v e n e x p e r i e n c e h a s t h e
q u a l i t y o f a l i v e n e s s o r o f d e a d n e s s . I t i s n o t t h a t t h e s e
q u e s t i o n s a r e u n i m p o r t a n t . R a t h e r , t h e b e s t w a y I h a v e
o f a d d r e s s i n g t h e s e q u e s t i o n s is t o d i s c u s s c l i n i c a l s i tu a
t i o n s t h a t I b e l i e v e c e n t r a l l y i n v o l v e t h e s e q u a l i t i e s o f
e x p e r i e n c e a n d t o h o p e t h a t t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s t h e m
s e lv e s c o n v e y s o m e t h i n g o f a s e n s e o f t h e w a ys i n w h i c h
a l iv e n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s a r e c o n s c i o u s l y a n d u n c o n
s c io u s l y e x p e r i e n c e d b y a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d . I n t h e
f o u r c l i n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s o f f o r m s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l alive-
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Analyzing Forms of Aliveness and Deadness
27
n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s t h a t f o ll ow , p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n i s
p a i d t o t h e w a ys i n w h i c h c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e e x p e r i
e n c e is u t i l i z e d i n t h e p r o c e s s o f c r e a t i n g a n a l y t i c m e a n
i n g , i .e . , i n t h e p r o c e s s o f r e c o g n i z i n g , s y m b o l i z i n g ,
u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e l e a d i n g t r a n s f e r -
e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e a n x i e t y .
/
I n t h e f ir s t c l i n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n , I w i ll p r e s e n t f r a g m e n t s
o f a n a n a l y s i s i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t ' s s e n s e o f d e a d n e s s
c o u l d n o t i n i t ia l ly b e s y m b o l i z e d a n d i n s t e a d w a s
e n a c t e d ( e n t o m b e d ) i n t h e l i f e le s sn e s s o f t h e a n a l y t i c
e x p e r i e n c e i ts e lf . T h e f o c u s o f t h i s d i s c u s s i o n w i ll b e o n
t h e u s e o f c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e t o g e n e r a t e v e r b a l sy m
b o l s t h a t a r e e v e n t u a l l y o f f e r e d t o t h e p a t i e n t i n t h e
f o r m o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s .
M s . N . , a h i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l c iv ic l e a d e r , b e g a n a n a l
y sis b e c a u s e s h e f e l t i n t e n s e , b u t d i f fu s e a n x i e t y
a n d b e l i e v e d t h a t s o m e t h i n g w a s s e r io u s l y w r o n g
i n h e r l if e , b u t d i d n o t k n o w w h a t i t w a s .
In
t h e i n i
t ia l m e e t i n g s t h e p a t i e n t d i d n o t s e e m t o c o n
s c i o u s l y e x p e r i e n c e f e e l i n g s o f e m p t i n e s s , f u ti li t y ,
o r s t a g n a t i o n . S h e s a i d t h a t s h e
felt
a t a l o s s f o r
w o r d s , w h i c h w a s s o m e t h i n g t h a t w a s h i g h l y
u n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f h e r .
T h e first
year-and-a-half
o f a n a l y s i s i n m a n y
w a y s h a d t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f a s a t i s f a c to r y b e g i n
n i n g . T h e p a t i e n t w a s a b l e t o s e e m o r e c l e a r l y t h e
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28
Reverie and Interpretadon
s p e c if i c w a ys i n w h i c h s h e k e p t p e o p l e ( i n c l u d i n g
m e ) a t a g r e a t p s y c h o l o g i c a l d i s t a n c e . T h e r e w a s
a l s o s o m e d e c r e a s e i n a n x i e t y w h i c h w a s r e f l e c t e d
i n t h e p a t i e n t ' s i n c r e a s i n g l y l es s rigid b o d y p o s t u r e
o n t h e c o u c h . ( F o r a l m o s t a y e a r , M s . N . h a d l a i n
c o m p l e t e l y s ti l l o n t h e cOuch w i t h h e r h a n d s
f o l d e d o n h e r s t o m a c h . A t t h e e n d
o f t h e
m e e t i n g ,
t h e p a t i e n t w o u l d b o l t f r o m t h e c o u c h a n d b r i s k l y
l e a v e t h e r o o m w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t m e . ) T h e l a n
g u a g e t h e p a t i e n t u s e d w a s i n i t i a l ly e q u a l l y s t if f
a n d o f t e n s o u n d e d t e x t b o o k i s h . H e r s p e e c h p a t
t e r n b e c a m e s o m e w h a t m o r e n a t u r a l i n t h e c o u r s e
o f t h e i n i t i a l y e a r o f w o r k . H o w e v e r , t h e p a t i e n t
t h r o u g h o u t t h i s p e r i o d h a d p r o f o u n d d o u b t s
a b o u t w h e t h e r t h e a n a l y s is w a s o f " a n y r e a l v a l u e "
t o h e r . M s . N . f e l t t h a t s h e w a s d e v e l o p i n g n o
g r e a t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f e i t h e r t h e s o u r c e o f h e r
a n x i e t y o r o f h e r s e n s e t h a t t h i n g s w e r e n o t right
i n h e r l if e .
I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e first h a l f o f t h e s e c o n d
y e a r o f w o r k , I g r a d u a l l y d e v e l o p e d a n a w a r e n e s s
o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t w o u l d fill t h e h o u r s
w i t h a p p a r e n d y i n t r o s p e c t i v e t a lk t h a t d i d n o t
s e e m t o de ve l op i n t o e l e m e n t s f r o m w h i c h f u r t h e r
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o u l d b e g e n e r
a t e d . A p a t t e r n d e v e l o p e d i n t h e h o u r s i n w h i c h
M s . N . w o u l d d e s c r i b e e v e n t s i n h e r l i f e i n m i n u t e
d e t a i l . I t w a s n o t a t a ll c l e a r w h a t t h e p o i n t o f t h e
l e n g t h y d e s c r i p t i o n s w a s. A t t i m e s , I w o u l d s ay t o
t h e p a t i e n t t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t s h e m u s t b e v e r y
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a n x i o u s t h a t
I
w o u l d l e a r n t o o m u c h a b o u t h e r i f
s h e h e l p e d m e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f
w h a t s h e h a d j u s t s a i d .
I f o u n d t h a t I e x p e r i e n c e d in c r e a s i n g l y le ss
c u r i o s i ty a b o u t t h e p a t i e n t , w h i c h a b s e n c e h a d
q u i t e a d i s t u r b i n g e f fe c t o n m e . I t f e l t e q u i v a l e n t t o
l o s i n g t h e u s e o f m y m i n d . I e x p e r i e n c e d a f o r m o f
c l a u s t r o p h o b i a d u r i n g t h e h o u r s a n d o n o c c a s i o n
d e f e n d e d a g a i n s t t h i s a n x i e t y b y obsessional ly
c o u n t i n g t h e m i n u t e s u n t i l t h e h o u r w o u l d b e
o v e r . A t o t h e r tim es, I f a n t a s i e d e n d i n g t h e h o u r
p r e m a t u r e l y b y t e l l i n g t h e p a t i e n t t h a t I w a s il l a n d
n e e d e d t o e n d t h e s e s s i o n . I w o u l d s o m e t i m e s
" p a s s t h e time" b y c o u n t i n g t h e b e a t s p e r m i n u t e
o f m y r a d i a l p u l s e . I w a s i n i t ia l l y u n a w a r e t h a t
t h e r e w a s a n y t h i n g o d d a b o u t m y t a k i n g m y p u l s e
d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s is a p r a c t i c e t h a t h a s n e v e r
o c c u r r e d w i th a n y o t h e r p a t i e n t . A s t h e t h o u g h t s ,
f e e l i n g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h i s a c t i v it y
w e r e o c c u r r i n g , t h e y d i d n o t f e e l l ik e " a n a l y t ic
d a t a . " I n s t e a d , I e x p e r i e n c e d t h e m as a n a l m o s t
i n v i s i b l e , p r i v a t e b a c k g r o u n d e x p e r i e n c e .
D u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f w e e k s t h a t f o l l o w e d , I
g r a d u a l l y b e c a m e m o r e a b l e t o t r e a t t h e t a k i n g o f
m y p u l s e , a s w e l l a s t h e a s s o c i a t e d f e e l i n g s a n d s e n
s a t i o n s , a s " a n a l y t i c o b j e c t s " ( B i o n 1 9 6 2 a , G r e e n
1 9 7 5 , O g d e n 1 9 9 4 a , d ) , i .e . , a s a r e f l e c t i o n o f a n
u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s t r u c t i o n b e i n g g e n e r a t e d b y t h e
p a t i e n t a n d m y s e l f , o r m o r e a c c u r a t e l y b e i n g g e n
e r a t e d b y t h e " i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d . " I
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h a v e d i s c u s s e d m y c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e " i n t e r s u b j e c
t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d " ( o r " t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d " ) i n a
r e c e n t s e r i e s o f p u b l i c a t i o n s ( O g d e n 1 9 9 2 a , b ,
1 9 9 4 a , b , c , d ) . T o b r ie f ly s u m m a r i z e t h e i d e a s p r e
s e n t e d i n t h o s e p u b l i c a t i o n s , I v i e w t h e i n t e r s u b j e c
tive a n a l y t i c t h i r d a s a t h i r d s u b j e c t c r e a t e d b y t h e
u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r p l a y o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d ; a t
t h e s a m e time, t h e a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d qua a n a
ly st a n d a n a l y s a n d a r e g e n e r a t e d in t h e a c t o f c r e
a t i n g t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d . ( T h e r e is n o a n a l y s t , n o
a n a l y s a n d , n o a n a ly s i s , a s i d e f r o m t h e p r o c e s s
t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e a n a ly t i c t h i r d i s g e n e r a t e d . )
T h e n e w s u b j e c ti v i t y ( t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d )
s t a n d s i n d i a l e c t i c a l t e n s i o n w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l
s u b j e c t i v i t i e s o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d . I d o n o t
c o n c e i v e o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d a s a
s t a t ic e n t i ty ; r a t h e r , I u n d e r s t a n d i t a s a n e v o l v i n g
e x p e r i e n c e t h a t is c o n t i n u a l l y i n a s t a t e o f f l u x a s
t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y
o f t h e
a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s is t r a n s
f o r m e d b y t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g s g e n e r a t e d b y
the
a n a l y t i c p a i r .
T h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d is e x p e r i e n c e d t h r o u g h t h e
i n d i v i d u a l p e r s o n a l i t y s y s t e m s o f a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d a n d is t h e r e f o r e n o t a n i d e n t i c a l e x p e r i
e n c e f o r e a c h . T h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d
r e f le c t s t h e a s y m m e t r y o f t h e a n a l y t i c s i t u a t i o n i n
t h a t i t is c r e a t e d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e a n a l y t i c s e t
t i n g , w h i c h is s t r u c t u r e d b y t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f
r o l e s o f a n a ly s t a n d a n a l y s a n d . T h e u n c o n s c i o u s
e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e a n a l y s a n d is
pr iv i l eged
i n t h e
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a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p ; it is t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e
a n a l y s a n d ( p a s t a n d p r e s e n t ) t h a t is t a k e n b y t h e
a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d a s t h e p r i n c i p a l ( a l t h o u g h
n o t e x c l u s i v e ) s u b j e c t
o f t h e
a n a l y t i c d i a l o g u e .
I b e g a n t o b e a b l e t o l i n k t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f
h o l d i n g m y o w n w r i s t ( i n t h e a c t o f t a k i n g m y
p u l s e ) w i t h w h a t I n o w s u s p e c t e d t o b e a n e e d t o
l i t e r a l l y f e e l h u m a n w a r m t h i n a n e f f o r t t o r e a s s u r e
m y s e l f t h a t I w a s a l iv e a n d h e a l t h y . T h i s r e a l i z a t i o n
b r o u g h t w i t h i t a p r o f o u n d s h i f t i n m y u n d e r s t a n d
i n g o f a g r e a t m a n y a s p e c t s o f m y e x p e r i e n c e w i t h
M s . N . I f e l t m o v e d b y t h e p a t i e n t ' s t e n a c i t y i n t e l l
i n g m e s e e m i n g l y p o i n t l e s s s t o r i e s f o r m o r e t h a n
1 8 m o n t h s . I t o c c u r r e d t o m e t h a t t h e s e s t o r ie s h a d
b e e n o f f e r e d w i t h t h e u n c o n s c i o u s h o p e t h a t I
m i g h t find ( o r c r e a t e ) a p o i n t t o t h e s t o r i e s
t h e r e b y c r e a t i n g a p o i n t ( a f e e l i n g o f c o h e r e n c e ,
d i r e c t i o n , v a l u e , a n d a u t h e n t i c i t y ) f o r t h e p a t i e n t ' s
l i f e. I h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n c o n s c i o u s o f m y o w n
f a n t a s y o f f e i g n i n g i l ln e s s i n o r d e r t o e s c a p e t h e
s t a g n a n t d e a d n e s s o f t h e s e s s i o n s , b u t I h a d n o t
u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h is " e x c u s e " r e f l e c t e d a n u n c o n
s c i o u s f a n t a s y t h a t I w a s b e i n g m a d e i l l b y p r o
l o n g e d e x p o s u r e t o t h e lifelessness o f t h e a n a l y s i s .
I t w a s t h r o u g h t h i s a n d s i m i l a r l i n e s o f t h o u g h t
a n d f e e l i n g ( a s s o c i a t e d w i t h m y o w n - e x p e r i e n c e i n
t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d ) t h a t I b e g a n t o d e v e l o p a s e n s e
o f t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s d i ff u se a n x i e t y a n d
h e r s e n s e t h a t s h e w a s c a u g h t i n s o m e t h i n g a w fu l
t h a t s h e c o u l d n o t i d e n t i f y .
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and Interpretation
I s a i d t o M s . N . t h a t I t h o u g h t I u n d e r s t o o d
b e t t e r n o w s o m e o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r h e r t e l l i n g m e
i n g r e a t d e t a i l a b o u t e v e n t s i n h e r l if e i n a w a y t h a t
m a d e i t c o n f u s i n g t o b o t h o f u s w h y s h e w a s t e l l i n g
t h e s t o r y . I s a i d t h a t I f e l t t h a t s h e h a d g i v e n u p o n
b e i n g a b l e t o c r e a t e a l i fe f o r h e r s e l f . I n s t e a d , s h e
w a s g i v i n g m e t h e f o r m s w i t h w h i c h s h e h a d f i l l e d
h e r t i m e i n h o p e s t h a t I c o u l d c r e a t e a l i f e f o r h e r
f r o m t h e s e p i e c e s . T h e p a t i e n t r e s p o n d e d b y
d e s c r i b i n g t h e w a y i n w h i c h h e r l i f e a t w o r k a n d a t
h o m e c o n s i s t e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y o f o r g a n i z i n g
o t h e r p e o p l e ' s a c ti v it ie s w h i l e n e v e r a c t u a l l y m a k
i n g a n y t h i n g h e r s e l f . I t n o w s e e m e d t o h e r t h a t s h e
u s e d o t h e r p e o p l e ' s l iv es a n d t h e t h i n g s t h a t t h e y
m a d e ( t h e l i v es o f h e r e m p l o y e e s , o f h e r h u s b a n d ,
h e r a u p a i r , a n d h e r t w o c h i l d r e n ) a s s u b s t i t u t e s
f o r h e r o w n a b i l i ty t o c r e a t e s o m e t h i n g t h a t f e l t
l i k e a l i f e o f h e r o w n .
L a t e r i n t h e s e s s i o n , s h e s a i d t h a t s h e h a d f o r a
l o n g t i m e i m a g i n e d t h a t a p a p e r w e i g h t o n a t a b l e
n e x t t o m y c h a i r h a d b e e n a g if t f r o m a p a t i e n t .
S h e s a i d t h a t s h e h a d n e v e r t o l d m e t h a t s h e h a d
e v e n n o t i c e d t h e o b j e c t , b u t t h a t s h e h a d f o r a
l o n g tim e w i s h e d t h a t s h e h a d g i v e n i t t o m e . I t w a s
n o t u n t i l t h a t m o m e n t t h a t s h e r e a l i z e d t h a t s h e
h a d n o t i m a g i n e d g i v i n g m e a g if t o f h e r o w n , a n d
i n s t e a d h a d w i s h e d t h a t s h e h a d g i v e n m e that gift.
S h e c o u l d n o t e n v i s i o n h e r s e l f a s a p e r s o n w h o
c o u l d s e l e c t , a n d i n t h a t s e n s e c r e a t e , a g if t f o r m e ,
s o s h e i m a g i n e d b e i n g s o m e o n e e l s e , t h e p e r s o n
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w h o h a d g i v e n m e t h e g if t . I t h o u g h t , b u t d i d n o t
i n t e r p r e t a t t h i s j u n c t u r e , t h a t u n d e r l y i n g t h i s
t h o u g h t w a s t h e f a n ta s y t h a t i t w o u l d n e v e r b e p o s
s i b l e f o r h e r t o c r e a t e a l if e o f h e r o w n s o t h e o n l y
a l t e r n a t i v e a v a i l a b l e t o h e r w a s t h a t o f s t e a l i n g t h e
l i f e o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n . I t s e e m e d i m p o r t a n t t h a t I
n o t u s u r p t h e p a t i e n t ' s o p p o r t u n i t y t o c r e a t e l i fe i n
t h e a n a ly s i s ( c r e a t e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s ) t h a t s h e w as
n o w j u s t b e g i n n i n g t o b e a b l e t o d o .
S e v e r a l m o n t h s l a te r , M s . N . p r e s e n t e d a d r e a m
i n w h i c h s h e w a s i n a c a b i n e t i n a k i t c h e n t h a t w a s
n o t h e r o w n k i t c h e n . I t w a s a s i f s h e h a d b e e n
" p o u r e d i n t o t h e c a b i n e t " a n d h a d b e c o m e a r e c t a n
g u l a r c u b e t h e s h a p e o f t h e in s i d e o f t h e w o o d e n
b o x . T h e d r e a m w a s p r e s e n t e d in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h
t h e p a t i e n t ' s t e l l i n g m e a b o u t a f r i e n d w h o l i v ed
w i t h c o n t i n u a l p s y c h o l o g i c a l p a i n i n c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h t h e d e a t h o f h e r five-year-old d a u g h t e r . T h e
f r i e n d ' s c h i l d h a d b e e n k i l le d b e f o r e t h e p a t i e n t
b e g a n a n a l y s is i n a n a c c i d e n t t h a t h a d r e s u l t e d from
t h e n e g l i g e n c e o f a b a b y s i t t e r .
A f t e r t e l l in g m e t h e d r e a m , M s . N . fell s i l e n t .
T h i s s i l e n c e s t o o d in m a r k e d c o n t r a s t t o t h e w a y i n
w h i c h s h e h a d i n t h e p a s t o b s c u r e d f e e l i n g w i t h
e x c e s s i v e v e r b i a g e . A f t e r a f ew m i n u t e s , I said t o
M s . N . t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t s h e w a s d e s c r i b i n g t o m e
h e r s e n s e t h a t s h e l a c k e d a s h a p e o f h e r o w n . I
w e n t o n t o sa y t h a t h e r f r i e n d ' s p a i n , h o w e v e r t e r r i
b l e , w a s a h u m a n . f e e l i n g t h a t I t h o u g h t t h e p a t i e n t
f e a r e d s h e w a s i n c a p a b l e o f e x p e r i e n c i n g . I t o l d
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h e r t h a t a l t h o u g h s h e h a d n e v e r s a i d s o d i r e c t l y , I
f e l t t h a t s h e w a s a f r a id t h a t s h e m i g h t n e v e r b e
a b l e t o f e e l a n y t h i n g , e v e n t h e p a i n t h a t o t h e r s
m i g h t f e e l a b o u t t h e d e a t h o f t h e i r c h i l d .
I n a v o i c e s o f a i n t t h a t I c o u l d b a r e l y h e a r h e r ,
M s . N . s a i d t h a t t h i s h a d f o r a l o n g tim e b e e n a f e a r
o f h e r s a b o u t w h i c h s h e f e l t p r o f o u n d s h a m e . S h e
h a d s t a y e d a w a k e m a n y n i g h t s w o r r y i n g t h a t s h e
w o u l d b e u n a b l e t o g r i e v e if o n e o f h e r o w n c h i l
d r e n w e r e t o d i e a n d t h a t t h i s f e l t t o h e r t o b e t h e
m o s t o d i o u s f a i l u r e o f w h i c h a n y m o t h e r c o u l d b e
g u i l ty . S h e s a i d t h a t s h e f e lt t h a t s h e h a d n o t b e e n
a b l e t o l o v e a n d b e w i t h h e r c h i l d r e n i n t h e w a y
s h e w i s h e d s h e c o u l d h a v e b e e n . I n f a c t , s h e n o w
k n e w t h a t s h e h a d n e g l e c t e d t h e m q u i t e b a d l y a n d
t h a t t h e y h a d s u f f e r e d great iy f o r i t . T h e p a t i e n t
a g a i n f e l l s i l e n t f o r t h e r e m a i n i n g f ew m i n u t e s o f
t h e h o u r .
T o s u m m a r i z e , I v ie w t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e a n a ly s i s
j u s t d i s c u s s e d a s r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e b e g i n n i n g s o f a p r o
c es s i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t ' s e x p e r i e n c e o f d e a d n e s s
( b o t h i n h e r i m a g i n e d i n a b i l i ty t o g r i e v e a n d i n h e r
ident i f i ca t ion
" w i th h e r f r i e n d ' s d e a d c h i l d ) w a s b e i n g
t r a n s f o r m e d f r o m a n u n t h i n k a b l e t h in g - in - i t s e l f ( a f a c t
e x p e r i e n c e d b y b o t h t h e p a t i e n t a n d m y s e l f a s a n o n -
v e r b a l l y s y m b o l i z e d s e n s e o f d e a d n e s s o f t h e a n a l y s is )
i n t o a l iv i n g , v e r b a l l y s y m b o l i z e d e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s ( a n d m y o w n ) d e a d n e s s i n t h e a n a ly s is . A n
i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c s p a c e h a d b e g u n t o b e g e n e r -
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a t e d i n w h i c h t h e d e a d n e s s c o u l d b e f el t , v i e w e d , e x p e
rienced, a n d s p o k e n a b o u t b y t h e t w o o f u s . D e a d n e s s V
h a d b e c o m e a f e e l i n g as o p p o s e d t o a f ac t .
IL
I n t h i s s e c o n d c l i n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n , I s h a l l d e s c r i b e a n
a n a l y t i c e n c o u n t e r w h i c h i l l u s t r a t e s t e c h n i c a l c h a l
l e n g e s a r i s i n g i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h a p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n
s c i o u s i n s i s t e n c e t h a t t h e a n a l y s t s e r v e a s t h e r e p o s i t o r y
f o r h i s p s y c h i c l if e a n d h o p e .
M r . D . , i n t h e i n i t i a l i n t e r v i e w , i n f o r m e d m e t h a t
h e h a d b e e n i n a n a l y s i s s i x t i m e s a n d e a c h tim e
" h a d b e e n t e r m i n a t e d " b y t h e a n a ly s t . T h e m o s t
r e c e n t u n i l a t e r a l t e r m i n a t i o n h a d o c c u r r e d t h r e e
m o n t h s p r i o r t o M r .
D. ' s
first m e e t i n g w i t h m e .
T h e p a t i e n t c a r r i e d h i m s e l f a n d s p o k e i n a
w a y t h a t c o n v e y e d a s e n s e o f a r r o g a n c e , a l o o f n e s s ,
a n d s e l f - i m p o r t a n c e ; a t t h e s a m e tim e, t h i s d e p o r t
m e n t h a d a b r i t t l e n e s s t o i t t h a t m a d e i t r e a d i l y
a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e p a t i e n t ' s s u p e r i o r t o n e o f v o i c e
a n d d e m e a n o r t h i n l y d i s g u i s e d f e e l in g s o f f e a r ,
w o r t h l e s s n e s s , a n d d e s p e r a t i o n .
M r . D . t o l d m e t h a t i f h e w e r e t o c o n t i n u e p a s t
o u r i n i t i a l m e e t i n g , I m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t h e
w o u l d n e v e r b e t h e o n e w h o s p o k e first i n a n y s es
s i o n . H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t if I w e r e t o a t t e m p t t o
" w a i t h i m o u t , " t h e s e s s i o n w o u l d b e s p e n t i n c o m
p l e t e s i l e n c e . H e h a d w a s t e d h i s time a n d m o n e y
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Reverie and Interpretation
i n t h a t w a y t o o m a n y t i m e s i n t h e p a s t a n d h o p e d
t h a t I w o u l d n o t r e p e a t t h a t a p p r o a c h w i t h h i m .
H e a d d e d t h a t i t w o u l d a l s o b e a w a s t e o f tim e f o r
m e t o a s k h i m a b o u t t h e " f e a r s a n d a n x i e t i e s "
u n d e r l y i n g h i s i n a b i l i t y t o b e g i n t h e s e s s i o n : " A f t e r
a ll , m y a n s w e r i n g q u e s t i o n s o f t h a t s o r t w o u l d b e
t a n t a m o u n t t o m y b e g i n n i n g t h e h o u r — y o u k n o w
t h a t a s w e l l a s I d o . "
M r . D . ' s p r e s e n t a t i o n o f h i m s e l f i n t r i g u e d
m e a n d s t i r r e d f e e l i n g s o f c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s i n m e .
H e h a d t h r o w n d o w n t h e g a u n t l e t a n d I w o u l d
p r o v e m y s e l f t o b e m o r e a d e p t a n d a g i l e t h a n t h e
p r e v i o u s s i x a n a l y s t s . I n t h e i n i t i a l i n t e r v i e w I w a s
a l s o a w a r e t h a t I w a s u n c o n s c i o u s l y b e i n g i n v i t e d
t o t a k e t h e r o l e o f a s u i t o r a n d t h a t t h e r e w a s a
f a n t a s i e d h o m o s e x u a l s a d o m a s o c h i s t i c s c e n e t h a t
w a s a l r e a d y b e g i n n i n g t o t a k e s h a p e i n t h e t r a n s -
f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , I
r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e f a n t a s y o f e n t e r i n g i n t o a
c o m p e t i t i v e g a m e p r o t e c t e d m e f r o m fu lly f e e l i n g
t h e d e a d l y s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h e i n t e n s e c o n t e m p t
a n d h a t r e d t h a t I w a s e n c o u n t e r i n g . I n a d d i t i o n ,
t h e n a r c i s s i s t i c / c o m p e t i t i v e f a n ta s y p r o t e c t e d m e
f r o m f e e l i n g s o f b e i n g t r a p p e d i n t h e w e b t h a t
M r . D . w a s a l r e a d y b e g i n n i n g t o s p i n w i t h h i s
i m p e r i o u s l y c o n t r o l l i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s r e g a r d i n g
t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e a n a l y s i s w a s t o b e c o n
d u c t e d . I i m a g i n e d t h a t l o n g y e a r s o f i s o l a t i o n
a w a i t e d b o t h o f u s i f w e w e r e t o u n d e r t a k e a n a l y
s i s t o g e t h e r .
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I s a i d t o M r . D . t h a t I t h o u g h t h e i m a g i n e d
t h a t a n a l y s i s w i t h m e w o u l d i n v o l v e o n e o r b o t h o f
u s b r u t a l i z i n g t h e o t h e r u n t i l t h e o n e b e i n g b r u t a l
i z e d c o u l d n o l o n g e r b e a r i t . I a l s o s a i d t h a t I h a d
n o i n t e r e s t i n b r u t a l i z i n g h i m , b e i n g b r u t a l i z e d b y
h i m o r p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n h i s b r u t a l i z a t i o n o f h i m s e l f .
T h i s c o m m e n t w a s n o t m e a n t a s a r e a s s u r a n c e , b u t
a s a s t a t e m e n t a b o u t m y c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t i c
f r a m e w o r k w i t h i n w h i c h I w a s w i l l i n g t o w o r k . I
a g r e e d t o b e t h e first t o s p e a k i n e a c h h o u r , b u t
s a i d t h a t I w o u l d d o s o o n l y w h e n I t h o u g h t I h a d
s o m e t h i n g t o say . I a d d e d t h a t i t m i g h t s o m e t i m e s
t a k e m e a g o o d d e a l o f t i m e t o b e a b l e t o p u t m y
e x p e r i e n c e i n t o w o r d s f o r m y s e l f a n d f o r h i m a t
t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s e s s i o n , b u t m y s i l e n c e w o u l d
n o t b e i n t e n d e d as a n a t t e m p t t o " w a it h i m o u t . "
M r . D . s a t qu i e dy a n d s e e m e d t o r e l a x a b i t a s I
s p o k e . I w a s s o m e w h a t e n c o u r a g e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t I
f e l t t h a t I h a d b e e n a b l e t o s ay s o m e t h i n g t o h i m
t h a t d i d n o t i n v o l v e a s a d i s t i c a t t a c k o n M r . D . n o r a
c o m p r o m i s e o f e i t h e r o f u s . N e i t h e r d i d i t s e e m t o
m e t o i n v o lv e a f o r m o f m a n i c e x c i t e m e n t a n d
d e n i a l r e l a t e d t o t h e f a n t a s y o f a c o m p e t i t i v e g a m e .
A t t h e o u t s e t o f e a c h o f t h e m e e t i n g s w i t h M r .
p . , I a t t e m p t e d t o find w o r d s t o c o n v e y w h a t i t f e lt
l ik e b e i n g w i t h h i m i n t h a t p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t . I
( s i le n d y ) h y p o t h e s i z e d t h a t b o t h t h e f a n t a si e s a n d
f e e l i n g s a b o u t b r u t a l i z a t i o n a n d t h e f a n t a s i e s r e f le c t
i n g m a n i c e x c i t e m e n t ( c o m p e t i t i o n ) i n t h e t ra n s fe r -
ence -coun te r t r ans fe rence r e p r e s e n t e d f o r m s o f
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Reverie and Interpretation
d e f e n s e a g a in s t t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f i n n e r d e a d n e s s ,
w h i c h d e a d n e s s w a s s y m b o l i z e d b y M r . D . ' s f e e l i n g
t h a t h e h a d n o t h i n g i n h i m w i th w h i c h t o b e g i n t h e
h o u r s ( t o b e g i n h i s s t o r y ) . I w o u l d h a v e t o b e t h e
o n e t o b r i n g l if e t o t h e a n a l y s i s ( t o c r e a t e h i s t o r y )
e a c h t i m e w e m e t A l m o s t a lw a y s a s I b e g a n t h e
h o u r , I h a d t h e c o n s c i o u s f a n ta s y t h a t I w a s
giving
t h e p a t i e n t a n d t h e a na ly s i s m o u t h - t o - m o u t h r e su s c i
t a t i o n . I c h o s e n o t t o t e l l Mr. D . a b o u t t h i s f a n t a s y
d i re c tl y i n o r d e r n o t t o d e m e a n h i m n o r t o p r e m a
t u r e l y a d d r e s s t h e h o m o s e x u a l a s p e c t s o f t h e trans-
fe rence-counte r t ransfe rence .
A t tim es, w h a t I s a i d t o M r . D . t o b e g i n t h e
h o u r f e l t r o t e a n d h a c k n e y e d a n d I l a b o r e d t o g e t
b e y o n d w h a t f e l t l i k e p r e - f a b r i c a t e d a n a l y t i c c l i c h e
i n o r d e r n o t t o d u m p f u r t h e r l i fe l e s sn e ss i n t o h i m
a n d i n t o t h e a n a l y si s . I n o n e o f t h e s e m e e t i n g s v e r y
e a r l y o n i n t h e a n a l y s i s I t o l d M r . D . t h a t I f o u n d
m y s e l f i m a g i n i n g a t t e m p t i n g t o l u r e h i m i n t o t r u s t
i n g m e . I s a i d t h a t I k n e w t h a t t h i s w o u l d n o t o n l y
b e f u t i l e , b u t w o u l d a l s o b e d e s t r u c t i v e s i n c e a n y
t h i n g " w o n " b y m e i n t h i s w a y w o u l d b e e x p e r i
e n c e d b y b o t h o f u s a s a f o r m o f t h e f t t h a t w o u l d
a l i e n a t e u s f r o m o n e a n o t h e r e v e n f u r t h e r t h a n w e
a l r e a d y w e r e . A f t e r s e v e r a l m i n u t e s o f s i l e n c e , M r .
D . d e s c r i b e d h i s c o n t i n u a l v i g i la n c e i n c o m b a t i n g
t h e f t : h i s u s e o f b u r g l a r a l a r m s a t h i s h o m e , a n t i -
t h e f t d e v i c e s i n h i s c a r , a s a f e a t h i s o f f i c e , a n d s o
o n . T h i s w a s s p o k e n i n a w a y t h a t g a v e n o a c k n o w l
e d g m e n t t h a t i t r e p r e s e n t e d a r e s p o n s e t o w h a t I
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Forms
o f
Aliveness
and
Deadness
39
h a d j u s t s a i d . D e s p i t e t h e p a t i e n t ' s o f f e r i n g i n f o r
m a t i o n o f t h i s s o r t , t h e f e e l i n g i n t h e h o u r w a s t h a t
o f a n e x t r e m e l y t e n s e s t a n d - o f f w h i c h t h r e a t e n e d
t o b r e a k a p a r t a t a n y m o m e n t . I t f e l t a s i f t h e r e
w e r e n o t h i n g h u m a n h o l d i n g t h e f a b r ic o f t h e
a n a l y s i s t o g e t h e r .
I n a s e s s i o n t h a t o c c u r r e d i n t h e s i x t h m o n t h
o f t h e a n a l y si s , I t h o u g h t f o r a m o m e n t t h a t I s a w
t e a r s b r i m m i n g i n M r . D . ' s e ye s , b u t w h e n I l o o k e d
m o r e c lo s e l y I c o u l d n o t
tell
i f m y p e r c e p t i o n h a d
b e e n a c c u r a t e . ( M r . D . w a s a t t h a t p o i n t r e f u s i n g t o
u s e t h e c o u c h a n d s o w e w e r e m e e t i n g f a c e t o
f a c e . ) I t o l d M r . D . w h a t h a d j u s t o c c u r r e d a n d s a i d
t h a t w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e r e h a d b e e n t e a r s i n h i s
e y e s , I f e l t t h a t w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d r e f l e c t e d t h e
s a d n e s s o f t h e s i t u a t i o n t h a t h e a n d I w e r e i n . ( I
r e m e m b e r e d M r . D . ' s t e l l i n g m e s o m e m o n t h s e a r
l i e r t h a t h e h a d b e e n g r a t e f u l t o h i s p r e v i o u s a n a
ly st f o r h e r h o n e s t y i n t e l l i n g h i m t h a t s h e c o u l d
n o t b e o f h e l p t o h i m ins t ead o f m i n d l e s s l y p e r s i s t
i n g i n a n a n a l y s i s t h a t s h e f e l t c o u l d n o t p r o g r e s s .
T h a t t h o u g h t r e m i n d e d m e o f a " l i v in g w i l l " t h a t
h a d
r e c e n d y
b e e n s e n t t o m e by a m e m b e r o f m y
f a m i l y i n w h i c h d o c t o r s w e r e i n e f f ec t i n s t r u c t e d
n o t t o c r e a t e a n e m p t y i l l u s i o n o f l i fe a f t e r g e n u i n e
l if e h a d a l r e a d y b e e n l o s t . )
M r . D . s a t quie t iy f o r a m i n u t e a n d s a i d t h a t
h e h a d n o t b e e n m o v e d b y m y " l i tt le s p e e c h . " H e
t h e n r e t u r n e d t o h i s s i l e n c e . A f t e r a b o u t
five
m i n
u t e s , I s a i d I t h o u g h t t h a t w h a t h a d j u s t h a p p e n e d
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b e t w e e n u s m u s t r e f l e c t s o m e t h i n g b a s i c t o h i s
e x p e r i e n c e . I h a d fe l t s a d n e s s , p a r t o f w h i c h w a s
n o d o u b t m y o w n , s o m e t h i n g a t t r i b u t a b l e t o m y
o w n s e n s e o f e x t r e m e l o n e l i n e s s i n b e i n g w i t h h i m .
I a d d e d t h a t n o n e t h e l e s s I f e lt t h a t i n p a r t I w a s
f e e l i n g s o m e t h i n g f o r h i m , i n h i s s t e a d . I s a i d t h a t I
h a d i n t h e p a s t t r i e d t o t a l k w i t h h i m a b o u t i t, b u t
t h a t h i s r e p l i e s h a d a lw a y s m a d e m e f e e l a s if I w e r e
e i t h e r c r a z y o r s t u p i d o r b o t h . I s a i d t h a t i f I w e r e
n o t i n a p o s i t i o n t o f e e l s o m e c o n f i d e n c e i n m y
a b i li ty t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e t w e e n w h a t f e e ls r e a l a n d
w h a t d o e s n o t , I w o u l d find i t a g r e a t s t r a i n t o h a v e
m y p e r c e p t i o n s d r a w n i n t o q u e s t i o n in s u c h a f u n
d a m e n t a l w a y . I t o l d h i m t h a t i t w o u l d s u r p r i s e m e
g r e a d y i f a t i m p o r t a n t p o i n t s i n h i s l i f e , h e h a d n o t
f e l t t h i s t y p e o f s t r a i n i n r e l a t i o n t o h i s o w n a b i l i t y
t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e w h i c h p a r t s o f h i s e x p e r i e n c e a n d
p e r c e p t i o n s w e r e r e a l a n d w h i c h w e r e n o t . I t
s e e m e d f r o m m y e x p e r i e n c e i n b e i n g w i t h h i m
t h a t h e m u s t h a v e f e l t p o w e r f u l l y a s s a u l t e d i n h i s
e f fo r t s t o h o l d o n t o a c o n v i c t i o n a b o u t t h e t r u t h o f
w h a t h e t h o u g h t , s aw , f e l t, h e a r d , a n d s o o n .
T h e p a t i e n t s e e m e d t o i g n o r e a l m o s t a ll o f
w h a t I h a d j u s t s a i d a n d i n s t e a d c o m m e n t e d t h a t I
h a d u s e d t h e w o r d " b r u t a l i z e d " i n o u r first m e e t
i n g . T h a t w o r d w a s t h e m o s t a c c u r a t e w o r d , a n d
" m a y b e t h e o n l y a c c u r a t e w o r d , " t h a t I h a d u s e d i n
a ll t h e s e m o n t h s o f a n a ly s is . H e s a id t h a t h e h a d
n e v e r b e e n b e a t e n o r a b u s e d a s a c h i l d , b u t h e h a d
f e lt t h a t h e h a d b e e n b r u t a l i z e d i n s u b t l e a n d i n
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a s t h e o n l y w a y h e fe l t h e h a d a t h i s d i s p o s a l t o p r o
t e c t m e f r o m w h a t h e f e a r e d t o b e h i s e n d l e s s l y
e s c a l a t i n g b r u t a l i z a t i o n o f m e . M r . D . d i d n o t e n d
t h e a n a ly s i s , b u t f o r a p e r i o d o f a l m o s t s ix m o n t h s
h e t u r n e d h is c h a i r a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e m e e t
i n g s o t h a t h i s b a c k w a s t o m e . I s u s p e c t t h a t h e d i d
n o t w a n t m e t o b e a b l e t o s e e h i s e y e s . I n t h a t
p h a s e o f w o r k , h e s p o k e e v e n l es s t h a n i n t h e i n i
t ia l m o n t h s o f a n a l y s is .
I n t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e a n a l y s is d i s c u s s e d a b o v e , M r .
D . h a d i n f a n t a s y p u t i n t o m e t h e f r ag i le r e m a i n d e r o f
h i s s e n s e o f l if e a n d h o p e . I w a s t o s p e a k f o r h i m a n d
f e e l f o r h i m ( b y b e g i n n i n g e a c h m e e t i n g a n d b y b e i n g
t h e c o n t a i n e r o f h i s p r o j e c t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s i n v o l v i n g
h i s p r o f o u n d l o n e l i n e s s a n d s a d n e s s ) w h i l e h e a t t a c k e d
m e f o r b e i n g s o n a i v e a s t o i m a g i n e t h a t I c o u l d s af e
g u a r d h i s l i f e a n d m y o w n i n t h e f a c e o f h i s i m m e n s e
b r u t a l i t y . E x t r e m e s p l i t t i n g o f t h e b r u t a l i z e d a n d b r u
t a l i z in g a s p e c t s o f t h e p a t i e n t h a d b e e n a n e c e s s a r y c o n
d i t i o n f o r a n y f o r m o f r e l a t e d n e s s t o m e t o b e
s u s t a i n e d . I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e a n a ly s i s , t h e p a t i e n t
b e g a n t o e x p e r i e n c e f o r h i m s e l f t h e r u d i m e n t s o f s a d
n e s s a n d c o m p a s s i o n f o r t h e a s p e c t s o f h i m s e l f w h i c h
h e h a d p r o j e c t e d i n t o m e a n d h a d e x p e r i e n c e d
t h r o u g h m e .
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/ / / .
I n o n g o i n g c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h c l i n i c i a n s w h o c o m e t o
m e t o d i s c u s s a n a l y s e s t h a t t h e y a r e c o n d u c t i n g , I a s k
t h a t t h e a n a l y s t a t t e m p t t o t a l k w i t h m e n o t o n l y a b o u t
w h a t t h e a n a ly s is a n d a n a l y s a n d s ay t o o n e a n o t h e r , b u t
a l s o a b o u t t h e a n a ly s t ' s m o m e n t - t o - m o m e n t t h o u g h t s ,
f e e l i n g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s . T h e a n a l y s t is a s k e d t o i n c l u d e
t h i s a s p e c t o f h i s w o r k i n h i s p r o c e s s n o t e s t h a t h e
r e c o r d s d u r i n g t h e a n a l y t ic h o u r s a n d d i s c u s se s w i t h
m e i n o u r c o n s u l t a t i o n m e e t i n g s . I n a d d i t i o n , I s u g g e s t
t h a t t h e a n a l y s t w r i t e p r o c e s s n o t e s f o r a l l m e e t i n g s
i n c l u d i n g t h o s e t h a t t h e p a t i e n t f a il s t o a t t e n d . I o p e r
a t e u n d e r t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e p a t i e n t ' s p h y s i c a l
a b s e n c e c r e a t e s a s p e c i f i c f o r m o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l e f fe c t
i n t h e a n a l y s t a n d i n t h e a n a l y s i s a n d t h a t t h e a n a l y t i c
p r o c e s s c o n t i n u e s d e s p i t e t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s p h y s ic a l
a b s e n c e . I n t h i s w a y, t h e s p e c i f i c m e a n i n g s o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s p r e s e n c e i n h i s a b s e n c e a r e
t r a n s f o r m e d
i n t o
a n a l y t i c o b j e c t s t o b e f u ll y e x p e r i e n c e d , li v e d w i t h , s y m
b o l i z e d , u n d e r s t o o d , a n d m a d e p a r t o f t h e a n a l y t i c d i s
c o u r s e .
I n u s i n g p r o c e s s n o t e s i n t h i s w a y , t h e a n a l y s t
a t t e m p t s t o s y m b o l i z e a n d s p e a k t o h i m s e l f a b o u t h i s
e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t h e p a t i e n t n o m a t t e r h o w s e e m i n g l y
u n r e l a t e d t o t h e a n a l y s a n d , t h e a n a l y s t ' s f a n t a s ie s , p h y s
i ca l s e n s a t i o n s , r u m i n a t i o n s , d a y d r e a m s , a n d s o o n
m i g h t a p p e a r t o b e ( O g d e n 1 9 9 2 a , b , 1 9 9 4 a , b , c , d ) . I
d o n o t " i n s is t " t h a t a s u p e r v i s e e d is c u s s w i t h m e t h i s
a s p e c t o f t h e a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e s i n c e s o m e a n a l y s ts
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are
i n i t i a l ly t e m p e r a m e n t a l l y i n c a p a b l e o f a t t e n d i n g t o
t h i s l ev e l o f t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e . M o r e o v e r , t h e a n a l y s t s
c o n s u l t i n g w i t h m e a r e n o t a lw a y s s u f f i c ie n t l y a t ease-
w i t h t h e m s e l v e s o r w i t h m e t o e n t r u s t t h i s a s p e c t o f
t h e i r w o r k t o m e . H o w e v e r , I h a v e f o u n d t h a t a s t h e
s u p e r v i s o r y r e l a t i o n s h i p u n f o l d s , s u p e r v i s e e s a r e u s u a l l y
a b l e t o d e v e l o p t h e s e c a p a b i l i t i e s a n d m a k e u s e o f th i s
a s p e c t o f t h e a n a l y t ic e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e i r t h e r a p e u t i c
w o r k a n d i n c o n s u l t a t i o n . I h a v e a ls o f o u n d t h a t i t is
r a r e f o r a t h e r a p i s t t o b e a b l e t o e n g a g e i n t h i s f o r m o f
s u p e r v i s o r y e x p e r i e n c e w i t h o u t h a v i n g p r e v i o u s l y t a k e n
p a r t i n a s u c c e s s fu l p e r s o n a l a n a ly s i s . I n t h e a b s e n c e o f
s u c h a n e x p e r i e n c e i n a n a ly s i s ( w h i c h i s n o t t o i n v o k e
t h e i l l u s i o n o f t h e " c o m p l e t e d a n a l y s is " ) , i t i s u n u s u a l
f o r a t h e r a p i s t t o h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h e c a p a c i t y t o m a k e
a n a l y t i c u s e o f h i s m u n d a n e , q u o t i d i a n , u n o b t r u s i v e
t h o u g h t s , f e e l in g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s t h a t o c c u p y h i m d u r
i n g t h e a n a l y t i c h o u r s .
A s w i t h m o s t a s p e c t s o f a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e , a t t e n
t i o n t o a n d u s e o f t h e a n a l y s t ' s p r i v a t e d i s c o u r s e t h a t is
s e e m i n g l y u n r e l a t e d t o t h e p a t i e n t r u n s c o u n t e r t o t h e
c h a r a c t e r d e f e n s e s t h a t w e h a v e d e v e l o p e d i n t h e
c o u r s e o f o u r l iv es . T o a t t e m p t t o l o o s e n o u r d e p e n
d e n c e o n t h e s e c h a r a c t e r d e f e n s e s o f t e n fe e ls l ik e tear
i n g o f f a l a y e r o f s k i n , " l e a v i n g u s w i t h a d i m i n i s h e d
s t i m u l u s b a r r i e r w i t h w h i c h t o p r o t e c t t h e b o u n d a r y
b e t w e e n i n n e r a n d o u t e r , b e t w e e n r e c e p t i v i t y a n d o v e r
s t i m u l a t i o n , b e t w e e n s a n i t y a n d i n s a n i t y .
„ T h e a n a l y t i c w o r k t h a t I s h a l l n o w d e s c r i b e
o c c u r r e d i n t h e c o n t e x t
o f t h e
s u p e r v i s i o n o f a n a n a l y s t
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w h o h a d b e e n c o n s u l t i n g w i t h m e o n a w e e k l y b a s is f o r
a b o u t a y e a r . T h e a n a l y s i s h a d b e g u n i n a w a y t h a t w a s
q u i t e d i s a p p o i n t i n g t o t h e a n a l y s t .
T h e a n a l y s a n d , D r . C , w a s a r e s i d e n t i n f a m i l y
p r a c t i c e m e d i c i n e w h o h a d r e a d a b o u t p s y c h o a n a l
y sis i n c o l l e g e , m e d i c a l s c h o o l , a n d r e s i d e n c y . H e
h a d a s t r o n g s e n s e o f t h e " r u l e s o f a n a l y s i s " a n d
c o m p l i e d w i t h t h e m , a l t h o u g h f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g
h e c o m p l a i n e d a b o u t t h e r ig i d it y o f t h e " g a m e , "
f o r e x a m p l e , t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s h a v i n g t o p a y f o r
m i s s e d m e e t i n g s , t h e " r e q u i r e m e n t " t h a t t h e
a n a l y s a n d t a k e h i s v a c a t i o n s w h e n t h e a n a l y s t d o e s ,
t h e d e m a n d f o r c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e " f u n d a m e n
t a l r u l e , " a n d s o o n . ( W i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e f e e
a r r a n g e m e n t , t h e a n a ly s t h a d s a id n o t h i n g a b o u t
t h e s e " r u l e s . " )
D r .
C. ' s
r e a s o n s f o r b e i n g i n a n a l y s is w e r e
v a g u e : h e f e l t h e s h o u l d " l e a r n a b o u t h i m s e l f a s
p a r t o f h i s t r a i n i n g a s a f a m i l y p r a c t i c e p h y s i c i a n .
T h e i d e a t h a t h e w a s a s k i n g f o r h e l p w i t h t h e p sy
c h o l o g i c a l p a i n t h a t h e w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g w o u l d
h a v e r e p r e s e n t e d a n i m a g i n e d ac t o f s u b m i s s i o n
t h a t t h e p a t i e n t c o u l d n o t h a v e t o l e r a t e d a t t h e
b e g i n n i n g o f t h e a n a l ys is . T h e a n a l y s a n d w a s o n
t i m e f o r e a c h s e s s i o n a n d c o m p l i a n t l y " f r e e a s s oc i
a t e d , " p r e s e n t i n g a b l e n d o f d r e a m s , c h i l d h o o d
m e m o r i e s , s e x u a l f a n ta s ie s , a n d c u r r e n t w o r k -
r e l a t e d , m a r i t a l a n d c h i l d - r e a r i n g d i f f ic u l t i e s a n d
s t r e ss e s . T h e r e w e r e c o n f e s s i o n s o f s e c r e t a c t s
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a b o u t w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t f e l t s h a m e , f o r e x a m p l e ,
t h e u s e o f p o r n o g r a p h i c m a g a z i n e s d u r i n g m a s t u r
b a t i o n a n d t w o i n c i d e n t s o f c h e a t i n g o n m e d i c a l
s c h o o l l a b o r a t o r y r e p o r t s .
H o w e v e r , f r o m t h e e a r l i e s t d a y s a n d w e e k s o f
a n a ly s i s , t h e a n a l y s t , D r . F . , e x p e r i e n c e d t h e
p a t i e n t a s b o r i n g t o a d e g r e e t o w h i c h h e w a s u n a c
c u s t o m e d . I t f e l t a s i f t h e p a t i e n t w e r e a t t e m p t i n g
t o i m i t a t e w h a t h e h a d i m a g i n e d w e n t o n i n a
" g o o d a n a l ys is . " I t r e q u i r e d c o n s i d e r a b l e f o r b e a r
a n c e f o r D r . F . t o r e f r a i n f r o m e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e
a n a ly s i s w i t h i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f t h e c o n t e n t t h a t
w a s b e i n g p r e s e n t e d , f o r e x a m p l e , i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
o f d r e a m m a t e r i a l t h a t " s e e m e d t o b e g f o r t r a n s f e r
e n c e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s . " I n c o n s u l t a t i o n , D r . F . d i s
c u s s e d t h e p o s s i b l e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s t h a t h e m i g h t
h a v e m a d e , b u t h a d c h o s e n t o d e f e r . I t s e e m e d t o
m e t h a t t h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s w o u l d h a v e b e e n i m i
t a t i o n s o f " d e e p " t r a n s f e r e n c e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d
w o u l d h a v e b e e n o f f e r e d i n a n e f f o r t o n t h e p a r t o f
D r . F . t o c r e a t e h i s o w n f a n t a s y o f a " g o o d a n a l y s i s . "
A s tim e w e n t o n , t h e a n a l y s t f e l t great iy t e m p t e d t o
c h a s t i s e t h e a n a l y s a n d o r e v e n c o m m e n t c o n t e m p
t u o u s l y o n t h e e m p t i n e s s o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s v e r b i a g e .
A t e a c h s t a g e , a n i m p o r t a n t p e r s p e c t i v e t h a t w a s
e l a b o r a t e d i n t h e c o n s u l t a t i o n i n c l u d e d t h e i d e a
t h a t i t w a s o f c r i t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r D r . F . n o t t o
e n t e r i n t o a n e m p t y ( i n e r t ) d i s c o u r s e w i t h t h e
p a t i e n t a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e i t w a s c r u c i a l t h a t t h e
a n a l y s t m a i n t a i n h i s c a p a c i t y t o e n t e r t a i n a n y
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t h o u g h t , f e e l i n g , o r s e n s a t i o n t h a t a r o s e w i t h i n
h i m ( s e e B i o n 1 9 7 8 , S y m i n g t o n 1 9 8 3 ) . N o p o s s i b l e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o r r e s p o n s e t o t h e p a t i e n t w a s t o b e
r e f l e x iv e l y d i s m i s s e d o r s t if l e d . I t r e q u i r e d e n o r
m o u s p s y c h o l o g i c a l e ff o r t o n t h e p a r t o f D r . F . t o
r e s i s t b e c o m i n g m e c h a n i c a l , d e t a c h e d , o r im i t a t i v e
o f a n i d e a l i z e d v e r s i o n o f h i s o w n a n a l y s t o r o f m e .
D r . F . d e v e l o p e d h i s o w n s ty le o f t a k i n g p r o
c e s s n o t e s i n w h i c h h e w a s a b l e t o c a p t u r e s o m e
t h i n g o f t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e h o u r
i n c l u d i n g t h e d e t a i l s o f h i s o w n e x p e r i e n c e . I t h i n k
o f t h i s a s t h e e f f o r t o f t h e a n a l y s t t o f o c u s u p o n t h e
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e a s p e c t s o f t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e -
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e a s " t o t a l s i t u a t i o n " ( J o s e p h
1 9 8 5 , K l e i n 1 9 5 2 , O g d e n 1 9 9 1 a ) . I n o t h e r w o r d s , i t
i s t h e
t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e ,
n o t s i m
p l y t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e , t h a t c o n s t i t u t e s t h e m a t r i x i n
w h i c h p s y c h o l o g i c a l m e a n i n g s a r e g e n e r a t e d i n
t h e a n a l y t i c s i t u a t i o n .
A s D r . F . w o u l d p r e s e n t t h e h o u r s t o m e i n
o u r w e e k l y c o n s u l t a t i o n s e s s i o n s , n e i t h e r o f u s f e l t
p r e s s u r e d t o d r a w o n e - t o - o n e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s
b e t w e e n D r . F . 's t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l in g s a n d t h o s e
o f t h e p a t i e n t . A t tim es, w e e a c h o f f e r e d t e n t a t i v e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g s o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n D r .
F . ' s e x p e r i e n c e a n d w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g i n t h e
a n a l y t i c h o u r . U s u a l l y , D r . F . ' s r e v e r i e s w e r e s i m p l y
n o t e d a n d w e r e a l l o w e d t o r e v e r b e r a t e w i t h i n h i m
a n d w i t h i n m e a s w e l i s t e n e d t o t h e s u b s e q u e n t
m a t e r i a l . W e s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r e d b a c k i n o u r d i s -
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48 Reverie and Interpretation
c u s s i o n s t o r e v e r i e s t h a t D r . F . h a d p r e s e n t e d i n
c o n s u l t a t i o n m e e t i n g s w e e k s o r m o n t h s e a r l i e r .
D r . F . ' s t h o u g h t s i n t h e i n i t i a l m o n t h s o f a n a l
ys is o f t e n i n c l u d e d w i s h fu l i m a g e s o f h i s u p c o m i n g
v a c a t i o n s o r o f m e m o r i e s o f r e c e n t b r o w s i n g i n
i n t e r e s t i n g s h o p s a n d b o o k s t o r e s d u r i n g h i s a f t e r
n o o n b r e a k s . T h e s e w e r e u n d e r s t o o d n o t s i m p l y a s
g e n e r i c e s c a p i s t f a n t a s i e s , b u t i n e a c h i n s t a n c e
w e r e f e l t t o r e f l e c t a s p e c i f i c r e s p o n s e t o w h a t w a s
o c c u r r i n g i n t h e a n a ly s i s a t t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
m o m e n t . A t o n e p o i n t , s e v e r a l o f D r . F . ' s v a c a t i o n
d a y d r e a m s w e r e o f a n unreal i s t ica l ly i d e a l i z e d s o r t
a n d s e e m e d t o r e f l e c t t h e m a k e - b e l i e v e n a t u r e o f
t h e a n a ly s is . T h e p a t i e n t d i d n o t w a n t a n a c t u a l
a n a l y s is , h e d e f e n s i v e l y d e s i r e d a p e r f e c t o n e . I n
o t h e r w o r d s , t h e a n a l y s a n d u n c o n s c i o u s l y w i s h e d
f o r a n o m n i p o t e n t l y c r e a t e d a n a l y s i s t h a t d i d n o t
i n v o lv e a c t u a l e n c o u n t e r s b e t w e e n h i m s e l f a n d
a n o t h e r p e r s o n w i th all t h e a n x i e t i e s a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h t h e h u m a n l ap s e s , m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s , a n d s o
o n t h a t t h a t w o u l d h a v e e n t a i l e d .
D r . F . a t t e m p t e d t o k e e p a l i v e i n h i m s e l f h i s
c a p a c i t y t o b e c u r i o u s , t o q u e s t i o n , t o c o m m e n t
s p o n t a n e o u s l y o n w h a t w a s o c c u r r i n g i n t h e a n a
ly tic i n t e r a c t i o n d e s p i t e t h e " c a n n e d " r e s p o n s e s
t h a t h e w o u l d o f t e n r e c e i v e f r o m t h e p a t i e n t . " A n a
l yt ic e t i q u e t t e " w a s n o t t r e a t e d a s s a c r e d b y D r . F .
m u c h t o t h e s u r p r i s e a n d d i s a p p r o v a l o f t h e
p a t i e n t . F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e p a t i e n t a t o n e p o i n t i n d i
c a t e d t h a t h e w a n t e d a d v i c e f r o m D r . F . , b u t
i m m e -
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d i a t e l y a d d e d t h a t h e k n e w t h a t D r . F . c o u l d n o t
g iv e h i m a d v i c e . D r . F . r e s p o n d e d b y a s k i n g t h e
p a t i e n t w h y h e c o u l d n o t g iv e t h e p a t i e n t a d v i c e . I n
t h e e n d , n o a d v i c e w a s g i v e n , a n d i n s t e a d t h e r e w a s
a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s u s e o f f a n t a s i e d r u l e s
( h is o w n o m n i p o t e n t c r e a t i o n s a n d p r o j e c t i o n s )
f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p r e v e n t i n g h i m s e l f f r o m e x p e r i
e n c i n g a n d t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e p e r s o n a l , i d io s y n
c r a t ic , u n p r e d i c t a b l e n a t u r e o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e t h a t
w a s o c c u r r i n g b e t w e e n D r . F . a n d h i m s e l f .
W h e n D r . F . f o u n d h i m s e l f f e e l i n g c u r i o u s
a b o u t a n a s p e c t o f t h e m a t e r i a l t h a t t h e p a t i e n t w a s
d i s c u s s i n g , h e a s k e d t h e p a t i e n t f o r f u r t h e r d e t a i l s
e v e n w h e n t h e q u e s t i o n s s e e m e d t a n g e n t i a l . F o r
e x a m p l e , a t o n e p o i n t , D r . F . a s k e d t h e p a t i e n t f o r
t h e n a m e o f a r e s t a u r a n t t h a t t h e p a t i e n t h a d p a r
e n t h e t i c a l l y m e n t i o n e d h a v i n g e n j o y e d t h e p r e v i
o u s e v e n i n g . T h e a n a l y s t w a s w e l l a w a r e t h a t t h e
o m i s s i o n o f t h e d e t a i l ( t h e n a m e o f t h e r e s t a u r a n t )
v e r y l ik e ly r e p r e s e n t e d a w a y o f t a n t a l i z i n g a n d
e x c l u d i n g t h e a n a l y s t ( a p r o j e c t i o n o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s
c u r i o s i t y a n d f e e l i n g o f e x c l u s i o n f r o m t h e l i f e o f
t h e a n a l y s t ) . H o w e v e r , a t t h e t i m e , D r . F . d e c i d e d
t o a s k ( p e r h a p s m o r e a c c u r a t e l y , f o u n d h i m s e l f
a s k i n g ) f o r t h e d e t a i l ' a b o u t w h i c h h e f e l t c u r i o u s
w h i l e d e f e r r i n g e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e t a n t a l i z i n g
e f f e c t o f t h e o m i s s i o n o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r d e t a i l .
( C o l t a r t [ 1 9 8 6 ] h a s m a d e a s i m i l a r r e c o m m e n d a
t i o n w i t h r e g a r d t o a l l o w i n g o n e s e l f t o l a u g h a t a
p a t i e n t ' s j o k e s b e f o r e a n a l y z i n g t h e c o n s c i o u s a n d
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Reverie and Interpretation
u n c o n s c i o u s m o t i v a t i o n s o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s w i s h t o
g e t t h e a n a l y s t t o l a u g h . )
I t s h o u l d b e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t w h i l e D r . F .
a t t e m p t e d t o i n s u r e s p a c e i n t h e a n a ly s i s f o r s p o n
t a n e i t y a n d " f r e e d o m o f t h o u g h t , " h e b y n o m e a n s
t r e a t e d t h e a n a l y t i c f r a m e i n a c a v a l i e r m a n n e r —
h o u r s w e r e b e g u n a n d e n d e d i n a t i m e l y w a y;
c a s u a l c o n v e r s a t i o n d i d n o t o c c u r b e t w e e n t h e
w a i t i n g r o o m a n d t h e c o n s u l t i n g r o o m ; s u g g e s
t i o n , r e a s s u r a n c e , e x h o r t a t i o n , a n d t h e l ik e p l a y e d
n o l a r g e r a p a r t i n t h i s a n a l y s i s t h a n in o t h e r s c o n
d u c t e d b y t h i s c a r e f u l a n d t h o u g h t f u l a n a l y s t .
F o r m o s t o f t h e f irst y e a r o f a n a l y s i s , D r . F . f e l t
t h a t t h e l i f e o f t h e a n a l y s i s r e s i d e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y
i n h i s o w n c a p a c i t y t o m a i n t a i n h i s f r e e d o m f o r
r e v e r i e d u r i n g t h e a n a l y t i c h o u r s a n d in h i s d i s c u s
s i o n s w i t h m e o f t h e s e r e v e r i e s . B y t h e b e g i n n i n g
o f t h e first h a l f o f t h e s e c o n d y e a r o f a n a l y s i s , t h e
p a t i e n t b e g a n t o e v i d e n c e c h a n g e s i n h i s a b i l i ty t o
s p e a k w i t h a v o i c e o f h i s o w n t h a t n o l o n g e r
s e e m e d q u i t e a s
cliche d,
s t e r e o t y p i c , a n d i m i t a t i v e
a s b e f o r e . H o w e v e r , t h e c h a n g e s s e e m e d f r a g i l e
a n d s h o r t - l i v e d t o D r . F .
I n t h i s p e r i o d o f a n a ly s i s , D r . F . p r e s e n t e d a
s e s s i o n i n c o n s u l t a t i o n i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t w a s
s i l e n t f o r t h e f i r s t f e w m i n u t e s o f t h e m e e t i n g . D r .
F . t o l d m e t h a t d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d o f s i l e n c e h e h a d
b e e n t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e f ac t t h a t I w o u l d b e
s p e n d i n g m y C h r i s t m a s b r e a k i n H a w a i i . H e w o n
d e r e d if I w o u l d b r i n g C h r i s t m a s p r e s e n t s a l o n g
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and Interpretation
a b o u t r e a l n e s s , a u t h e n t i c i t y , g e n u i n e n e s s , s p o n t a
n e i t y , a n d s o o n , b u t w h e n i t c o m e s d o w n t o i t,
m a y b e h e d o e s n ' t k n o w w h a t ' s r e a l a n d w h a t i s n ' t . "
D r . F . a n d I d i s c u s s e d t h e w a y i n w h i c h m y p l a c i n g
a p r e m i u m o n s p o n t a n e i t y m a y h a v e c r e a t e d a
d i l e m m a o f s o r t s f o r D r . F .: h e m a y h a v e b e g u n t o
find h i m s e l f a t t e m p t i n g t o " t r a i n h i m s e l f t o b e
s p o n t a n e o u s . T o m a k e m a t t e r s w o r s e , h e m a y h a v e
u n c o n s c i o u s l y f e l t t h a t " a c h i e v i n g s p o n t a n e i t y "
w o u l d in v o l v e i m i t a t i n g m e . D r . F . c a m e t o s e e
m o r e c l e a r l y a s a r e s u l t o f t h e
di scuss ion
o f t h i s
C h r i s t m a s r e v e r i e t h a t h i s p a t i e n t h a d b e e n l a b o r
i n g u n d e r a s i m i l a r b u r d e n i n t h e a n a ly s i s f o r s o m e
tim e. F o r m o n t h s , D r . C . h a d s a i d t h a t h e f e l t a n
i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e t o b e " o n " i n a n a l y s i s , t h a t is , t o
b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o D r . F . O n l y a t t h i s p o i n t d i d D r .
C. ' s c o m m e n t t a k e o n a n a n a ly t ic m e a n i n g
( b e c o m e a n " a n a l y t i c o b j e c t " ) t h a t c o u l d b e s ym
b o l i z e d , r e f l e c t e d u p o n , a n d i n t e r p r e t e d : D r . F .
felt t h a t h e n o w b e t t e r u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t ' s i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e t o b e " o n " r e f l e c t e d t h e
p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s f a n t a s y t h a t h e c o u l d o n l y b e
a l iv e f o r D r . F . t o t h e d e g r e e t h a t h e c o u l d l e a r n t o
t h i n k , f e e l , s p e a k , a n d b e h a v e i n a m a n n e r l i k e o r
t h e s a m e a s D r . F . T h i s p l a c e d t h e p a t i e n t i n a n
i m p o s s i b l e p o s i t i o n i n w h i c h f e e l i n g a l i v e a n d
b e i n g i n t e r e s t i n g t o D r . F . h a d b e c o m e s y n o n y
m o u s . P a r a d o x i c a l l y , t h e i d e a o f f e e l i n g a l iv e h a d
f o r D r . C . b e c o m e u n c o n s c i o u s l y e q u i v a l e n t t o
b e c o m i n g ( a n i d e a l i z e d v e r s i o n o f) D r . F .
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I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e s u c c e e d i n g
weeks
o f
a n a l y s i s , D r . F . o f f e r e d t o t h e a n a l y s a n d h i s u n d e r
s t a n d i n g o f t h i s d i l e m m a t h a t h e b e l i e v e d t o
u n d e r l i e D r . C . ' s f e e l i n g o f p r e s s u r e t o b e " o n " i n
a n a l y s i s . B o t h t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d D r . F . ' s s el f -
u n d e r s t a n d i n g u p o n w h i c h i t r e s t e d f a c i l i t a t e d
t h e c r e a t i o n o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l s p a c e i n t h e a n a l y s i s
i n w h i c h b o t h t h e p a t i e n t a n d t h e a n a l y s t w e r e
a b l e t o c o n t i n u e t o d e v e l o p t h e i r c a p a c i t y t o g e n
e r a t e t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s a n d s e n s a t i o n s w i t h o u t
f e e l i n g t h a t t h e r e w a s a n u n s t a t e d s c r i p t o r p a r a
d i g m t h a t e i t h e r o f t h e m w a s b e i n g a s k e d t o
m o u t h o r i m i t a t e .
I n t h e c l in i c a l s e q u e n c e j u s t d e s c r i b e d , i t w a s
e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e a n a l y s t t o b e a b l e t o h a v e h i s o w n
t h o u g h t s i n d e p e n d e n t o f m i n e ( w h i c h n e e d w a s s ym
b o l i z e d b y D r . F . ' s u n c o n s c i o u s c r i t i c i s m o f m e i n t h e
C h r i s t m a s r e v e r i e ) . O n l y w h e n D r . F . b e c a m e a w a r e o f
t h e w a y i n w h i c h h i s o w n c a p a c i t y f o r o r i g i n a l t h o u g h t
h a d b e e n p a r a l y z e d b y h i s f e a r o f c o n f r o n t i n g h i s
d e f e n s i v e i d e a l i z a t i o n o f m e , c o u l d h e r e g a i n h i s fu ll
c a p a c i t y f o r r e v e r i e . D r . F . ' s
symbol iza t ion
o f , a n d
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f , t h i s d e f e n s i v e p r o c e s s a s i t w a s p o r
t r a y e d i n t h e C h r i s t m a s r e v e r i e f o r m e d t h e b a s i s f o r h i s
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f h i s p a t i e n t ' s f u t i l e a t t e m p t s t o o v e r
c o m e h i s o w n e x p e r i e n c e o f d e a d n e s s b y ( i n f a n ta s y )
a t t e m p t i n g t o b e c o m e a p e r f e c t p a t i e n t , t h a t is , t o
b e c o m e a d e f e n s i v e ly i d e a l i z e d v e r s i o n o f h i s c o n c e p
t i o n o f a n a n a l y t i c p a t i e n t .
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IV
T h e f i n a l c l in i c a l v i g n e t t e t h a t I s h a l l p r e s e n t w i ll f o c u s
o n t h e p r o b l e m o f " c o m p e t i n g " ( T u s t i n 1 9 8 0 , s e e a l s o
O g d e n 1 9 8 9 a , b ) w i t h a f o r m o f d e a d n e s s t h a t in v o l v e s
a p a t h o l o g i c a l l y a u t i s t ic a s p e c t o f p e r s o n a l i t y . I n t h e
a n a ly s i s o f a d u l t p a t i e n t s , t h e a u t i s t ic c o m p o n e n t
o f t h e
p e r s o n a l i t y is o f t e n n o t a t a ll e v i d e n t i n t h e b e g i n n i n g
o f a n a l y s i s ( S . K l e i n 1 9 8 0 ) . T h i s w a s t h e c a s e i n t h e
a n a l y s i s o f M r s . S .
I n t h e i n i t i a l a n a l y t i c m e e t i n g , M r s . S . t a l k e d a b o u t
h e r d i f f ic u l t ie s i n " g e t t i n g h e r l if e t o g e t h e r . " S h e
h a d n o t b e e n a b l e t o g r a d u a t e f r o m c o l l e g e a s a
r e s u l t o f h e r i n a b i l i t y t o c o n c e n t r a t e . H e r m a r r i a g e
w a s i n d i s a r r a y a n d s h e f e l t o n t h e e d g e o f p a n i c .
I t is n o t p o s s i b l e i n t h e s p a c e o f t h e p r e s e n t
p a p e r t o o f f er a n a c c o u n t o f t h e s t a g e s o f t h e evo
l u t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s o v e r t h e f i r s t e i g h t
y e a r s o f t h i s five s e s s i o n p e r w e e k a n a l y s i s . T h e o u t
c o m e o f t h e s e y e a r s o f w o r k m i g h t v e r y b r o a d l y b e
s u m m a r i z e d b y s a y i n g t h a t d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t
t h e r e h a d b e e n i m p o r t a n t c h a n g e s i n t h e p a t i e n t ' s
a b i li ty t o f u n c t i o n i n t h e w o r l d ( f o r e x a m p l e , s h e
w a s a b l e t o g r a d u a t e f r o m c o l l e g e a n d h o l d a
r e s p o n s i b l e j o b ) , t h e p a t i e n t ' s c a p a c i t y t o e n t e r
i n t o r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e r e m a i n e d v e r y
l i m i t e d . M r s . S . a n d h e r h u s b a n d s l e p t i n s e p a r a t e
b e d r o o m s a n d o n o c c a s i o n e n g a g e d i n w h a t t h e
p a t i e n t d e s c r i b e d a s " m e c h a n i c a l s e x . " I t h a d
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r e q u i r e d m o r e t h a n five y e a r s o f a n a l y s is f o r t h e
p a t i e n t t o e v e n r e c o g n i z e t h a t s h e " m a n a g e d " h e r
t h r e e c h i l d r e n a s if s h e w e r e " a n e m p l o y e e o f a
d a y c a r e c e n t e r " a n d t h a t s h e
h a d
v e r y
litt ie
s e n s e
o f e a c h o f t h e m a s i n d i v i d u a l s . H e r f r i e n d s h i p s
w e r e s h a l l o w a n d o n l y t o w a r d t h e e n d o f t h e se v
e n t h y e a r o f a n a l y s i s d i d s h e b e g i n t o f e e l t h e
a b s e n c e o f l o v i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n h e r l i f e.
I n t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p , I w a s a g a i n a n d
a g a i n s t u n n e d ( i n a w a y t h a t I h a v e r a r e l y e x p e r i
e n c e d w i t h o t h e r p a t i e n t s ) by t h e d e p t h o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s i n a b i l i t y t o e v i d e n c e o r e x p e r i e n c e a n y
w a r m t h t o w a r d m e . I t w a s n o t t h a t M r s . S . d i d n o t
f e e l d e p e n d e n t o n m e . S h e w a s
g r e a d y
d i s t r e s s e d b y
w e e k e n d b r e a k s , v a c a t i o n s ( h e r o w n a s w e l l a s
m i n e ) , t h e e n d o f e a c h s e s s io n , a n d w o u l d f re -
q u e n d y t e l e p h o n e m y a n s w e r i n g m a c h i n e i n o r d e r
t o h e a r m y v o i c e ( w i t h o u t l e a v i n g a m e s s a g e o f h e r
o w n ) . H o w e v e r , M r s . S . e x p e r i e n c e d h e r d e p e n
d e n c e n o t a s a p e r s o n a l a t t a c h m e n t , b u t a s a n
a d d i c t i o n t h a t s h e d e e p l y r e s e n t e d . S h e o n c e
i n s t r u c t e d m e , " A h e r o i n a d d i c t d o e s n o t l o v e h e r
o i n . T h e f a c t t h a t s h e ' l l k il l t o g e t it d o e s n ' t m e a n
s h e l o v e s i t o r f e e l s a n y k i n d o f a f f e c t i o n f o r i t ." T h e
p a t i e n t f e l t p o w e r f u l l y u n t o u c h a b l e i n h e r i s o l a t i o n
a n d s e e m e d t o v a l u e t h i s f e e l i n g o f " b e i n g i m m u n e
t o h u m a n v u l n e r a b i l i t i e s " m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e ls e
i n l if e . T h i s " u n t o u c h a b l e " q u a l i t y w a s r e f l e c t e d i n
h e r a n o r e c t i c s y m p t o m a t o l o g y . T h e p a t i e n t s u b
s i s t e d o n a d i e t o f f r u it , g r a i n s a n d v e g e t a b l e s a n d
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o r g a n i z e d h e r l if e a r o u n d a rigorous e x e r c i s e
r e g i m e t h a t i n c l u d e d m a r a t h o n j o g g i n g a n d t h e
e x t e n s i v e u s e o f a s t a t i o n a r y b i c y c le . T h e p a t i e n t
e x e r c i s e d v i g o r o u s l y f o r a t l e a s t t h r e e h o u r s e v e r y
d a y . I f t h e e x e r c i s e r o u t i n e w e r e i n a n y w a y d is
r u p t e d ( f o r e x a m p l e , b y i l ln e s s o r b y t r a v e l ) , t h e
p a t i e n t w o u l d e x p e r i e n c e a s t a t e o f i n t e n s e a n x i e t y
t h a t o n t w o o c c a s i o n s d e v e l o p e d i n t o a f ul l b l o w n
p a n i c a t t a c k . M r s . S ., a t t h e b e g i n n i n g
o f t h e
a n a l y
s is , e x p e r i e n c e d n o a p p e t i t e f o r f o o d , s e x , i d e a s ,
a r t , o r a n y t h i n g e l s e . T h e p a t i e n t ' s w e i g h t h e l d t h e
g r e a t e s t i m p o r t a n c e f o r h e r : b y m a i n t a i n i n g a p a r
ticular w e i g h t ( a t t h e v e r y l o w e n d o f w h a t s h e
c o u l d t o l e r a t e p h y s i o l o g i c a l l y w i t h o u t f a l l in g p h y s i
c a ll y i ll ) , s h e e x p e r i e n c e d a f o r m o f p o w e r t h a t
a l l o w e d h e r i n f a n t a sy t o c o n t r o l e v e r y t h i n g t h a t
m i g h t o c c u r b o t h w i t h i n h e r a n d o u t s i d e o f h e r .
I t w o u l d b e i n a c c u r a t e t o s ay t h a t t h e p a t i e n t
a lw a y s f e l t n u m b o r w i t h o u t f e e l i n g s in t h e a n a l y t i c
h o u r s . M r s . S .
f r equen t iy
e x p e r i e n c e d i n t e n s e
a n g e r , w h i c h s h e c a l l e d " h a t r e d , " t o w a r d m e . H o w
e v e r , h e r a n g e r n e v e r s e e m e d p e r s o n a l . B y t h i s I
m e a n t h a t i t n e v e r f e l t a s i f h e r a n g e r h a d a n y t h i n g
t o d o w i t h m e . T h e h a t r e d d i d n o t e v e n s e e m t o b e
t h e p a t i e n t ' s p e r s o n a l c r e a t i o n ; r a t h e r , i t s e e m e d
l i k e a b l i n d , r e f l e x iv e a l m o s t c o n v u l s i v e t h r a s h i n g
a b o u t t h a t o c c u r r e d w h e n h e r s e n s e o f a b s o l u t e
c o n t r o l a n d o w n e r s h i p o f m e w a s c o m p r o m i s e d .
S i n c e I w a s t h e p e r s o n / o b j e c t w h o h a p p e n e d t o b e
t h e r e , i t w a s I w h o h a p p e n e d t o b e t h e o b j e c t o f
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h e r rage . M r s . S . ' s c r i t i c i s m o f m e a l w a y s i n v o l v e d
h e r p r o j e c t i v e f a n ta s y o f m y o m n i p o t e n c e : s h e f e l t
t h a t I c o u l d e a s il y g i v e h e r w h a t s h e n e e d e d if I
c h o s e t o , b u t I s t u b b o r n l y r e f u s e d t o d o s o .
O t h e r t h a n h e r s i n g l e - m i n d e d c r u s a d e t o g a i n
a c c e ss t o m y f a n t a s i e d o m n i p o t e n t p o w e r t h e r e
s e e m e d t o b e v e r y l i t t l e a b o u t m e t h a t w a s o f i n t e r
e s t t o t h e p a t i e n t . I t w a s d i f f ic u l t f o r m e t o a c c e p t
h o w li t t l e I s e e m e d t o m e a n t o t h i s p a t i e n t o u t s i d e
o f t h e t e r m s o f t h e f a n t a s y I a m d i s c u s s i n g . F o r
y e a r s , I h e l d t o t h e b e l i e f t h a t M r s . S . s e c r e t l y l o v e d
m e ( a l b e i t i n a p r i m i t i v e w a y ) , f e l t a f o r m o f c o n
c e r n f o r m e , k n e w s o m e t h i n g a b o u t w h o I a m a s a
p e r s o n , b u t s t u b b o r n l y r e f u s e d t o a d m i t i t . T h i s
b e l i e f w a s b a s e d o n t h e i n t e n s i t y o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s
f e e l i n g o f d e p e n d e n c e o n m e i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h
t h e f a c t t h a t I f e l t c o n c e r n f o r a n d i n t e r e s t i n h e r .
A t t i m e s , I i n t e r p r e t e d w h a t I f e lt t o b e t h e
p a t i e n t ' s a n x i e t y a b o u t a c k n o w l e d g i n g a n y f e e l i n g
o f h u m a n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h m e f o r f e a r o f t h e lo s s
o f c o n t r o l o v e r h e r e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l w o r l d
t h a t t h a t w o u l d e n t a i l . S h e w o u l d r e s p o n d b y say
i n g t h a t w h a t I .said m i g h t b e t r u e , b u t s h e w a s n o t
a w a r e o f f e e l i n g a f fe c t i o n , l o v e , w a r m t h o r e v e n
c o n c e r n f o r m e o r f o r a n y o n e e ls e f o r t h a t m a t t e r .
T h e d e f e n s i v e f u n c t i o n o f s u c h a s t a n c e o n t h e
p a t i e n t ' s p a r t w a s d i s c u s s e d o n m a n y o c c a s i o n s ,
b u t d i d n o t l e a d t o a n y d i s c e r n i b l e a f fe c ti v e
c h a n g e . ( T h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s f e l t i n c r e a s i n g l y
s t a le t o b o t h t h e p a t i e n t a n d t o m e . )
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P e r h a p s i t w a s t h e p a t i e n t ' s r e s p o n s e t o t h e
d e a t h o f m y f a t h e r t h a t w a s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f m y
l o o s e n i n g o f m y h o l d o n t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e p a t i e n t
secretiy felt s o m e f o r m o f l o v e o r c o n c e r n f o r m e .
T h e e v e n t s t r a n s p i r i n g b e t w e e n M r s . S . a n d m y s e l f
a r o u n d t h i s e v e n t ( i n t h e e i g h t h y e a r o f a n a ly s i s )
l e d m e t o f e e l t h a t t h e r e w a s a q u a l i t a t i v e d i f f er
e n c e b e t w e e n t h e h u m a n d i s c o n n e c t e d n e s s
a c h i e v e d b y M r s . S . a n d f o r m s o f d e f e n s e a g a i n s t
t h e d a n g e r s o f l o v e a n d h a t e t h a t I h a d e n c o u n
t e r e d w i t h o t h e r p a t i e n t s . A f t e r r e c e i v i n g t h e u n e x
p e c t e d n e w s o f m y f a t h e r ' s d e a t h , I t e l e p h o n e d m y
p a t i e n t s a n d s u p e r v i s e e s t o t e l l t h e m t h a t t h e r e
h a d b e e n a d e a t h i n m y f a m i ly a n d t h a t I w o u l d b e
c a n c e l i n g s e v e r a l days' m e e t i n g s . I t o l d e a c h o f
t h e m t h a t I w o u l d p h o n e t h e m t o t e l l t h e m w h e n I
w o u l d b e r e s u m i n g w o r k . W h e n I s p o k e w i t h M r s .
S ., s h e r e c e i v e d t h e n e w s q u i e t l y , b u t i m m e d i a t e l y
a s k e d m e if I k n e w a p p r o x i m a t e l y w h e n I w o u l d b e
r e t u r n i n g t o w o r k . I s a i d t h a t I d i d n o t k n o w , b u t
w o u l d let h e r k n o w w h e n I d i d .
I n o u r first m e e t i n g a f t e r m y r e t u r n , M r s . S .
s a i d t h a t s h e w a s " s o r r y t h a t s o m e o n e i n m y f a m i l y
h a d d i e d . " T h e r e w a s u n m i s t a k a b l e a n g e r i n h e r
v o i c e a s s h e u n d e r s c o r e d t h e v a g u e n e s s o f t h e
w o r d " s o m e o n e . " S h e fe ll s i l e n t f o r a f ew m i n u t e s
a n d t h e n s a i d t h a t i t m a d e h e r f e e l f u r i o u s n o t t o
k n o w w h o i t w a s w h o h a d d i e d a n d s a id t h a t s h e
f e l t t h a t I h a d b e e n s a d i s t ic i n n o t g i v i n g h e r t h a t
i n f o r m a t i o n w h e n I p h o n e d h e r . S h e a d d e d t h a t
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s h e w a s c e r t a i n t h a t I h a d t o l d al l m y o t h e r p a t i e n t s
w h o i t w a s i n m y f a m i l y t h a t h a d d i e d . D u r i n g t h i s
i n t e r c h a n g e , I f e l t d e e p l y d i s t u r b e d b y a r e c o g n i
tion a g a i n s t w h i c h I h a d s t r u g g l e d f o r m o s t o f a
d e c a d e : i t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t M r s . S . w a s u n a b l e t o
f e e l a n y t h i n g f o r m e a s a h u m a n b e i n g b e y o n d h e r
n e e d t o p r o t e c t h e r s e l f b y m e a n s o f h e r e f f o r t s t o
m a g i c a l l y e n t e r m e a n d c o n t r o l m e f r o m w i t h i n .
A t t h i s p o i n t i n t h e m e e t i n g , I b e g a n t o r e c a l l
t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e f e e l i n g s t h a t I h a d f e l t d u r i n g t h e
t e l e p h o n e c a ll t h a t I h a d m a d e t o M r s . S . s o o n
a f te r I l e a r n e d o f m y f a t h e r ' s d e a t h . I r e m e m b e r e d
w i t h g r e a t v i v i d n e s s t h e f e e l i n g o f a t t e m p t i n g t o
c o n t r o l m y v o i c e a s I s p o k e t o h e r i n a n e f f o r t t o
h o l d b a c k t e a r s . I w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r i t w a s p os s i
b l e t h a t s h e h a d h e a r d n o t h i n g o f t h a t . H o w c o u l d
s h e h a v e n o t e x p e r i e n c e d t h a t m o m e n t ( as I h a d )
a s o n e i n w h i c h t h e r e h a d b e e n a c l o s e c o n n e c t i o n
b e t w e e n t h e t w o o f u s ? I n s t e a d , s h e a p p a r e n d y
e x p e r i e n c e d i t a s s ti l l a n o t h e r o c c a s i o n i n w h i c h
h e r o m n i p o t e n t w i s h e s h a d b e e n f r u s t r a t e d .
I c o u l d h e a r t h e v o i c e w i t h w h i c h I w a s s p e a k
i n g t o m y s e l f a t t h a t m o m e n t i n t h e m e e t i n g a s t h e
v o i c e o f a p e r s o n e x p e r i e n c i n g a s e n s e o f i n p e n e -
t r a b l e a l i e n a t i o n from M r s . S . ; a t t h e s a m e tim e, I
a l s o r e c o g n i z e d s o m e t h i n g e l s e i n t h a t v o i c e f o r
t h e fi rs t t i m e . I t w a s t h e v o i c e o f a s p u r n e d l o v e r . I t
o c c u r r e d t o m e t h a t M r s . S . l i v e d i n a w o r l d i n
w h i c h t w o d i f f e r e n t f o r m s o f h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e
e a c h d i s g u i s e d t h e o t h e r .
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60
Reverie
and Interpretation
A t t h a t j u n c t u r e , I f e l t t h a t I h a d a r r i v e d a t t h e
b e g i n n i n g s o f a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f s o m e t h i n g
a b o u t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n M r s . S . a n d m y s e l f
t h a t I h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l y g r a s p e d . T h i s n e w u n d e r
s t a n d i n g d i d n o t s e r v e t o p r o t e c t m e f r o m t h e
c h i l l i n g i n h u m a n n e s s t h a t I h a d s e n s e d i n M r s . S .
a n d w h i c h I k n e w r e f l e c t e d i m p o r t a n t a u t i s t ic a n d
p a r a n o i d - s c h i z o i d e l e m e n t s i n h e r p e r s o n a l i t y ; n e i
t h e r d i d i t s e r v e t o d i m t h e r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t a l o n g
s i d e t h e s e p o w e r f u l a u t i s t i c a n d p a r a n o i d - s c h i z o i d
d e f e n s e s w a s a c a p a c i t y f o r h u m a n l o v e . I c o u l d a t
t h i s p o i n t s e e in r e t r o s p e c t t h a t i t w a s i n p a r t m y
o w n l a c k o f c o m p a s s i o n f o r M r s . S . a n d h e r w i s h e s
t o c o m f o r t m e as my wife t h a t h a d l e d m e t o b l i n d
m y s e l f t o t h e f a c t t h a t h e r s e e m i n g a b s e n c e o f
c o m p a s s i o n r e p r e s e n t e d a c o m p l e x i n t e r p l a y o f
t w o p o w e r f u l , c o e x i s t i n g a s p e c t s o f h e r p e r s o n a l i t y .
S h e h a d b e e n c o n c e r n e d a b o u t m e a n d f e l t
d e s p o n d e n t t h a t h e r l o v e w a s u n r e c o g n i z a b l e t o
m e ( f o r e x a m p l e , a s r e f l e c t e d i n m y n o t a l l o w i n g
h e r t o c o m f o r t m e ) . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e r e w a s a n
i m p o r t a n t w a y i n w h i c h M r s . S . w a s u n a b l e t o c o m e
t o
life
a s a h u m a n b e i n g a n d i n s t e a d o c c u p i e d a
m e c h a n i c a l , o m n i p o t e n t w o r l d o f ( 1 ) r e l a t e d n e s s
t o " a u t i s t i c s h a p e s " a n d " a u t i s t i c o b j e c t s " ( T u s t i n
1 9 8 0 , 1 9 8 4 ) ( f o r e x a m p l e , t h e m e c h a n i c a l , s e lf -s uf
ficiency i n v o l v e d i n t h e s e n s a t i o n - w o r l d o f e x e r c i s e
a n d d i e t ) a n d , ( 2 ) p a r a n o i d - s c h i z o i d f a n t a s i e s o f
e n t e r i n g m e a n d p a r a s i t i c a l ly l iv i n g i n m e a n d
t h r o u g h m e .
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Analyzing Forms o f Aliveness and Deadness 61
I h a d b e e n u n a b l e t o l i v e w i t h , f o r m u l a t e , a n d
i n t e r p r e t f o r m y s e l f a n d f o r t h e p a t i e n t t h e m u t u
a l ly o b s c u r i n g i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n b e i n g
a l i v e a n d b e i n g d e a d ( i .e . , t h e c o e x i s t e n c e o f
d e p r e s s i v e , p a r a n o i d - s c h i z o i d a n d a u t i s t i c - c o n t i g u
o u s [ O g d e n 1 9 8 9 a , b ] d i m e n s i o n s
o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s
p e r s o n a l i t y ) . M r s . S . h a d l o v e d m e a n d h a d f e lt
n o t h i n g w h a t s o e v e r f o r m e a t t h e s a m e tim e. I h a d
e x p e r i e n c e d a f f ec t io n f o r h e r ( w h i c h I c a m e t o
r e c o g n i z e m o r e fu lly i n m y e x p e r i e n c e o f f e e l i n g
l i k e a s p u r n e d l o v e r ) , b u t c o u l d n o t a l l o w m y s e l f t o
f e e l w a r m t h o r a t t i m e s e v e n f e e l c o m p a s s i o n f o r
s o m e o n e w h o w a s s o c l e a r ly i n h u m a n a n d i n h u
m a n e ( f o r e x a m p l e , i n h e r t r e a t m e n t o f h e r h u s
b a n d , h e r c h i l d r e n a n d i n h e r r e s p o n s e t o m e ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y a f t e r m y f a t h e r ' s d e a t h ) .
L a t e r i n t h e s e s s i o n t h a t I a m d e s c r i b i n g , I s a i d
t o M r s . S . t h a t I
. t hough t
I h a d u n d e r e s t i m a t e d t w o
t h i n g s i n o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p : t h e a m o u n t o f a f f e c t io n
t h a t t h e r e w a s a n d t h e d e g r e e t o w h i c h n o r e l a t i o n
s h i p a t a ll e x i s t e d b e t w e e n u s . W h e n I l o s t s i g h t o f
o n e o r t h e o t h e r f a c e t o f t h e s i t u a t i o n , I f a i l e d t o
u n d e r s t a n d t h e to t a l i t y o f w h o s h e i s a n d w h o w e
a r e t o g e t h e r . I a d d e d t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t t h e d e g r e e
i to w h i c h i t w a s p o s s i b l e f o r t h e r e t o b e n o h u m a n
t i e b e t w e e n u s h a d d i m i n i s h e d i n t h e t i m e t h a t w e
h a d k n o w n o n e a n o t h e r , b u t t h a t i t r e m a i n e d a
c o n s i d e r a b l e f o r c e t o b e r e c k o n e d w i th .
M r s . S . r e s p o n d e d b y s a y i n g t h a t I h a d n e v e r
s p o k e n t o h e r i n t h a t w a y b e f o r e . P r e v i o u s l y , s h e
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62
Reverie and Interpretation
h a d a l w a y s f e l t t h a t t h e r e w a s a w a y i n w h i c h I w a s
a s c o l d a s s h e w a s a n d t h a t s h e c o u l d h e a r t h e ic i-
n e s s i n m y v o i c e . S h e c o u l d n o t d e t e c t t h a t c o l d
n e s s i n m e j u s t n o w . M r s . S . w e n t o n t o sa y t h a t s h e
d i d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h a t i c i n e s s w a s g o n e , b u t a t
l e a s t i t d i d n o t d o m i n a t e e v e r y t h i n g t h a t o c c u r r e d
b e t w e e n u s f o r t h e m o m e n t .
I u n d e r s t o o d t h i s t o b e a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s f e e l i n g o f r e l i e f i n h e r s e n s e t h a t s h e
c o u l d a c c e p t u n d e r s t a n d i n g f r o m m e , w h i c h w a s
s o m e t h i n g s h e n e v e r b e f o r e h a d b e e n a b l e t o d o
w i t h o u t i m m e d i a t e l y a t t a c k i n g i t , o r m o r e o f t e n ,
w i t h d r a w i n g i n t o a s t a t e o f a u t i s t i c s e lf - s u ff ic i e n cy
o r o m n i p o t e n t p a r a n o i d - s c h i z o i d d e f e n s i v e f a n
ta sy . M y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n h a d d e n i e d n e i t h e r h e r
e m o t i o n a l d e a d n e s s ( h e r p a r a n o i d - s c h i z o i d a n d
aut i s t i c -cont iguous m o d e s o f p r o t e c t i n g h e r s e l f )
n o r h e r i n c r e a s e d c a p a c i t y t o e x p e r i e n c e a h u m a n
c o n n e c t i o n t o m e ( a l b e i t v e ry s p a r i n g l y a c k n o w l
e d g e d b y h e r ) .
Concluding Comments
I h a v e p r e s e n t e d f o u r c l i n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s i n a n e f f o r t t o
i l l u s t r a t e w a y s i n w h i c h t h e s e n s e o f a l i v e n e s s a n d d e a d
n e s s a r e g e n e r a t e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d i n a n d t h r o u g h
t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d . I n e a c h o f t h e c l i n i c a l
s i t u a t i o n s d e s c r i b e d , t h e a n a l y s t a t t e m p t e d t o c r e a t e
a n a l y t i c m e a n i n g ( " a n a l y t i c o b j e c t s " ) f r o m t h a t w h i c h
h a d b e e n u n c o n s c i o u s l y p r e s e n t i n , a n d p o w e r f u l ly
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Analyzing Forms of Aliveness and Deadness
63
s h a p i n g o f , t h e a n a l y t i c e n c o u n t e r , b u t h a d b e e n f o r e
c l o s e d f r o m t h e a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e . I t w a s t h r o u g h t h e
a n a l y s t ' s u s e o f h i s r e v e r i e s , h i s u n o b t r u s i v e , q u o t i d i a n ,
t h o u g h t s , f e e l in g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s ( o f t e n s e e m i n g l y
u n r e l a t e d t o t h e p a t i e n t ) t h a t s p e c i f i c , v e r b a l l y s y m b o l
i z e d m e a n i n g s w e r e g e n e r a t e d a n d e v e n t u a l l y u t i l i z e d
i n t h e i n t e r p r e t i v e p r o c e s s . I n t h e f o u r a n a l y s e s
d e s c r i b e d , t h e p a r t i c u l a r q u a l i t y o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f
a l iv e n e s s a n d d e a d n e s s g e n e r a t e d i n t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e -
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e
c o n s t i t u t e d a n i m p o r t a n t i n t e r s u b
j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n t h a t r e f l e c t e d a c e n t r a l a s p e c t o f
t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s p a t h o l o g i c a l l y s t r u c t u r e d i n t e r n a l
o b j e c t w o r l d .
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T h e P e r v e r s e S u b j e c t of Analysis
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I t is b y n o w w i d e l y a c c e p t e d t h a t t h e a n a l y s i s o f p e r v e r
s i o n i s n o t f u n d a m e n t a l l y a p r o c e s s o f d e c o d i n g a n d
i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e u n c o n s c i o u s f a n ta s ie s , a n x i e t i e s , a n d
d e f e n s e s t h a t a r e e n a c t e d i n t h e p e r v e r s e p a t i e n t ' s se x
u a l a c ti v i ty . I n s t e a d , i t h a s b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y r e c o g
n i z e d t h a t t h e a n a l y s i s o f p e r v e r s i o n c e n t r a l l y i n v o l v e s
t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t r a n s f e r e n c e
p h e n o m e n a t h a t a r e s t r u c t u r e d b y t h e p a t i e n t ' s p e r
v e r s e i n t e r n a l o b j e c t w o r l d ( M a l c o l m 1 9 7 0 , M e l t z e r
1 9 7 3 ) . I b e l i e v e i t is i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h i s e v o l v i n g u n d e r
s t a n d i n g b e d e v e l o p e d a s t e p f u r t h e r : i n m y v ie w , t h e
a n a l y s i s o f p e r v e r s i o n n e c e s s a r i l y i n v o l v e s t h e a n a l y s i s o f
t h e
perverse transference-countertransference
a s i t
u n f o l d s i n t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p .
I n a n a l y z i n g
pe rve r s ion ,
o n e c a n n o t h o p e t o
u n d e r s t a n d w h a t t h e p a t i e n t is a t t e m p t i n g t o c o m m u n i
c a t e w i t h o u t ( t o s o m e e x t e n t ) e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e p e r -
67
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The Perverse Subject of Ana lysis
69
t h e v e r y a c t o f t e l l i n g ( c r e a t i n g ) a s t o r y is a l i e , a c h a
r a d e . P a r a d o x i c a l l y , t h e l ie a n d t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f i ts
f a l s e h o o d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a n a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e is t h e
o n l y r e a l l o c u s o f t r u t h ( t h e o n l y e x p e r i e n c e t h a t f e e l s
r e a l t o b o t h a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d ) .
T h e t y p e o f p e r v e r s e p r o c e s s t h a t w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d
is u n d e r s t o o d a s c e n t r a l l y i n v o l v i n g t h e s u b v e r s i o n o f
t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l d e a t h o f t h e s u b
j e c t ( a n d o f t h e e m p t i n e s s o f t h e a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e i n
w h i c h h e o r s h e is e n g a g e d ) , a n d t h e r e p l a c e m e n t o f
t h i s r e c o g n i t i o n w i t h a n i l lu s o r y s u b j e c t , t h e p e r v e r s e
s u b j e c t o f a n a l y s i s . T h e p e r v e r s e s u b j e c t o f a n a l y s i s i s
t h e n a r r a t o r o f t h e e r o t i z e d , b u t u l t i m a t e l y e m p t y
d r a m a c r e a t e d o n t h e a n a l y t i c s t a g e . T h e d r a m a i ts e l f is
d e s i g n e d t o p r e s e n t t h e f al s e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e n a r r a
t o r ( t h e p e r v e r s e s u b j e c t ) is a l iv e i n h i s o r h e r p o w e r t o
e x c i t e . T h e p e r v e r s e a n a l y t ic s c e n e a n d t h e p e r v e r s e
s u b j e c t o f a n a l y s i s a r e
j o i n d y
c o n s t r u c t e d b y a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e v a d i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f
p s y c h o l o g i c a l d e a d n e s s a n d t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e
e m p t i n e s s o f t h e a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e / i n t e r c o u r s e . In a
s e n s e , t h e p e r v e r s e s u b j e c t o f a n a l y s is c o n s t i t u t e s a
t h i r d a n a l y t i c s u b j e c t i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e l y c r e a t e d b y , a n d
e x p e r i e n c e d t h r o u g h , t h e i n d i v i d u a l s u b je c t i v i t ie s o f
a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e i r s e p a r a t e ,
b u t i n t e r r e l a t e d p e r s o n a l i t y s y st em s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e
j o i n t l y c r e a t e d i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n ( t h e p e r
v e r s e s u b j e c t ) is e x p e r i e n c e d d i f f e r e n t l y b y a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d . ( I n a r e c e n t s e r i e s o f p u b l i c a t i o n s [ O g d e n
1 9 9 2 a , b , 1 9 9 4 a , b , c , d ] , I h a v e d i s c u s s e d t h e c o n c e p t
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70 Reverie and Interpretation
o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d as w e l l a s s p e c i f i c
f o r m s o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e t h i r d s u c h a s t h e s u b j u g a t
i n g t h i r d o f p r o j e c t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n [ O g d e n 1 9 9 4 c , d ] . )
P e r v e r s i o n o f t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r -
e n c e o c c u r s i n a ll a n a l y s e s t o d i f f e r e n t d e g r e e s . F o r
s o m e p a t i e n t s , i t i s t h e d o m i n a n t f o r m o f a n a l y t i c i n t e r
a c t i o n , e c l i p s i n g a ll o t h e r m o d e s o f d e f e n s e a n d o b j e c t
r e l a t e d n e s s . F o r o t h e r p a t i e n t s , i t is i n a s c e n d a n c y o n l y
i n a s p e c i f i c p h a s e o r p h a s e s o f a n a l y s i s . F o r s t i ll o t h e r
p a t i e n t s , p e r v e r s i ty i n ( of ) t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e r e p r e s e n t s a b a c k g r o u n d t h a t p r e s e n t s
i ts e l f p r i m a r i l y i n t h e f o r m o f a w e l l d i s g u i s e d s e x u a l
e x c i t e m e n t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h u n c o n s c i o u s e f fo r ts o n ' t h e
p a r t o f t h e p a t i e n t t o t h w a r t t h e a n a ly s i s i n f u n d a m e n
t a l, b u t d i f f ic u l t t o r e c o g n i z e w a y s ( f o r e x a m p l e , t h e
p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s e x c i t e m e n t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h i s o r
h e r c h r o n i c i n a b i l i t y / u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o g e n e r a t e a s in
g l e , o r i g i n a l t h o u g h t i n t h e a n a ly s i s [ O g d e n , 1 9 9 4 b ] ) .
T h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g s o f p e r v e r s i o n t h a t w il l b e d i s
c u s s e d h e r e r e l y h e a v i ly o n i d e a s i n t r o d u c e d b y s e v e r a l
a n a l y t i c t h i n k e r s p r a c t i c i n g i n E n g l a n d a n d F r a n c e .
K h a n ( 1 9 7 9 ) h a s i l l u m i n a t e d t h e w a y i n w h i c h p e r v e r
s ity r e p r e s e n t s a c o m p u l s i v e l y r e p e a t e d e f f o r t t o c r e a t e
e x p e r i e n c e t h a t w il l d i s g u i s e a n d p a r t i a l l y s u b s t i t u t e f o r
t h e a b s e n c e o f a s e n s e o f b e i n g a l i v e a s a h u m a n b e i n g .
M c D o u g a l l ( 1 9 7 8 , 1 9 8 6 ) h a s d i s c u s s e d t h e n e e d o f t h e
s e x u a l ly d e v i a n t p a t i e n t t o g e n e r a t e neo-sexual i t ies i n
a n e f f o r t t o c o n s t r u c t a s e lf , a l b e i t a s e l f a n d a s e x u a l i t y
t h a t is f e l t t o b e f r a g m e n t a r y , d e f e n s i v e , a n d u n r e a l .
C h a s s e g u e t - S m i r g e l ( 1 9 8 4 ) h a s d e s c r i b e d t h e p e r v e r s e
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72
Reverie and Interpretation
Clinical Illustration: Through the Looking Glass
M s . A . b e g a n o u r f ir s t s e s s i o n b y t e l l i n g m e t h a t s h e h a d
d e c i d e d t o c o n s u l t w i t h m e b e c a u s e h e r m a r r i a g e w a s a
" s h a m . " S h e a n d h e r h u s b a n d h a d n o t h a d s e x f o r
m o r e t h a n f ive y e a r s . T h e p a t i e n t t o l d m e t h a t w h a t d i s
t u r b e d h e r m o s t w a s t h a t s h e r e c e n t l y r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e
s i t u a t i o n d i d n o t b o t h e r h e r . I n t h e p a s t , e v e r y t h i n g
m a t t e r e d t e r r ib l y , b u t n o w t h a t s h e w a s m i d d l e - a g e d
( s h e w a s 4 3 y e a rs o l d ) , n o t h i n g s e e m e d t o m a t t e r . H e r
t w o c h i l d r e n w e r e i n t h e i r l a t e t e e n s a n d h a d r e c e n d y
le ft h o m e f o r c o l l e g e . I t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t a l t h o u g h
M s . A . w a s n o t l y i n g t o m e d u r i n g o u r i n i t i a l s e v e r a l
m e e t i n g s , t h e r e w a s m u c h m o r e to t h e s t o r y o f w h y s h e
w a s s e e k i n g a n a l y s is t h a n s h e w a s r e v e a l i n g . T h i s , o f
c o u r s e , is a lw a y s t h e c a s e , b u t I h a d t h e d i s t i n c t i m p r e s
s i o n t h a t I w a s b e i n g k e p t i n t h e d a r k a b o u t r a t h e r s p e
c if ic i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r s a b o u t w h i c h M s . A . w a s
c o n s c i o u s l y a w a r e . T h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t b e i n g
w i t h h e r t h a t r e m i n d e d m e o f w a t c h i n g ( o r i n f a n ta s y ,
b e i n g i n ) a d e t e c t i v e m o v i e . I n p a r t i c u l a r , I t h o u g h t o f
J a c k N i c h o l s o n a n d F a y e D u n a w a y i n
Chinatown
a n d
s e v e r a l m o v i e s w i t h H u m p h r e y B o g a r t a n d L a u r e n
B a c a l l , t h e n a m e s o f w h i c h I c o u l d n o t r e m e m b e r . I w a s
i n t r i g u e d b y M s . A . H e r c h o i c e o f w o r d s w a s i m a g i n a
t iv e a n d h e r w a y o f s p e a k i n g h a d a v i ta l it y t h a t w e r e a t
o d d s w i t h h e r d e s c r i p t i o n o f h e r s e l f a s a l i fe le ss , m i d
d l e - a g e d w o m a n .
I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e f i r s t y e a r o f a n a l y s i s , M s . A . t o l d
m e a b o u t h e r c h i l d h o o d i n S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n ia . H e r
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The Perverse Subject of Analysis
73
f a t h e r w a s a r e a l e s t a t e d e v e l o p e r w h o q u i c k l y b e c a m e
v e r y w e a l t h y , a n d t h e n w a s f o r c e d i n t o b a n k r u p t c y a s a
r e s u l t o f a s e r i e s o f e v e n t s t h a t w e r e n o t c l e a r t o M s . A .
T h e p a t i e n t ' s f a t h e r n e v e r l e t t h e f a c t o f h i s p a s t b a n k
r u p t c y b e k n o w n t o f r i e n d s a n d c o l l e a g u e s a n d k e p t u p
a p p e a r a n c e s f o r a p e r i o d o f m o r e t h a n a d e c a d e w h i l e
h e a c c u m u l a t e d a n e v e n l a r g e r r e a l e s t a t e " e m p i r e "
t h a n t h e o n e h e h a d p r e v i o u s ly
he ld .
F o l l o w i n g t h e r e
b u i l d i n g o f h i s e m p i r e , m o s t o f M s . A . ' s f a t h e r ' s friends,
c l ie n t s , a n d b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s w e r e p e o p l e a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h t h e f i l m i n d u s t r y . O n c e o r t w ic e a m o n t h , t h e
p a t i e n t ' s p a r e n t s w o u l d h o l d l a r g e p a r t i e s a t t h e i r h o m e ,
e v e n t s t h a t c o n s t i t u t e d t h e c e n t e r o f t h e l i f e o f t h e f a m
ily . B o t h p a r e n t s s e e m e d c o n t i n u a l l y t o b e " c o n s u m e d " :
M s . A . ' s m o t h e r d e v o t e d h e r s e l f t o t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r
t h e n e x t p a r t y w h i l e t h e p a t i e n t ' s f a t h e r w o r k e d w i t h
" f e v e r i s h i n t e n s i t y " o n h i s n e x t r e a l e s t a t e d e a l .
A t t h e s e s o c i a l e v e n t s a t t h e p a t i e n t ' s f a m i l y ' s
h o m e , t h e r e w a s a g r e a t d e a l o f h e a v y d r i n k i n g a n d d r u g
t a k i n g . C r o s s d r e s s i n g a n d f l a u n t i n g o f " o u t r a g e o u s
h o m o s e x u a l i t y " b y s o m e o f t h e g u e s t s s t o o d o u t viv id ly
i n t h e p a t i e n t ' s m e m o r y . M s . A . a t t e n d e d m o s t o f t h e s e
p a r t i e s a n d s a i d t h a t w h e n s h e w a s n o t p r e t e n d i n g t o b e
a n a d u l t , s h e f e l t i n v i s i b l e ( " a s if t h e r e w e r e n ' t a c h i l d
p r e s e n t " ) . A t tim es, s h e f e l t l i k e a p r o p i n o n e o r
a n o t h e r o f t h e g u e s t s ' d i s p l a y s o f h i s o r h e r " s e n s i t iv i t y
t o c h i l d r e n . " A t o t h e r tim es, s h e w a s t r e a t e d a s a " m o c k
a d u l t " i n s u c h a w a y t h a t s h e f e lt t h a t s h e w a s t h e b r u n t
o f a j o k e , t h e p o i n t o f w h i c h s h e d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d .
V e r y o f t e n s h e f e l t t e r r i b l y b o r e d b y t h e " s h e e r p r e d i c t -
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74
Reverie and Interpretation
a b i l i t y o f i t a ll : e v e r y o n e c o u l d b e c o u n t e d o n t o b e p e r -
f e c d y i n r o l e . "
A l t h o u g h t h e p a t i e n t d i d n o t r e m e m b e r o b s e r v i n g
o r b e i n g t h e o b j e c t o f o v e r t s e x u a l b e h a v i o r , s h e s a i d
t h a t s h e f e lt t h a t t h e r e w a s " f a r t o o m u c h k i s s i n g g o i n g
o n . " M s . A . s a i d t h a t s h e l e a r n e d o v e r t i m e t h a t t h i s t y p e
o f k i s s i n g w a s a " s o c i a l a f f e c t a t i o n . " N o n e t h e l e s s , it f e l t
" y u ck y " t o h e r . T h e p a t i e n t d e s c r i b e d t h e s e p a r t i e s w i t h
a t h i n l y d i s g u i s e d s e n s e o f p r i d e . S h e w o u l d m e n t i o n ,
i n p a s s i n g , n a m e s o f f a m o u s film c e l e b r i t i e s w h o w e r e
r e g u l a r g u e s t s a t t h e p a r t i e s .
T h e i m a g e o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s p a r e n t s t h a t e m e r g e d
f r o m M s . A . ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f h e r c h i l d h o o d w a s o n e i n
w h i c h t h e r e s e e m e d t o b e a c o u p l e s i n g l e - m i n d e d l y
t o g e t h e r i n t h e p a r t n e r s h i p o f c r e a t i n g a n i l l u s i o n o f
b e i n g a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f a n " i n c r o w d " o f w e a l t h y ,
g l a m o r o u s p e o p l e , w h i l e h a v i n g a l m o s t n o t h i n g e l s e t o
d o w i t h o n e a n o t h e r o r w i t h t h e i r c h i l d r e n . T h e
p a t i e n t ' s m o t h e r s u f fe r e d f r o m c h r o n i c i n s o m n i a a n d
o t h e r " n e r v o u s c o n d i t i o n s . " I n o r d e r n o t t o d i s t u r b t h e
p a t i e n t ' s f a t h e r , s h e w o u l d r e a d d u r i n g t h e n i g h t i n t h e
g u e s t b e d r o o m . I t w a s n o t o p e n l y a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t
t h e p a r e n t s k e p t s e p a r a t e b e d r o o m s f o r v i r t u a l ly t h e
e n t i r e t y o f t h e i r m a r r i a g e . I n f a c t , a t t h e o u t s e t o f a n a l y
s is , M s . A . h e r s e l f w a s n o t f ul l y c o n s c i o u s o f h e r s u s p i
c i o n t h a t h e r m o t h e r ' s " i n s o m n i a " w a s v e r y l ik e ly a r u s e
f o r h e r
pa r e n t s '
m a i n t a i n i n g s e p a r a t e b e d r o o m s .
A g o o d d e a l o f t h e m a n i f e s t c o n t e n t o f t h e first
year-and-a-half
o f a n a l y s i s i n v o l v e d t h e e l a b o r a t i o n o f a
n a r r a t i v e o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s l i f e, p a r t i c u l a r l y h e r c h i l d -
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Trie
Perverse
Subject of Analysis
75
h o o d . M s . A . s p o k e e n t e r t a i n i n g l y , b u t l e f t m e v e r y l i t t l e
r o o m t o c o m m e n t o n w h a t s h e w a s s a y i n g . T h e r e w e r e
p r a c t i c a l l y n o p e r i o d s o f s i l e n c e l a s t i n g l o n g e r t h a n a
f ew s e c o n d s . T h e p a t i e n t w a s a p o l o g e t i c a b o u t t h e f a c t
t h a t s h e w a s u n a b l e t o r e m e m b e r h e r d r e a m s .
M s . A . w a s n o t a b e a u t i f u l w o m a n i n a c o n v e n
tional s e n s e , b u t t h e r e w a s a c o m p e l l i n g ,
s u b d e
s e x u a l
i t y i n a l m o s t e v e r y t h i n g s h e s a i d a n d d i d . I l o o k e d
f o r w a r d t o s e e i n g h e r e a c h d a y a n d e n j o y e d h e a r i n g
h e r s t o r i e s . T h e p a t i e n t m e t m e i n t h e w a i t i n g r o o m
w i t h a w a r m s m i l e t h a t c o n v e y e d t h e f e e l i n g t h a t s h e
w a s g l a d t o s e e m e , b u t w a s b y n o m e a n s d e s p e r a t e l y
d e p e n d e n t o n m e . M s A . h a d a y o u t h f u l i n d e p e n d e n c e
a b o u t h e r t h a t s e e m e d t o i n v i te m e t o j o i n h e r i n h e r
r e b e l l i o u s n e s s . S h e g a v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t s h e j u s t
h a p p e n e d t o b e i n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d a n d d e c i d e d t o
d r o p b y . A t t h e s a m e time, t h e p a t i e n t a d h e r e d t o t h e
f o r m a t o f t h e a n a l y t i c f r a m e , r a r e l y b e i n g l a t e , p a y i n g
p u n c t u a l l y , a n d a d d r e s s i n g m e a s " D r . O g d e n " w h e n o n
t h e r a r e o c c a s i o n s h e l ef t a t e l e p h o n e m e s s a g e .
P e r s i s t e n t f a n t a s i e s i n c l u d e d t h e i d e a o f m y h a v i n g
a s e r i o u s p h y s i c a l i l l n e s s t h e n a t u r e o f w h i c h s h e fe l t I
w a s h i d i n g f r o m h e r . T h e r e w e r e a l s o f e a r s o f b r e a c h e s
o f c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y , f o r i n s t a n c e , a n x i e t y t h a t I w o u l d t a l k
w i t h h e r h u s b a n d i f h e w e r e t o a n g r i l y a c c u s e m e o f
e n g a g i n g i n a n e n d l e s s a n a l y s is f o r m y o w n b e n e f i t o r
o f e n c o u r a g i n g t h e p a t i e n t t o l e a v e h i m . T h e s e f a n ta
s ie s w e r e d i s c u s s e d a t l e n g t h i n c l u d i n g t h e i d e a t h a t I
w a s n o t w h a t I a p p e a r e d t o b e a n d t h e i d e a t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t m i g h t f ee l t h a t s h e w a s d e c e i v i n g m e i n s o m e
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76 i?everie
and Interpretation
w ay . M o r e o v e r , t h e e x c i t e m e n t o f s u c h a b a t d e o v e r t h e
p a t i e n t w a s d i s c u s s e d a s w e l l a s t h e i d e a o f m y w i s h i n g
t o s t e a l t h e p a t i e n t a w a y f r o m h e r h u s b a n d . H o w e v e r ,
t h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s s e e m e d m e c h a n i c a l t o m e . T h e
f l a tn e s s o f t h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s
r e s p o n s e t o t h e m r e f l e c t e d a m o r e g e n e r a l p a u c i t y o f
r e f l e c t i v e t h o u g h t i n t h e a n a ly s i s . T h e p a t i e n t ' s c l e v e r
n e s s a n d t a l e n t i n t e l l i n g a n i n t e r e s t i n g s t o r y s e e m e d t o
s e r v e a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r s p o n t a n e o u s , c r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g .
( I s i m i l a r l y f e l t t h e n e e d t o b e c l e v e r a n d n o t i c e d t h a t I
w o u l d o c c a s i o n a l l y s u p p l y t h e n a m e o f a b o o k o r a
p o e m t h a t t h e p a t i e n t h a d m o m e n t a r i l y f o r g o t t e n . )
I a t t e m p t e d t o a t t e n d t o m y o w n " r e v e r i e s " ( B i o n ,
1 9 6 2 a ) d u r i n g t h e s e s s io n s s i n c e I c o n s i d e r th i s a s p e c t
o f t h e a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e t o b e i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e
( O g d e n 1 9 8 9 b , 1 9 9 4 a , b , c , d ) . D u r i n g o n e o f t h e s e
m e e t i n g s , t h e p a t i e n t w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t h a v i n g w a t c h e d
a t e l e v is i o n p r o g r a m w i t h h e r h u s b a n d t h e previous
n i g h t . S h e d e s c r i b e d h o w t h e t w o o f t h e m h a d s a t n e x t
t o o n e a n o t h e r o n t h e i r
l iving
r o o m c o u c h i n a w a y t h a t
h a d f e l t t o h e r l i k e t w o s t r a n g e r s o n a s u b w a y t r a i n s i t
t i n g n e x t t o o n e a n o t h e r w i t h o u t t h e s l i g h t e s t f e e l i n g o f
c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m . A s M s . A . w a s t a l k i n g I
f o u n d m y s e l f t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e f ac t t h a t t h e a t t e n d a n t
i n t h e p a r k i n g l o t i m m e d i a t e l y n e x t t o m y o ff ic e b u i l d
i n g h a d b e g u n m a k i n g p r e p a r a t i o n s t o o p e n a c a r w a s h
i n t h e p a r k i n g l o t . H e h a d r e c e n d y p u r c h a s e d a c o m
m e r c i a l v a c u u m c l e a n e r t h a t m a d e a d e a f e n i n g n o i s e
w h e n i t w a s b e i n g u s e d . H i s g i r l f r i e n d , w h o m I f o u n d t o
b e b r a s s y a n d a b r a s i v e , w a s h e l p i n g w i t h t h e p r o j e c t . I
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The
Perverse
Subject o f Ana lysis
77
i m a g i n e d c a l l i n g C i t y H a l l t o f il e a c o m p l a i n t a b o u t v io
l a t io n s o f z o n i n g o r d i n a n c e s c o n c e r n i n g n o i s e . W e r e
t h e r e s u c h o r d i n a n c e s ? H o w c o u l d t h e r e n o t b e ? Is
t h e r e n o b o d y a t C i ty H a l l w i t h w h o m I c o u l d d i s c u s s
t h is ? T h e r e m u s t b e s o m e k i n d o f a p p e a l s p r o c e s s . I
b e c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y a n x i o u s a s I i m a g i n e d t h i s u n r e a
s o n a b l e , u n a p p r o a c h a b l e c o u p l e a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c
m a z e a t C i t y H a l l w i t h n o b o d y a t t h e c e n t e r o f i t.
A s I e m e r g e d from t h i s i n c r e a s i n g l y r u m i n a t i v e s e t
o f t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s , I w a s s t r u c k b y t h e
i n t e n s i t y o f t h e a n x i e t y t h a t I w a s f e e l i n g .
2
I w o n d e r e d
a b o u t t h e p a r a l l e l s b e t w e e n t h e c o u p l e i n t h e p a r k i n g
l o t a n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s p a r e n t s , e a c h p a i r w i t h t h e i r p l a n s
t h a t n e i t h e r t h e p a t i e n t n o r I h a d t h e p o w e r t o i n f lu
e n c e . I h y p o t h e s i z e d t h a t t h e i d e a o f t h e f r i g h t e n i n g ,
d i s t u r b i n g n o i s e o f t h e v a c u u m c l e a n e r m i g h t b e r e l a t e d
t o a f a n t as y o f n o i s e c o m i n g f r o m t h e p a r e n t s ' bed
r o o m , t h e d i s t u r b i n g n o i s e o f a n i n t e r c o u r s e t h a t w a s
b o t h e m p t y (a v a c u u m ) a n d c o n s u m i n g ( s u c k i n g i n t o i t
2. Since i t req uir es a con sider able span of t ime to desc ribe th e
experience of a reverie, the rhythm of the analysis is not well
rep
resented in my efforts at describing i t in a l inear fashion. The
thoughts, feelings, and sensations involved in a reverie may occupy
only a few m om ents . C onsequ ent ly, i t is inaccu rate to thin k ofthe
analyst 's use of his reveries as reflecting a detached, self-absorbed,
inattentive psychological state. On the contrary, the analyst 's at ten-
tiveness to his own affective state as generated in the context of the
analytic intersubjectivity contributes to a feeling of intense emo
tional immediacy and a sense of the analyst 's resonance with the
pa t ien t ' s unconsc ious exper ience in the present moment .
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t h e p a t i e n t ' s i n t e r n a l o b j e c t w o r l d ) . M y h y p o t h e s e s c o n
c e r n i n g t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e
r e v e r i e a n d m y e x p e r i e n c e i n b e i n g w i t h t h e p a t i e n t
s e e m e d s t r a i n e d a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l i z e d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e
r e v e r i e l ef t m e f e e l i n g e x t r e m e l y u n e a s y a n d a l e r t e d m e
t o t h e f a c t t h a t I w a s f e e l i n g d i s t u r b e d b y s o m e t h i n g t h a t
w a s o c c u r r i n g b e t w e e n t h e p a t i e n t a n d m e .
I n t h e p e r i o d o f m o n t h s f o l l o w i n g t h e s e s s i o n j u s t
d e s c r i b e d , I v e r y g r a d u a l l y b e g a n to r e c o g n i z e a s e n s e
o f p r i d e t h a t I h a d b e g u n t o t a k e i n t h e i d e a t h a t o t h e r
p e o p l e m i g h t k n o w t h a t I w a s M s . A . ' s a n a l y s t . I b o t h
t o o k p l e a s u r e in t h i s f a n ta s y a n d f e l t d e e p l y a s h a m e d o f
i t ( a n d m a n a g e d t o k e e p i t o u t o f c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s
a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y ) . M s . A . w o r e a g r e a t m a n y d i f f e r e n t
h a t s , c o a t s , a n d s c a r v e s a n d I f o u n d m y s e l f f e e l i n g
i n t e r e s t e d i n w h a t s h e w o u l d b e w e a r i n g t o e a c h d a y ' s
s e s s i o n . A s s h e e n t e r e d t h e o f fi ce , s h e w o u l d la y h e r
c o a t o n t h e f l o o r n e x t t o t h e c o u c h ( a l m o s t a t m y f e e t ) .
T h e d e s i g n e r l a b e l w o u l d o f t e n b e i n v i e w a n d I w o u l d
h a v e t o s t r a i n t o a t t e m p t t o r e a d i t ( u p s i d e d o w n ) . ( I
s h o u l d e m p h a s i z e t h a t t h e c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e
3
feel-
3. I use th e term countertransference to refe r to th e analy st 's
exper ience of and cont r ibut ion to the
transference-countertrans-
feren ce. As discussed above, the transference-countertransference
is un de rst oo d as an uncon scious intersubject ive con struct ion
experienced separately and individually by analyst and analysand. I
do not conceive of t ransference and countert ransference as sepa
rable psychological enti t ies that arise independently of, or in
response to one another, but as aspects of a single intersubjective
totali ty (Loewald 1986, Ogden 1994a, d).
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The Perverse Subject of Analysis
79
i n g s t h a t I a m d e s c r i b i n g c o m p r i s e d a s i l e n t b a c k
g r o u n d t h a t h a d n o t y e t b e c o m e a f o c u s o f c o n s c i o u s
a n a l y s i s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e s e a s p e c t s o f t h e a n a l y s i s
h a d n o t y e t b e c o m e " a n a l y t i c o b j e c t s " [ B i o n 1 9 6 2 a ,
G r e e n 1 9 7 5 , O g d e n 1 9 9 4 a , b , c ] , i . e . , e l e m e n t s o f i n t e r
s u b j e c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e t h a t w e r e u t i l i z a b l e i n t h e p r o
c e s s o f g e n e r a t i n g a n a l y t i c m e a n i n g . I n s t e a d , th i s s e t o f
t h o u g h t s , f e e l in g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s r e m a i n e d a p a r t o f a
l a r g e l y u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e field i n w h i c h I w a s ,
a t t h a t j u n c t u r e , m o r e p a r t i c i p a n t t h a n o b s e r v e r . )
I t is o f t e n d i f f ic u l t t o s a y w h a t c o n t r i b u t e s t o a
s h if t i n t h e b a l a n c e o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l - i n t e r p e r s o n a l
f o r c e s t h a t m a k e s s u c h b a c k g r o u n d e x p e r i e n c e a va il
a b l e f o r c o n s c i o u s u s e a s a n a l y t i c d a t a . I n t h e p h a s e o f
w o r k u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n , i t w a s i n p a r t a f u r t h e r s e t o f
a n x i e t y - l a d e n r e v e r i e s ( i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e r e v e r i e s
p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d ) t h a t a l l o w e d a s p e c t s o f h e r e t o
f o r e l a rg e l y u n c o n s c i o u s b a c k g r o u n d e x p e r i e n c e t o
b e g i n t o b e t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o " a n a l y t i c o b j e c t s . " I n i
t ia l l y , m y a n x i e t y w a s d i f f u s e a n d c e n t e r e d o n t h e f e e l
i n g t h a t I w o u l d b e f o r g e t f u l . I e x p e r i e n c e d a s e n s e o f
p r e s s u r e t o r e m e m b e r t o s e n d a c a r d t o a r e l a t i v e
w h o s e b i r t h d a y w a s a p p r o a c h i n g . I h a d c h a n g e d a
p a t i e n t ' s a p p o i n t m e n t t i m e a n d f e lt a n x i o u s t h a t I
w o u l d n o t b e t h e r e a t t h e c o r r e c t t i m e . I n o t i c e d t h a t
t h e s e p a s s i n g t h o u g h t s d u r i n g t h e s e s s i o n w i t h M s . A .
w e r e r e l a t e d t o t h e f e e l i n g t h a t t h e r e w e r e " h o l e s " i n
m y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . I w o n d e r e d w h a t i t w a s t h a t I w a s
b l i n d i n g m y s e l f t o i n t h e w o r k w i t h M s . A . T h e a n x i e t y
w a s n o w r e a l a n d i m m e d i a t e , a l t h o u g h n o n - s p e c i f i c : i t s
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80
Reverie
and Interpretation
m e a n i n g i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e l e a d i n g u n c o n s c i o u s t r a n s
f e r e n c e a n x i e t i e s w a s s ti l l u n c l e a r t o m e . H o w e v e r , a
s h i f t i n t h e q u a l i t y o f m y s e l f - a w a r e n e s s i n t h e t r a n s f e r -
e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e w a s t a k i n g p l a c e .
O v e r t h e s u c c e e d i n g w e e k s o f a n a ly s is , m y a n x i e t y
t o o k o n i n c r e a s i n g s p ec if ic it y . I b e g a n t o e x p e r i e n c e
a n x i e t y j u s t b e f o r e t h e m e e t i n g s w i t h M s . A . , f e e l i n g
e x t r e m e l y a w k w a r d a n d s e l f - co n s c io u s . M e e t i n g h e r i n
t h e w a i t i n g r o o m fe l t l i k e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a d a t e . M s .
A . s e e m e d n o t t o b e e x p e r i e n c i n g a n x i e t y o f t h i s s o r t
a n d , if a n y t h i n g , a p p e a r e d t o b e a ll t h e m o r e g r a c e f u l
a n d f l u i d i n h e r w a y o f c a r r y i n g h e r s e l f , s p e a k i n g , d r e s s
i n g , a n d so o n .
J
I t w a s d u r i n g t h is p e r i o d o f a n a l y s is t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t p r e s e n t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g d r e a m :
A n o l d m a n w a s s i t t i n g i n h i s s t u d y r e a d i n g . I t w a s
l i k e y o u r o f f ic e , b u t i t w a s n ' t a c t u a l l y y o u r o f f i c e . I t
w a s d a r k a n d h a d a d a n k , s e e d y f e e l i n g t o i t. P e o
p l e w e r e p e e r i n g t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w a t h i m . I w a s
o n e o f t h e m . I t w a s t e r r ib l y i m p o r t a n t t o b e p e r
f e c t l y s t il l s o a s n o t t o b e c a u g h t . I w a s a f r a i d I
w o u l d p e e . H e s e e m e d li k e a d e p r e s s e d , d i r ty o l d
m a n . I t h o u g h t h e w a s o n l y p r e t e n d i n g t o r e a d o r
f o r c i n g h i m s e l f t o r e a d . I a l s o h a d t h e f e e l i n g t h a t
h e w a s t r y i n g t o t u r n h i m s e l f o n s e x u a l l y b y r e a d
i n g , b u t i t w a s n ' t w o r k i n g . I ' m n o t s u r e if I t h o u g h t
t h i s i n t h e d r e a m o r a s I w a s w a k i n g u p , b u t i t f e l t
a s i f h e k n e w h o w b a d l y I n e e d e d t o p e e .
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a n d g u i l t a t h a v i n g b e e n i n c l u d e d in a n e r o t i z e d d u e t
w i t h M s . A . I n t h e i n s t a n t o f r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t I a m
d e s c r i b i n g , t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f p l a y i n g a r o l e i n t h i s
s c e n e b e c a m e t r a n s f o r m e d f r o m a n e x p e r i e n c e i n
w h i c h I h a d f e l t l i k e a n a d u l t i n t o a n e x p e r i e n c e o f
m y s e l f a s c a u g h t i n t h e a c t o f b e i n g a s e l f - d e c e i v i n g
i n f a n t o r c h i l d . M y i m m a t u r i t y h a d b e e n u n m a s k e d . I
f e l t o u t s i d e o f a d u l t s e x u a l i t y w i t h m y n o s e p r e s s e d
a g a i n s t t h e g l a s s a s r e p r e s e n t e d in t h e d r e a m b y t h e
p a t i e n t ' s p e e r i n g t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w i n t h e d r e a m
w h i l e e x p e r i e n c i n g a n i n f a n t i l e ( u r i n a r y ) f o r m o f s e x
u a l e x c i t e m e n t .
A t t h i s j u n c t u r e , I b e g a n t o b e a b l e t o t a l k t o
m y s e l f i n a f u l l e r w a y a b o u t m y e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e
t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e . I t s e e m e d t h a t a
s h a r e d u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s t r u c t i o n h a d b e e n c r e a t e d i n
t h e a n a ly s i s t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t h a d b e e n g iv
i n g s h a p e t o i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t s o f h e r i n t e r n a l o b j e c t
w o r l d . I t a p p e a r e d t h a t t h e i n t e n s e e m b a r r a s s m e n t
t h a t I w a s f e e l i n g r e p r e s e n t e d a d i s a v o w e d a n d p r o
j e c t e d v e r s i o n o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s h u m i l i a t i o n a t finding
h e r s e l f t o b e a n i n f a n t i l e o n l o o k e r i n r e l a t i o n t o h e r
p a r e n t s ' ( d e g r a d e d ) i n t e r c o u r s e ( w h i c h w a s i n p a r t
e q u a t e d w i t h " t h e p a r t i e s " ) . ( L e s s c o n s c i o u s l y , t h e p a r
e n t s w e r e f e l t t o b e e x c i t e d l y o b s e r v i n g h e r e x c i t e
m e n t . ) I h a d e x p e r i e n c e d b o t h t h e i l l u s i o n / d e l u s i o n
o f b e i n g a p a r t i c i p a n t i n t h e p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e a n d
t h e h u m i l i a t i o n o f b e i n g r e v e a l e d t o b e
only an infant
w h o w a s e x c i t e d l y p r e t e n d i n g t o b e p a r t o f t h e p r i m a l
s c e n e .
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The
Perverse
Subject of Analysis
83
M s . A . a n d I i n t h e ( a s y m m e t r i c a l l y ) s h a r e d e x p e r i
e n c e o f t h i s t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e d r a m a ,
h a d e a c h i n o u r o w n w a y i n s i s t e d t h a t w e w e r e n o t t h e
o u t s i d e r t o t h e p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e , b u t w e r e " r e a ll y "
a d u l t s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n i t. A t t h i s p o i n t , I b e g a n t o
u n d e r s t a n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m a s r e f l e c t in g a n a s p e c t
o f M s . A . ' s i n t e r n a l o b j e c t w o r l d a b o u t w h i c h I h a d
b e e n o n l y s u b l i m i n a l l y a w a r e : t h e i m a g e o f t h e i n t e r
c o u r s e i n t h e d r e a m w a s o f a d e a d i n t e r c o u r s e . T h e o l d
m a n ( s i m u l t a n e o u s l y r e p r e s e n t i n g m e , t h e p a t i e n t ' s
i n t e r n a l w o r l d , a n d t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p ) w a s
d e p r e s s e d a n d l o n e ly , g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e m o t i o n s o f
r e a d i n g o r p e r h a p s a t t e m p t i n g t o e s c a p e h i s d e p r e s s i o n
b y m e a n s o f s o li ta r y , e m p t y s e x u a l e x c i t e m e n t .
A s I " e m e r g e d " f r o m m y r e v e r i e a n d s u b s e q u e n t
t h o u g h t s , I
a t t e m p t e d
t o r e - f o c u s o n w h a t t h e p a t i e n t
w a s s a y i n g . O f c o u r s e , I w a s n o t r e t u r n i n g t o "a p l a c e
w h e r e w e h a d l e ft o ff ," b u t t o a " p l a c e " t h a t h a d n o t
p r e v i o u s l y e x i s t e d . M s . A . a t first s p o k e a b o u t h e r
d r e a m b y c o n n e c t i n g h e r p e r e n n i a l f e a r s o f m y b e i n g
i ll w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t i n t h e d r e a m , t h e i l l n e s s w a s a
d e p r e s s i o n . S h e t h e n s a id t h a t t h e d r e a m r e m i n d e d h e r
o f s o m e t h i n g t h a t h a d h a p p e n e d i n t h e w a i t i n g r o o m a t
t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s e s s io n . S h e t o l d m e t h a t s h e
l o o k e d a t m e t o s e e i f I w a s tired o r s i c k b y c h e c k i n g t o
s e e i f I h a d d a r k c i rc l e s u n d e r m y e y e s . S h e h a d h o p e d
t h a t I h a d n o t s e e n h e r l o o k i n g a t m e " i n t h a t w a y. "
T h e p a t i e n t t h e n a b r u p d y c h a n g e d t h e t o p i c . I
a s k e d h e r if s h e h a d f e l t a n x i o u s w h e n s h e c u t h e r s e l f
o ff i n t h e m i d d l e o f h e r o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d f e e l i n g s a b o u t
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w h a t s h e h a d o b s e r v e d i n t h e w a i t i n g r o o m . S h e s a i d , " I
f e e l a l l o v e r t h e p l a c e . I t f e lt d a n g e r o u s t o b e s o s p e c i f i c
a b o u t l o o k i n g a t y o u . " ( I t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t w a s u n c o n s c i o u s l y a t t e m p t i n g [ i n a n a n x i o u s
a n d a m b i v a l e n t w a y ] t o t a lk t o m e a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s o f
t h e e x c i t i n g d r a m a o f l o o k i n g a n d b e i n g l o o k e d a t t h a t
h a d b e e n e n a c t e d i n t h e a n a l y s i s a n d w h i c h w e r e b e i n g
d e p i c t e d i n t h e d r e a m . )
I s a i d t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t M s . A . h a d e x p e r i e n c e d
h e r s e l f a s b e i n g i n m o r e t h a n o n e p l a c e a t t h e s a m e
t i m e i n t h e d r e a m a n d p e r h a p s a l s o i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
w i t h m e . A l t h o u g h s h e h a d i n p a r t e x p e r i e n c e d h e r s e l f
a s o n e o f t h e p e o p l e l o o k i n g t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w , i t
s e e m e d t o m e t h a t s h e w a s a l s o i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e d i r t y
o l d m a n i n m y o f fi ce a n d w a s o b s e r v i n g h i m i n t h e a c t
o f e x c i t e d l y w a t c h i n g h e r . ( T h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n
t h e o l d m a n a n d m e i n t h e d r e a m w a s s o a p p a r e n t t h a t
I d i d n o t f e e l i t n e c e s s a r y t o s p e l l i t o u t . )
I s a i d t o M s . A . t h a t s h e h a d l i n k e d t h e d r e a m t o
h e r h a v i n g s t o l e n a l o o k a t m e i n t h e w a i t i n g r o o m . I
t o l d h e r t h a t 1 t h o u g h t t h a t f o r s o m e t i m e , s h e h a d
b o t h w a n t e d m e to u n d e r s t a n d a n d w a s a f r a i d t h a t I
w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f a p a r t i c u l a r t y p e
o f s e c r e t i v e l o o k i n g t h a t f e lt s h a m e f u l t o h e r . I s a i d t h a t
I t h o u g h t t h a t s h e w a s t r y i n g t o s h o w m e in t h e d r e a m
t h a t s h e f e l t t h a t a n a s p e c t o f o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p i n v o l v e d
a k i n d o f e x c i t e m e n t t h a t w a s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e e x p e
r i e n c e o f s e c r e t ly l o o k i n g a n d b e i n g c a u g h t i n t h e a c t
o f e x c i t e d l y w a t c h i n g . ( I c h o s e n o t t o b e m o r e s p e c i f ic
a t t h i s m o m e n t a b o u t t h e e n a c t m e n t s i n t h e a n a l y t i c
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The Perverse Subject of Ana lysis
85
s e t t i n g i n o r d e r n o t t o e n t e r i n t o a n o t h e r f o r m o f
sado
m a s o c h i s t i c a c t iv ity .) T h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n l e d t o a p a l p a
b l e s e n s e o f r e l i e f o n t h e p a r t o f b o t h t h e p a t i e n t a n d
m y s e l f . M s . A . w a s s i l e n t f o r s e v e r a l m i n u t e s a f t e r I
m a d e m y c o m m e n t s ( t h e first p e r i o d o f e x t e n d e d
s i l e n c e t h a t h a d o c c u r r e d i n t h e a n a ly s i s ) . D u r i n g t h e
s i l e n c e , I f e l t r e l a x e d i n a w a y t h a t I h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l y
f e l t w i t h M s . A .
T h e p a t i e n t t h e n t o l d m e t h a t w h a t I h a d s a i d h a d
m a d e h e r f ee l " u n d e r s t o o d , b u t n o t e x p o s e d , i f t h a t d i s
tinction m a k e s s e n s e . " S h e s a i d s h e w o u l d h a v e
e x p e c t e d to h a v e f e l t p a i n f u l ly e m b a r r a s s e d b y h a v i n g
t h i s a s p e c t o f h e r s p o k e n a b o u t b y m e . S h e w a s s i l e n t
f o r t h e r e m a i n i n g f e w m i n u t e s o f t h e s e s s i o n .
M s . A . b e g a n t h e f o l l o w i n g m e e t i n g b y s a y i n g t h a t
s h e h a d h a d a d r e a m t h e p r e v i o u s n i g h t . I n i t s h e w a s
h e r s e l f a s a c h i l d . S h e w o k e u p i n t h e d r e a m t o find
t h a t s h e h a d p o l i o ( a d i s e a s e a b o u t w h i c h s h e h a d b e e n
q u i t e p h o b i c f r o m t h e t i m e s h e w a s a s m a l l c h i l d ) . O n
w a k i n g ( i n t h e d r e a m ) s h e c o u l d n o t m o v e h e r le g s ,
n o r d i d s h e h a v e a n y f e e l i n g i n t h e m . S h e w a s b o t h
e x t r e m e l y f r i g h t e n e d a n d s u r p r i s i n g l y c a l m . S h e i m a g
i n e d t h a t s h e w o u l d n e v e r a g a i n b e a b l e t o m o v e h e r
l e g s o r h a v e s e n s a t i o n i n t h e m .
T h e p a t i e n t s a i d t h a t s h e f e lt t h e d r e a m w a s a
r e s p o n s e t o w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d in o u r s e s s i o n t h e p r e
v i o u s d a y . S h e s a i d t h a t t h e d r e a m h a d b e e n q u i e t i n a
w a y t h a t r e m i n d e d h e r o f t h e s i l e n c e s i n o u r m e e t i n g .
T h e f e e l i n g i n t h e d r e a m w a s a l s o a v e r y o d d c o m b i n a
t i o n o f t e r r o r a n d re l i e f c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t
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t h e t h i n g t h a t s h e h a d m o s t f e a r e d h a d finally h a p
p e n e d . I t h o u g h t o f W i n n i c o t t ' s ( 1 9 7 4 ) n o t i o n t h a t t h e
d r e a d e d e v e n t ( t h e f e a r o f b r e a k d o w n ) is a n e v e n t t h a t
h a s a l r e a d y o c c u r r e d , b u t h a s n o t y e t b e e n e x p e r i
e n c e d . I a l so t h o u g h t , b u t d i d n o t s a y, t h a t t h e p a t i e n t ' s
e m o t i o n a l / s e n s o r y d e a d n e s s ( p a ra ly s is a n d lo ss o f s e n
s a t i o n ) w a s b e g i n n i n g t o b e a c k n o w l e d g e d w i t h o u t
i m m e d i a t e l y b e i n g b u r i e d i n e n t e r t a i n i n g s to r ie s : t h e
s i l e n c e f o r t h e m o m e n t , w a s n o t b e i n g f i l le d w i t h n o i s e .
I t s e e m e d t h a t t h e p a t i e n t w a s e v i d e n c i n g t h e r u d i
m e n t s
o f t h e
c a p a c i t y t o o b s e r v e a n d t o b e a b l e t o t h i n k
a b o u t w h a t s h e w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g , i . e . , h e r s e n s e o f
d e a d n e s s . T h e r e w a s f o r n o w a n a s p e c t o f h e r ( r e p r e
s e n t e d b y t h e s e n s i n g / n o n - p a r a l y z e d p a r t o f h e r i n t h e
d r e a m ) t h a t p a r a d o x i c a l l y c o u l d f ee l t h e d e a d n e s s o f
a n o t h e r a s p e c t o f h e r a n d e x p e r i e n c e t h e l i e ( t h e
n o i s e ) a s a l i e .
I t is n o t p o s s i b l e i n t h e s p a c e o f t h i s c h a p t e r t o
d e s c r i b e i n d e t a i l t h e e v e n t s o f t h e a n a l y s i s o v e r t h e s u c
c e e d i n g m o n t h s a n d y e a r s . T h e t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e s h if t j u s t d e s c r i b e d w a s f o l l o w e d b y a
d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e c e n t r a l r o l e i n t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s e x p e r i e n c e o f
secret iy
l o o k i n g a t m e i n a s e x u
a l l y e x c i t i n g w a y a n d h e r f a n t a s y o f s e c r e t l y , e x c i t e d l y ,
d a n g e r o u s l y o b s e r v i n g m e i n t h e a c t o f e x c i t e d l y
o b s e r v i n g h e r . G r a d u a l l y , i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s p e r i o d o f
w o r k , d e t a i l s o f t h e a c t in g - i n ( f o r e x a m p l e , t h e p a t i e n t ' s
o b s e r v i n g m e o b s e r v e h e r l a y i n g h e r c l o t h e s a t m y f e e t )
w e r e d i s c u s s e d . A g a i n , t h e s e d i s c u s s i o n s w e r e n o t c o n
d u c t e d i n a w a y t h a t s e r v e d t o c r e a t e t h e e f f e c t o f a n
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i n h i g h s c h o o l t o g e t b o y s t o " c h a s e h e r . " " E v e r y w h e r e I
w a s a n d i n e v e r y t h i n g I d i d , I w a s l o o k i n g o u t o f t h e
c o r n e r o f m y e y e t o s e e w h o was l o o k i n g a t m e . "
M s . A . h a d b e e n e x t r e m e l y p r o m i s c u o u s i n a d o l e s
c e n c e . I n h i g h s c h o o l , s h e t h o u g h t o f h e r s e l f a s a " l ib e r
a t e d r e b e l , " b u t i t b e c a m e d i s t r e s s i n g o v e r t i m e t o f e e l
t h a t s h e w a s d r i v e n b y s o m e t h i n g t h a t s h e c o u l d n o t
c o n t r o l . M o r e o v e r , s h e w a s u n a b l e t o s p e a k t o a n y o n e
a b o u t f e e l i n g o u t o f c o n t r o l , w h i c h l e d h e r t o f e e l
i n t e n s e l y l o n e ly . M s . A . a t t e m p t e d t o c o m p e n s a t e f o r
h e r s e n s e o f i s o l a t i o n b y n e v e r b e i n g a l o n e . S h e
r e c a l l e d t a l k i n g w i t h f r i e n d s i n c o l l e g e w e l l i n t o t h e
n i g h t u n t i l t h e y finally f el l a s l e e p , a t w h i c h point* t h e
p a t i e n t w o u l d s l e e p o n t h e i r f l o o r .
D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d o f p r o m i s c u i t y a n d i s o l a t io n , t h e
p a t i e n t w a s a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y u n a b l e t o t h i n k o r t a lk
w i t h h e r s e l f o r w i t h a n y o n e
else
a b o u t w h a t w a s h a p p e n
i n g t o h e r . I n s t e a d , w h a t m i g h t h a v e b e c o m e a t h o u g h t
o r a f e e l i n g w a s e x p e r i e n c e d a s e x t r e m e m u s c u l a r t e n
s i o n i n c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h a v a r i e t y o f p s y c h o s o m a t i c il l
n e s s e s i n c l u d i n g c h r o n i c a m e n o r r h e a , d e r m a t i t i s , a n d
s e v e r e h e a d a c h e s . M s . A . s a i d t h a t s h e w a s u n a b l e t o
r e a d o r c o n c e n t r a t e a n d m a n a g e d h e r s c h o o l w o r k b y
f r e q u e n t l y c h e a t i n g o n e x a m s a n d p l a g i a r i z i n g t h e w o r k
o f o t h e r s t u d e n t s . T h e c h e a t i n g i ts e l f b e c a m e e x c i t i n g .
M s . A . t o o k p l e a s u r e i n " s h o w i n g o f f t o h e r f r i e n d s t h e
r i s k s t h a t s h e w a s t a k i n g .
T h e p a t i e n t s a i d t h a t s h e f e l t a m i x t u r e o f s h a m e
a n d p r i d e a s s h e t o l d m e a b o u t h e r e x p l o i t s . S h e t o l d
m e t h a t w h a t m a d e i t e a sy t o b e s o d a r i n g w a s t h a t , " I
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g e n u i n e l y d i d n o t g i v e a s h i t i f I w e r e c a u g h t . W h a t
c o u l d t h e y d o t o m e ? " M s .
A. ' s
c h o i c e o f w o r d s s u r
p r i s e d m e i n t h a t s h e h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l y u s e d s c a to l o g i
c a l l a n g u a g e . I w o n d e r e d (silentiy) i f s h e i m a g i n e d t h a t
n o t h a v i n g a b o d y t h a t n e e d e d t o e n g a g e i n o r d i n a r y
h u m a n f u n c t i o n s s u c h a s d e f e c a t i o n ( " n o t g i v in g a
s h i t " ) w o u l d p r o v i d e h e r w i t h a w a y o f e s c a p i n g f r o m
t h e e m o t i o n a l a n d b o d i l y t r a p i n w h i c h s h e f e l t c a u g h t
a n d i n d a n g e r o f b e i n g p s y c h i c a l l y k i l l e d . I l a t e r s u g
g e s t e d ( i n s m a l l b i t s o v e r s e v e r a l w e e k s ) t h a t M s . A . w a s
i n d i r e c t l y t e l l i n g m e t h a t h e r d e f i a n t c l a i m t o b e a l iv e
" o u t s i d e t h e s y s t e m " ( b e y o n d t h e l aw a n d o u t s i d e o f
h e r b o d y ) , h a d b e e n f o r a l o n g time a n i m p o r t a n t w a y
o f a t t e m p t i n g t o p r o t e c t h e r s e l f f r o m b e i n g t a k e n o v e r
b y t h e i n t e r n a l l i v es o f o t h e r p e o p l e . I s a i d t h a t i t
s e e m e d t h a t s h e h a d f e l t t e r r i b l y p r i v i l e g e d a n d s p e c i a l
w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e f e e l i n g a s if s h e w e r e c e a s i n g " t o
b e a n y b o d y . " T h e p a t i e n t b e g a n t o r e c o g n i z e t h e p r o
f o u n d c o n f u s i o n t h a t s h e h a d f e l t a b o u t w h o s e d e s i r e i t
w a s t h a t w a s f u e l i n g h e r w i s h / n e e d t o b e a t p a r t i e s . I t
n o l o n g e r s e e m e d p o s s i b l e t o s e p a r a t e o u t i n a n y m e a n
i n g f u l w a y h e r o w n d e s i r e s f r o m t h o s e o f o t h e r s . T h e
t r a n s f e r e n c e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e s e r e c o g n i t i o n s w e r e
e x p l o r e d i n c l u d i n g t h e c o n f u s i o n a b o u t w h o s e s e x u a l
e x c i t e m e n t w a s w h o s e i n t h e d r e a m a s w e l l a s i n t h e
t r a n s f e r e nc e - c oun t e r
t r a n s f e r e n c e e v e n t s t h a t h a d
o c c u r r e d i n t h e a n a ly s i s .
I n d i s c u s s i n g t h i s s e t o f f e e l i n g s , t h e p a t i e n t
b e c a m e a w a r e o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h i t h a d s e r v e d h e r
d e f e n s i v e l y t o c r e a t e t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t t h e p o w e r t o " d o
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a n y t h i n g " s h e w i s h e d s e t h e r a p a r t f r o m e v e r y o n e e l s e .
T h e a n x i e t y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e c o n f u s i o n o f n o t k n o w
i n g w h o s e d e s i r e it w a s t h a t s h e w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g w a s
s o m e w h a t a l l a y e d b y t h e i l lu s i o n t h a t s h e " o c c u p i e d a
d i f f e r e n t u n i v e r s e f r o m e v e r y o n e e l s e ." M s . A . c a m e t o
u n d e r s t a n d t h a t h i d d e n b y h e r s e n s e o f p o w e r w a s a n
u n c o n s c i o u s f e e l i n g o f i m p o t e n c e ( p a r a ly s i s ) t o t h i n k ,
f e e l , a n d b e h a v e o u t s i d e o f t h e t e r m s o f h e r e x p l o i t s ,
m a c h i n a t i o n s , a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n s . H e r s w a s a w o r l d o f
u n r e f l e c t i v e a c t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n . M s . A . s a i d t h a t t h e r e
h a d b e e n p e r i o d s o f h e r l i f e, e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g t h e la t
t e r y e a r s o f c o l l e g e , d u r i n g w h i c h s h e h a d f o r b r i e f p e r i
o d s r e c o g n i z e d t h e b i z a r r e n a t u r e o f t h e w a y s h e w a s
l i v in g a n d fe l t h o r r i f i e d b y i t a n d d e e p l y a s h a m e d o f it .
A l t h o u g h s h e h a d a g r e a t m a n y s e x u a l e x p e r i e n c e s , s h e
f e l t b o r e d b y t h e s e x . D u r i n g i n t e r c o u r s e s h e f e lt a s i f
s h e w e r e w a t c h i n g w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g i n a w a y t h a t
f e l t l i k e " w a t c h i n g a t e l e v i s io n p r o g r a m t h a t w a s n ' t v e r y
i n t e r e s t i n g . " M s . A . a t times b e c a m e d i s t u r b i n g l y a w a r e
o f t h e i n h u m a n q u a l i t y o f t h i s a n d o t h e r a s p e c t s o f h e r
l i f e. H o w e v e r , t h e f e e l i n g o f d e s p a i r a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
t h e s e m o m e n t s o f s e l f - a w a r e n e s s w a s s h o r t - l i v e d .
D u r i n g t h e p h a s e o f w o r k i n w h i c h t h i s n a r r a t i v e
a n d s e t o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g s u n f o l d e d , I f e l t a n i n c r e a s i n g
s e n s e o f c o n t i n u i t y b e t w e e n t h e c o n t e n t o f M s . A . ' s v e r
b a l s y m b o l i z a t i o n a n d t h e m a t r i x o f t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e -
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e ( O g d e n , 1 9 9 1 a ) . T h e i n i t i a l y e a r s
o f t h e a n a ly s i s h a d , i n r e t r o s p e c t , b e e n m a r k e d b y a d i s
c o n t i n u i t y o f m a n i f e s t a n d l a t e n t , o f v e r b a l c o n t e n t a n d
e x p e r i e n t i a l c o n t e x t . T h e m a n i f e s t a n d a c k n o w l e d g e d
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The Perverse Subject of Analysis
91
a s p e c t o f t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p h a d b e e n q u i t e d is
c o n n e c t e d f r o m a t r o u b l i n g , e x c i t i n g " s e c o n d n a r r a
t iv e " t h a t r e s i s t e d s y m b o l i z a t i o n , a n d i n s t e a d r e m a i n e d
a p o w e r f u l , e r o t i z e d
( p r e d o m i n a n d y
u n c o n s c i o u s )
i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n .
Discussion
M s . A . ' s v e r y first s t a t e m e n t t o m e w a s a b o u t h e r m a r
riage ( u n c o n s c i o u s l y , h e r l if e ) b e i n g a " s h a m . " I t t o o k a
l o n g tim e f o r m e t o u n d e r s t a n d i n a n y d e p t h w h a t i t w a s
t h a t s h e w a s u n c o n s c i o u s l y a t t e m p t i n g t o t e l l m e . F r o m
t h e o u t s e t , t h e r e w a s a s u b l i m i n a l s e d u c t i v e c o y n e s s t o
M s . A . ' s p r e s e n t a t i o n o f h e r s e l f . T h e r e w a s a l s o a q u a l i t y
o f m y s t e r y c o n v e y e d b y a l l t h a t w a s n o t b e i n g s a i d , w h i c h
c o n t r i b u t e d t o m y f e e l i n g o f b e i n g " i n t h e d a r k , "
perr
h a p s u n c o n s c i o u s l y i n a d a r k e n e d b e d r o o m . I n retror
s p e c t , m y i n i t ia l t h o u g h t s a b o u t t h e p a t i e n t a n d m e a s
c h a r a c t e r s i n a d e t e c t i v e f ilm c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a
r e f l e c t i o n o f m y t h e n u n c o n s c i o u s s e n s e t h a t t h e a n a
ly t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p w a s b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d o n a f o u n d a t i o n
i n v o l v i n g a c o n f u s i n g m i x t u r e o f g r a n d i o s e e r o t i z e d f a n
ta sy , p r e v a r i c a t i o n , s e l f - d e c e p t i o n , a n d t h e b a c k g r o u n d
t h e m e o f a p e r v e r s e p r i m a l s c e n e ( t h e s a d o m a s o c h i s t i c
i n c e s t u o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p d e p i c t e d i n Chinatown).
I h a d f o u n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s a c c o u n t s o f h e r c h i l d
h o o d ( h e r s t o r i e s ) t o b e n o t o n l y i n t e r e s t i n g , b u t o f t e n
f a s c i n a t i n g . T h e r e w a s a w a y i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t c o n
t i n u e d t o b e c a p t i v a t e d ( a n d c a p t i v a t i n g ) b y h e r e x p e r i
e n c e o f h a v i n g o c c u p i e d a p r i v i l e g e d p o s i t i o n i n w h i c h
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s h e c o u l d p o s e a s a c h i l d w h i l e n o t f e e l i n g l i k e a c h i l d
i n a s e c r e t w o r l d o f a d u l t s e x u a l e x c i t e m e n t a n d e x h i b i
t i o n i s m . S h e o b s e r v e d a n d ' p a r t i c i p a t e d i n ( f r o m a d i s
t a n c e ) t h e " p a r t i e s " ( t h a t w e r e u n c o n s c i o u s l y e q u a t e d
w i t h t h e p r i m a l s c e n e ) . T h e p a t i e n t f e l t t h a t n o o r d i
n a r y c h i l d w o u l d b e a l l o w e d t o h a v e k n o w l e d g e o f ,
m u c h le ss s e e , h e a r , s m e l l , o r t o u c h t h e s e e x t r a o r d i n a r y
e v e n t s . M s . A . i m a g i n e d t h a t s h e k n e w i m p o r t a n t a n d
f r i g h t e n i n g s e c r e t s , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e s e c r e t o f h e r
f a t h e r ' s f i n a n c ia l , s e x u a l , e m o t i o n a l b a n k r u p t c y a n d
t h e s e c r e t t h a t s o m e p e o p l e h a d s u c c e e d e d i n r e m a i n
i n g b o t h m a l e a n d f e m a l e ( a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e h o m o
s e x u a l i t y a n d cross-dressing t h a t s h e o b s e r v e d ' a n d
v i v i d l y r e m e m b e r e d ) .
L e s s c o n s c i o u s t o t h e p a t i e n t i n h e r i n i t i a l a c c o u n t s
o f h e r c h i l d h o o d w a s t h e c e n t r a l r o l e o f t h e i l l u s i o n o f
h e r n o t b e i n g " o n ly a c h i l d , " a n d i n s t e a d b e i n g a p a r t o f
a n a d u l t i n t e r c o u r s e i n w h i c h s h e ( in i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h
t h e h o m o s e x u a l a n d t r a n s v e s t i t e figures), w a s n o t l i m
i t e d t o b e i n g a m e m b e r o f a s i n g l e s e x n o r fixed i n a s i n
g l e g e n e r a t i o n ( s e e Chassegue t -Smirge l 1 9 8 4 ) .
A s e x c i t i n g a s M s . A . f o u n d t h e a d u l t d i s c o u r s e /
i n t e r c o u r s e w h i c h s h e o b s e r v e d a n d w h i c h s h e ( in f a n
t as y ) p a r t i c i p a t e d , t h e i n t e r c o u r s e w a s a t t h e s a m e tim e
e x p e r i e n c e d a s d e a d . T h e p a t i e n t u n c o n s c i o u s l y k n e w
o f h e r p a r e n t s ' s e p a r a t e s l e e p i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s a n d
s e n s e d t h e e m p t i n e s s o f t h e p a r t i a l l y d r u g - i n d u c e d ,
h y p o m a n i c , e x h i b i t i o n i s t i c s e x u a l s c e n e w h i c h s h e
f o u n d t o b e frightening, r e p u l s i v e , o t h e r w o r l d l y , a n d
y e t r e p e t i t i v e a n d t e d i o u s . T h i s p a r a d o x i c a l f l a t n e s s o f
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The Perverse Sub ject o f Analysis 93
t h e " e x c i t i n g " e x p e r i e n c e r e p r e s e n t e d a p o w e r f u l e l e
m e n t o f t h e t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e . B o t h
t h e p a t i e n t a n d I a t t e m p t e d to d i s g u i s e a n d e n l i v e n t h e
p e r s i s t e n t a b s e n c e o f s p o n t a n e o u s t h o u g h t i n t h e a n a ly
s is w i t h u n c o n s c i o u s l y e r o t i z e d c l e v e r n e s s , f o r e x a m p l e ,
t h e p r e s s u r e t o w h i c h b o t h t h e p a t i e n t a n d I w e r e
r e s p o n d i n g i n o u r n a m e d r o p p i n g a n d i n t h e e f f o rt t o
u s e " j u s t t h e right, k n o w i n g p h r a s e . "
M y r e v e r i e a b o u t t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e c a r w a s h i n
t h e p a r k i n g l o t p r o v i d e d a n i m p o r t a n t m e d i u m
t h r o u g h w h i c h t o e x p e r i e n c e e l e m e n t s o f t h e t r a n s f e r -
e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e t h a t h a d b e e n p r e s e n t f r o m
e a r l y o n , b u t h a d b e e n v e r y l i t t l e a v a i l a b l e t o e i t h e r M s .
A . o r t o m e f o r g e n e r a t i n g v e r b a l l y s y m b o l i z e d a n a l y t i c
m e a n i n g . M y r e v e r i e i n v o l v e d t h e f a n t a s y o f a l o u d v a c
u u m c l e a n e r b e i n g o p e r a t e d b y a d i a b o l i c a l c o u p l e
f r o m w h o m I w a s h e l p l e s s ly c u t o ff . T h e c o u p l e s e e m e d
t o o p e r a t e i n a r e a l m t h a t w a s a b o v e t h e l a w a n d
b e y o n d t h e r e a c h o f w o r d s a n d h u m a n e m o t i o n . I n t h e
r e v e r i e , n o t o n l y w a s t h e r e n o la w a t C i t y H a l l , t h e r e w a s
n o h u m a n p r e s e n c e a t i t s c o r e .
T h i s r e v e r i e r e p r e s e n t e d a n i m p o r t a n t d e v e l o p
m e n t i n t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s i n t h a t i t
a l l o w e d m e s o m e t h i n g o f a f o o t h o l d i n a p e r s p e c t i v e
t h a t w a s b o t h o u t s i d e o f, a n d y e t i n f o r m e d b y ; t h e i n t e r
s u b j e c t iv e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n w h i c h I w a s p a r t i c i p a t i n g
( t h e p e r v e r s e s u b j e c t o f a n a l y s i s ) .
T h e m e a n i n g o f t h e " c a r w a s h r e v e r i e " f e l t q u i t e
d i s c o n n e c t e d f r o m m y e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e -
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e a n d y e t t h e r e v e r i e h a d a p r o -
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f o u n d l y d i s t u r b i n g e f f ec t o n m e a n d l e d m e t o b e a l e r t
i n a q u a l i t a t i v e l y d i f f e r e n t w a y t o w h a t I w a s e x p e r i e n c
i n g w i t h t h i s p a t i e n t . I b e g a n t o n o t i c e ( w i t h a c o n s i d e r
a b l e d e g r e e o f s h a m e ) b o t h t h e p r i d e t h a t I w a s f e e l i n g
i n b e i n g M s . A . ' s a n a l y s t ( t h e p l e a s u r e i n " b e i n g s e e n
w i t h h e r " ) a n d t h e p l e a s u r e I w a s t a k i n g i n o b s e r v i n g
h e r c l o t h e s t h a t w e r e b e i n g l a i d a t m y f e e t . A t t h e s a m e
tim e, I b e c a m e a w a r e
o f t h e
f e e l i n g o f a " h o l e " o r b l i n d
s p o t i n m y a w a r e n e s s t h a t m a d e m e f e e l a l l t h e m o r e
t h a t I w a s b l i n d i n g h i m s e l f t o s o m e t h i n g i m p o r t a n t i n
m y r o l e as a n a l y s t f o r M s . A . ( S e e S t e i n e r [ 1 9 8 5 ] f o r a
d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e m e a n i n g s o f " t u r n i n g a b l i n d ey e " i n
t h e O e d i p u s m y t h . )
T h e a c c r e t i o n o f e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t I h a v e d e s c r i b e d
l e d t h e r a t h e r d i f fu s e a n x i e t y t h a t I h a d b e e n e x p e r i
e n c i n g t o b e t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a m u c h m o r e c l e a r l y
d e f i n e d a n d c o n s c i o u s l y a r t i c u l a t e d s e x u a l a n x i e t y
( a s s o c i a t e d w i t h s e e i n g a n d b e i n g s e e n ) . I e x p e r i e n c e d
t h i s a n x i e t y i n t h e f o r m o f t h e u n s e t d i n g ( c o n s c i o u s )
f a n t a s y t h a t e a c h tim e I e n c o u n t e r e d M s . A . i n t h e w a i t
i n g r o o m I w a s m e e t i n g h e r f o r a d a t e .
T h e p a t i e n t ' s t e l l i n g m e h e r d r e a m o f t h e o b s e r v e d
m a n s e r v e d t o c r ys ta l l iz e s e v e r a l p o w e r f u l u n c o n s c i o u s
c o n s t e l l a t i o n s o f m e a n i n g t h a t h a d s t r u c t u r e d t h e e x p e
rience o f t h e t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e t o t h a t
p o i n t . D e s p i t e m y f e e l i n g o f s u d d e n r e c o g n i t i o n , m y
a w a r e n e s s o f t h e p i v o ta l i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e
o f s e c r e d y o b s e r v i n g a n d b e i n g o b s e r v e d h a d b e e n
d e v e l o p i n g o v e r a r a t h e r l o n g p e r i o d o f time ( a s
r e f l e c t e d i n m y r e v e r i e s ) . W h e n t h e p a t i e n t t o l d m e h e r
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95
d r e a m , a m a r k e d a f f ec t i ve sh if t o c c u r r e d . W h a t I h a d
p r e v i o u s l y e x p e r i e n c e d a s i d e a s a b o u t e r o t i z e d o b s e rv
i n g a n d b e i n g o b s e r v e d n o w b e c a m e a d e t a i l e d , v i s c e ra l
k n o w l e d g e
o f t h e
e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g c a u g h t i n t h e a c t
o f a p a r t i c u l a r f o r m o f c u r i o u s , s e x u a l i z e d l o o k i n g . T h e
n a t u r e o f t h e e x p o s u r e i n v o lv e d i n t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e -
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e e v e n t w a s t h e e x p o s u r e o f t h e
i n f a n t / c h i l d e x c i t e d l y o b s e r v i n g ( a n d i n f a n t a s y p a r t i c i
p a t i n g i n ) t h e p r i m a l s c e n e . M y f e e l in g s o f s h a m e a s s o
c i a t e d w i t h t h i s a c t d e r i v e d i n l a r g e p a r t f r o m t h e
f e e l i n g o f b e i n g r e v e a l e d t o b e a p r e s u m p t u o u s a n d
se l f -decep t ive in fan t /ch i ld
p r e t e n d i n g t o b e a n a d u l t
p a r t i c i p a n t i n t h e
p r i m a l
s c e n e .
T h e t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e e x p e r i e n c e
b e i n g d i s c u s s e d w a s n o t s i m p l y a n e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g
p a i n f u l l y e x p o s e d ; i t w a s e q u a l l y a n ( u n c o n s c i o u s )
e x p e r i e n c e o f e x c i t e d l y t e m p t i n g t h e o b s e r v e r a n d t h e n
e x p o s i n g t h e o b s e r v e r t o b e t h e e x c l u d e d i n f a n t / c h i l d
t h a t h e o r s h e is . F u n d a m e n t a l t o t h e p a t i e n t ' s e x p e r i
e n c e o f " c a t c h i n g t h e o b s e r v e r i n t h e a c t " w a s h e r
d e f e n s i v e d i sa v o w a l , s p l i t t i n g o f f a n d p r o j e c t i o n o f h e r
f e e l i n g s o f b e i n g t h e e n v i o u s , e x c l u d e d , c u r i o u s , s e x u
a l l y a r o u s e d ,
self-deceptive
i n f a n t . M o r e o v e r , M s . A . ' s
a c t o f t e m p t i n g m e i n t h e w a y d e s c r i b e d w a s a s o u r c e o f
e x c i t e m e n t i n i ts e l f i n t h a t t h e r e w a s t h e e v e r - p r e s e n t
d a n g e r o f h e r b e i n g " c a u g h t i n t h e a c t " o f s e c r e d y
o b s e r v i n g m e o b s e r v i n g h e r . I t m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d
t h a t a l l o f t h i s w a s o c c u r r i n g i n t h e c o n t e x t o f w h a t w a s
o t h e r w i s e a d e a d
d i s c o u r s e / i n t e r c o u r s e
( n o n - s e l f -
r e f l e c t i v e " r e p o r t i n g " a n d " s t o r y t e l l in g " t h a t w a s a l m o s t
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e n t i r e l y d e v o i d o f s p o n t a n e o u s , c r e a t iv e t h o u g h t ) . I n
t h i s l i g h t , t h e " e x c i t e m e n t " o f t h e e x c i t i n g / d a n g e r o u s
g a m e b e i n g d e s c r i b e d r e p r e s e n t e d a n u n c o n s c i o u s
e f f o r t t o c r e a t e a s u b s t i t u t e f o r a g e n u i n e l y c r e a t i v e d i s
c o u r s e / i n t e r c o u r s e . T h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m i m a g e r y
u n d e r s c o r e d t h e d e a d n e s s o f t h e i n t e r c o u r s e : t h e
d e p r e s s e d o l d m a n i n a d a r k r o o m w a s o n l y g o i n g
t h r o u g h t h e m o t i o n s o f r e a d i n g a n d w a s ( u n s u c c e s s
fu lly ) a t t e m p t i n g t o u s e s e x u a l e x c i t e m e n t t o d i s t r a c t
h i m s e l f f r o m h i s e m p t i n e s s a n d d e p r e s s i o n . T h e e x c i t e
m e n t / d a n g e r i n t h e d r e a m ( p a r t i a l ly e x p e r i e n c e d a s
t h e s e n s a t i o n o f b e i n g o n t h e v e r g e o f i n v o l u n t a r y u r i
n a t i o n ) l a y i n t h e a c t o f s e c r e t l y o b s e r v i n g t h e m a n ( h i s
s y m b o l i c i n t e r c o u r s e ) a n d i n s e c r e t ly b e i n g o b s e r v e d i n
t h e a c t o f o b s e r v i n g . T h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s t h a t I o f f e r e d
a t t h i s p o i n t w e r e i n f o r m e d b y m y e x p e r i e n c e s i n a n d
o f t h e p e r v e r s e
t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e ,
w h i c h e x p e r i e n c e s a l l o w e d m e t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d f ee l
c o m p a s s i o n f o r b o t h t h e e x p o s e d a n d t h e e x p o s i n g
a s p e c t s o f t h e i n t e r n a l o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t s o d o m i
n a t e d t h e p a t i e n t ' s l if e a n d t h e l if e o f t h e a n a l y s i s .
T h e p a t i e n t t h e n b e c a m e e n g a g e d i n t h e p r o c e s s o f
" r e t e l l i n g a l i f e " ( S c h a f e r 1 9 9 4 ) , n o t i n t h e s e n s e o f t e ll
i n g i t a g a i n , b u t i n t h e s e n s e o f r e c a s t i n g t h e p a s t i n t h e
c o n t e x t o f a n e w s e t o f i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t
h a d o c c u r r e d i n t h e
t r ans fe rence -coun te r t r ans fe rence
a n d w e r e i n t h e p r o c e s s o f o c c u r r i n g i n t h e a n a ly s i s . A
n e w n a r r a t i v e w a s g e n e r a t e d b y t h e p a t i e n t t h a t held
6
a
f o r m o f c o h e r e n c e o f p a s t a n d p r e s e n t t h a t w a s r o o t e d
i n a l e s s f e a r f u l , l e s s a n x i o u s l y self-deceptive e x p e r i e n c e
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p r o t e c t t h e p a t i e n t f r o m f e e l i n g s o f n o t k n o w i n g , o f
" b e i n g i n t h e d a r k . " A l t h o u g h t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e a n x i
e t i e s b e i n g w a r d e d of f w e r e s i m i l a r i n n a t u r e t o t h o s e
e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e e a r l i e r s t a g e s o f w o r k , t h e p e r v e r
s i o n o f t h e t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e n o l o n g e r
c o n s t i t u t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l m e d i u m o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n ,
d e f e n s e , a n d o b j e c t r e l a t e d n e s s .
B e f o r e l e a v i n g t h e c l in i c a l p o r t i o n o f t h e c h a p t e r , I
w o u l d l ik e t o b r ie f ly e l a b o r a t e a n i d e a t h a t h a s b e e n
i m p l i c i t i n t h e f o r e g o i n g d i s c u s s i o n . A n e l e m e n t o f t e c h
n i q u e t h a t is r e f l e c t e d i n t h e a n a l y s i s t h a t h a s b e e n
d e s c r i b e d is t h e a n a ly s t ' s u s e o f h i s m u n d a n e , u n o b t r u
s iv e , q u o t i d i a n t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , s e n s a t i o n s , f a n t a s i e s ,
d a y d r e a m s , r u m i n a t i o n s , a n d s o o n i n t h e p r o c e s s o f
a t t e m p t i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e n e t w o r k o f i n t e r s u b j e c
t iv ely g e n e r a t e d m e a n i n g s c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e t ransfe rence-
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e . T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g
t h a t e v o l v e d i n t h e p o r t i o n of the analysis j u s t d e s c r i b e d
h a d t h e q u a l i t y o f a d i s t u r b i n g r e c o g n i t i o n , a s e n s e o f
s u d d e n r e v e rs a l . T h i s q u a l i t y o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o v e
m e n t ( i . e . , a n u n s e t t l i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f a f o r m e r l y s p l i t
o f f u n c o n s c i o u s d i s c o u r s e ) r e f l e c t e d t h e n a t u r e o f t h e
p e r v e r s e p r o c e s s a n d i t s p r e c a r i o u s , p o t e n t i a l l y e x p l o
s iv e t e n s i o n b e t w e e n h o n e s t y a n d d e c e p t i o n , i n t i m a c y
a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n , t h e a u t h e n t i c a n d t h e c o u n t e r f e i t . I t
is i m p o r t a n t t o b e a r i n m i n d t h a t t h e u s e o f r e v e r i e i n
t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f t h e
t r ans fe rence -coun te r t r ans fe r -
e n c e is u s u a l ly a m u c h " q u i e t e r " p r o c e s s a n d d o e s n o t
o f t e n l e a d t o s u c h d r a m a t i c s h if ts i n p e r s p e c t i v e o r f e e l
i n g s o f s h a m e f u l s e l f - d e c e p t i o n .
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The
Perverse
Subject of Analysis
99
Som e Theoretical Com men ts
B u i l d i n g u p o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a s p e c t s o f t h e p e r
v e r s e
t r a n s f e r e n c e -c o u n t e r t r a n sf e r e n c e
d i s c u s s e d a b o v e ,
a s w e l l a s m y e x p e r i e n c e i n a n a l y z i n g s i m i l a r t r a n s f e r -
e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e
e n a c t m e n t s i n w o r k w i t h
o t h e r p a t i e n t s ( O g d e n 1 9 9 4 b ) , I s h a l l o f fe r s o m e t e n t a
tive t h o u g h t s a b o u t w h a t I b e l i e v e t o b e i m p o r t a n t e le
m e n t s o f t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h i s f o r m o f p e r v e r s i o n . T h e
p e r v e r s e i n d i v i d u a l o f t h e t y p e b e i n g d i s c u s s e d e x p e r i
e n c e s a s e n s e o f i n n e r d e a d n e s s , a l a c k o f a s e n s e o f
b e i n g a l iv e a s a h u m a n b e i n g ( K h a n 1 9 7 9 , M c D o u g a l l
1 9 7 8 , 1 9 8 6 ) ; a t t h e s a m e tim e, t h e r e d e v e l o p s a s e t o f
c o n c r e t e l y s y m b o l i z e d d e f e n s i v e f a n t a s i e s t h a t l i f e e x i s ts
i n t h e i n t e r c o u r s e ( b o t h s e x u a l a n d n o n - s e x u a l )
b e t w e e n t h e p a r e n t s a n d t h a t t h e o n l y w a y t o " a c q u i r e "
l if e is t o e n t e r i n t o t h a t i n t e r c o u r s e ( t h e s o u r c e o f l if e)
f r o m w h i c h t h e i n d i v i d u a l is e x c l u d e d a n d l e ft l if e le s s
( B r i t t o n 1 9 8 9 , K l e i n 1 9 2 6 , 1 9 2 8 , M e l t z e r 1 9 7 3 ,
O ' S h a u g h n e s s y 1 9 8 9 ) . O f c o u r s e , i n a l i t e r a l w a y , i t is
t h e p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e t h a t is t h e s o u r c e o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s l i f e, b u t t h i s b i o l o g i c a l f a c t h a s f o r t h e p e r v e r s e
p a t i e n t f a i l e d t o b e c o m e a p s y c h o l o g i c a l f a ct .
A t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e s e
pe rve r se
p a t i e n t s f a n t a
s i z e / e x p e r i e n c e t h e p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e ( in t h e b r o a d
e s t s e n s e o f t h e w o r d ) t o b e a n e m p t y e v e n t , a n d
i m a g i n e t h a t t h e l i f e le s s n e ss o f t h e p r i m a l s c e n e i s t h e
s o u r c e o f h i s o r h e r o w n s e n s e o f i n n e r d e a d n e s s . I n
p a r t , t h i s f a n t a s y is b a s e d o n t h e p a t i e n t ' s o w n e n v i o u s
a t t a c k o n t h e p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e . I t a l s o r e f l e c t s t h e
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p a t i e n t ' s e x p e r i e n c e ( a c o m b i n a t i o n o f p e r c e p t i o n a n d
f a n ta s y ) o f t h e e m p t i n e s s o f t h e b o n d b e t w e e n t h e p a r
e n t s . T h i s p e r c e p t i o n / f a n t a s y o f a n a b s e n c e a t t h e c o r e
o f h u m a n
d i s c o u r s e / i n t e r c o u r s e
le a v e s t h e s e p e r v e r s e
i n d i v i d u a l s f e e l i n g t h a t t h e r e is n o h o p e o f a t t a i n i n g a
s e n s e o f v i ta l i ty o f t h e i r o w n i n t e r n a l w o r l d a n d i n t h e i r
r e l a t i o n s w i t h e x t e r n a l o b j e c t s . W h a t is p a r t i c u l a r t o
p e r v e r s i o n o f t h e s o r t b e i n g d i s c u s s e d is t h e c o m p u l s i v e
e r o t i z a t i o n o f t h e v o i d t h a t is f e l t a t t h e c e n t e r o f w h a t
m i g h t h a v e b e e n , a n d p r e t e n d s t o b e , a g e n e r a t i v e
u n i o n b e t w e e n t h e p a r e n t s . T h e e x c i t e m e n t g e n e r a t e d
b y t h i s e r o t i z a t i o n is u s e d a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r a s e n s e o f
o n e ' s o w n h u m a n a l iv e n e s s a s w e l l a s
t h e . r e c o g n i t i o n
o f
t h e h u m a n n e s s o f o t h e r p e o p l e . T h i s e r o t i c s u b s t i t u
tion is u n c o n s c i o u s l y e x p e r i e n c e d a s a l ie , a n d o t h e r
p e o p l e a r e c o m p u l s i v e ly e n l i s t e d i n t h e e n a c t m e n t o f
t h i s s e x u a l i z e d l ie .
T h e u n c o n s c i o u s l y f a n t a s i e d e m p t y p a r e n t a l i n t e r
c o u r s e i s d e f e n s iv e l y r e n d e r e d e x c i t i n g i n p a r t b y a t t r i b
u t i n g t o i t t h e f e e l i n g o f d a n g e r . T h e s e p e r v e r s e
p a t i e n t s r e p e a t e d l y a n d c o m p u l s i v e l y e n l i s t o t h e r s i n
t h e p r o c e s s o f e n a c t i n g t h e f a n t a s y o f e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e
p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e w h i c h e n a c t m e n t s a r e f e l t t o
i n v o l v e a t h r e a t t o t h e p a t i e n t ' s l if e ( M c D o u g a l l 1 9 8 6 ) .
T h e r e i s a t t h e s a m e tim e a c r i t i c a l a c t o f s e l f - d e c e p t i o n
t h a t a l l o w s t h e p a t i e n t t o i s o l a t e h i m s e l f f r o m a w a r e n e s s
o f t h e r e a l i t y o f t h e d a n g e r t o w h i c h h e is s u b j e c t i n g
h i m s e l f . T h e i n d i v i d u a l d e l u d e s h i m s e l f a n d p r i d e s
h i m s e l f i n h i s b e l i e f t h a t h e is a b l e t o " fly c l o s e r t o t h e
flame" t h a n a n y b o d y e l s e w i t h o u t b e i n g d a m a g e d . H e
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o r s h e b e l i e v e s h i m o r h e r s e l f t o b e i m m u n e t o a ll d a n
g e r w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e b e i n g i n t e n s e l y e x c i t e d b y i t .
T h e d e s p e r a t e n e e d t o e x t r a c t l i f e f r o m ( a n d i n f u s e l i fe
i n t o ) t h e e m p t y p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e l e a d s t h e p a t i e n t
t o flaunt e x t e r n a l r e a l i t y a n d ( u n c o n s c i o u s l y ) c l a i m t o
e x i s t o u t s i d e
of the l aw
( i n c l u d i n g b o t h t h e
laws
o f s o c i
e t y a n d t h e l aw s o f n a t u r e ) (Chassegue t -Smirge l 1 9 8 4 ) .
S i n c e t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s psychological l i f e h a s i n a s e n s e
a l r e a d y b e e n l o s t ( o r m o r e a c c u r a t e l y , h a s n e v e r c o m e
i n t o b e i n g ) , t h e r e is a c e r t a i n r e a l i t y t o t h e i d e a t h a t h e
h a s n o t h i n g t o l o s e .
T h e f o r e g o i n g c o m m e n t s m i g h t b e b r i e fly s t a t e d i n
t h e f o r m
o f t h e
f o l l o w i n g s e t o f s c h e m a t i c p r o p o s i t i o n s :
1 . I n h e a l t h y d e v e l o p m e n t a s e n s e o f o n e s e l f a s
a l i v e i s e q u a t e d w i t h a g e n e r a t i v e lo v i n g p a r e n t a l
i n t e r c o u r s e . O u t o f t h is i n t e r c o u r s e c o m e s a
f e e l i n g o f a l i v e n e s s f r o m w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t
d e r i v e s a s e n s e o f t h e v i ta li ty a n d r e a l n e s s o f h i s
o r h e r o w n t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , s e n s a t i o n s , sub
j e c t i v i t y , o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s , a n d s o o n .
2 . P e r v e r s i o n o f t h e t y p e b e i n g d i s c u s s e d r e p r e
s e n t s a n e n d l e s s , f u t i l e e f f o r t t o e x t r a c t l if e from
a p r i m a l s c e n e t h a t is e x p e r i e n c e d as d e a d .
3 . P e r v e r s i o n o f t h i s s o r t i n v o l v e s a f o r m o f e x c i t e
m e n t d e r i v e d f r o m t h e c y n ic a l s u b v e r s i o n o f t h e
( p u r p o r t e d ) t r u t h o f t h e a l i ve n e ss o f t h e p a r e n
t a l i n t e r c o u r s e w h i c h s o u r c e o f v i ta l it y is f e l t t o
b e i n a c c e s s ib l e a n d p r o b a b l y n o n e x i s t e n t . I n
o t h e r w o r d s , t h e s e e m i n g l y g e n e r a t i v e , l o v i n g
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Reverie and Interpretation
p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e i s f e lt t o b e a l ie , a h o a x .
T h e s e p e r v e r s e i n d i v i d u a l s in t ro jec t a f a n t a s i e d
d e g r a d e d i n t e r c o u r s e a n d subsequen t iy e n g a g e
o t h e r s i n a c o m p u l s i v e l y r e p e a t e d a c t i n g o u t o f
t h i s s e t o f i n t e r n a l o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p s .
4 . I n t h i s f o r m o f p e r v e r s i o n , a v i c i o u s c y c l e is g e n
e r a t e d i n w h i c h t h e f a n t a s i e d i n t e r c o u r s e o f
the
p a r e n t s is d e p i c t e d a s l o v el e ss , l if ele ss a n d n o n -
p r o c r e a t i v e ; t h e p a t i e n t a t t e m p t s ( in v a i n ) t o
i n f u s e i t w i t h pse udo - e xc i t e m e n t f r o m w h i c h h e
a t t e m p t s t o e x t r a c t l if e ( o r m o r e a c c u r a t e l y ,
a t t e m p t s t o c r e a t e a s u b s t i t u t e f o r l i f e ) . S i n c e t h e
f a n t a s i ed p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e f r o m w h i c h t h e
p e r v e r s e p a t i e n t is a t t e m p t i n g t o e x t r a c t l ife is
e x p e r i e n c e d a s d e a d , h e o r s h e is a t t e m p t i n g t o
e x t r a c t l i fe f r o m d e a t h , t r u t h f r o m f a l s e h o o d .
A l t e r n a t iv e l y , t h e p a t i e n t m a y a t t e m p t t o u s e t h e
l ie a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r t r u t h / l i f e ( C h a s s e g u e t -
S m i r g e l l 9 8 4 ) .
5 . A n i m p o r t a n t m e t h o d o f a t t e m p t i n g t o i n f u s e
t h e e m p t y p r i m a l s c e n e w i t h l ife ( e x c i t e m e n t
a n d o t h e r s u b s t i t u t e s f o r f e e l i n g s o f a l i v e n e s s ) i s
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f " f l ir t i ng w i t h d a n g e r , " t e m p t
i n g f a t e b y " f l y i n g t o o c l o s e t o t h e f l a m e . "
6 . T h e d e s i r e o f t h e s e p e r v e r s e i n d i v i d u a l s is c o -
o p t e d b y a n d c o n f u s e d w i t h t h e d e s i r e o f o t h e r s
l e a d i n g t h e m m o r e d e e p l y i n t o d e f e n s iv e
mis-
r e c o g n i t i o n s a n d m i s n a m i n g s o f t h e i r e x p e r i
e n c e i n o r d e r t o c r e a t e t h e i l l u s i o n o f se lf-
g e n e r a t e d d e s i r e ( O g d e n 1 9 8 8 a ) .
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The Perverse Subject of Analysis
103
7 . A n a l y s i s o f p e r v e r s i o n , a s c l i n i c a l l y i l l u s t r a t e d i n
t h i s c h a p t e r , f u n d a m e n t a l l y i nv o lv e s r e c o g n i z i n g
( n a m i n g a c c u r a t e ly ) t h e
lie/lifelessness that
c o n s t i t u t e s t h e c o r e o f t h e t ransference-counter r
t r a n s f e r e n c e e n a c t m e n t o f t h e p e r v e r s i o n . I n
t h i s w a y , t h e p a t i e n t , p e r h a p s f o r t h e f ir st t i m e i n
h i s o r h e r l i f e, f e e l s e n g a g e d i n a d i s c o u r s e t h a t
is e x p e r i e n c e d a s a l i ve a n d r e a l .
8 . T h e i n i t i a l f e e l i n g s o f a l i v e n e s s a n d r e a l n e s s i n
t h e a n a ly s is a r i s e f r o m t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e
l i felessness/ l ie
o f t h e
t ransference-counter t r ans-
f e r e n c e a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y a r e m o s t o f t e n f r i g h t
e n i n g f e e l i n g s o f d e a d n e s s . T h i s e x p e r i e n c e is
d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e d e a d n e s s o f t h e l i e / l i f e l e s s
n e s s t h a t h a d n o t b e e n r e c o g n i z e d as a l ie a n d
w h i c h h a d b e e n m a s q u e r a d i n g a s t r u t h . F o r
m e r l y , t h e l ie ( t h e e m p t y i n t e r c o u r s e ) h a d t o b e
i n f u s e d w i t h f a l s e / p e r v e r s e e x c i t e m e n t i n a n
e f f o r t t o b r i n g l if e t o i t a n d a c q u i r e l if e f r o m i t.
T h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e l ie is n o t a n e x p e r i e n c e
o f s e x u a l e x c i t e m e n t b u t m a k e s p o s s i b l e a s t a t e
o f m i n d i n w h i c h s e x u a l a l iv e n e s s ( in t h e c o n
t e x t o f w h o l e o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s ) a n d g e n e r a t i v e
t h i n k i n g a n d d i s c o u r s e m i g h t b e e x p e r i e n c e d .
Concluding Comments
I n t h i s c h a p t e r , I h a v e c l in i c a l l y i l l u s t r a t e d t h e w a y i n
w h i c h t h e a n a l y s is o f p e r v e r s i o n n e c e s s a r i l y i n v o lv e s t h e
e l a b o r a t i o n o f a n u n c o n s c i o u s p e r v e r s e t r a n s f e r e n c e -
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Reverie and Interpretation
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e w h i c h is c o n t r i b u t e d t o a n d p a r t i c
i p a t e d i n b y b o t h a n a ly s t a n d a n a l y s a n d . T h i s i n t e r s u b
j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s p o w e r f u l l y s h a p e d b y t h e
p e r v e r s e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r n a l
o b j e c t w o r l d . T h e a n a l y s t ' s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p e r
v e r s e e n a c t m e n t i n w h i c h h e o r s h e i s a n u n w i t t i n g p a r
t i c i p a n t is d e v e l o p e d i n p a r t t h r o u g h t h e e l a b o r a t i o n
a n d a n a ly s i s o f u n o b t r u s i v e q u o t i d i a n t h o u g h t s , f e e l
i n g s , f a n ta s i e s , d a y d r e a m s , r u m i n a t i o n s , s e n s a t i o n s , a n d
s o o n , w h i c h a r e o f t e n s e e m i n g l y u n r e l a t e d t o t h e
p a t i e n t . U n d e r s t a n d i n g s d e v e l o p e d i n t h i s w a y a r e u t i
l i z e d i n t h e p r o c e s s o f t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t r a n s f e r e n c e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s .
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Privacy,
R e v e r i e ,
a n d
Analytic T e c h n i q u e
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I hold this to be the highest task of two
people: that each should stand guard over
the solitude ofthe other.
R . M .
Rilke,
1 9 0 4
D e b u s s y f e l t t h a t m u s i c i s t h e s p a c e b e t w e e n t h e n o t e s .
S o m e t h i n g s i m i l a r m i g h t b e s a id o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s .
B e t w e e n t h e n o t e s
o f t h e
s p o k e n w o r d s c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e
a n a l y t i c d i a l o g u e a r e t h e r e v e r i e s o f t h e a n a l y s t a n d t h e
a n a l y s a n d . I t is i n t h i s s p a c e o c c u p i e d b y t h e i n t e r p l a y
o f r e v e r i e s t h a t o n e finds t h e m u s i c o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s .
T h e c u r r e n t c h a p t e r r e p r e s e n t s a n e f f o r t t o e x a m i n e
s o m e o f t h e m e t h o d s ( t e c h n i q u e s ) t h a t w e a s a n a ly s t s
d e p e n d u p o n t o h e l p u s l i s t e n t o t h i s m u s i c .
I n t h i s c h a p t e r a n d t h e n e x t , I s h a l l a t t e m p t t o
d e s c r i b e t h r e e s e p a r a t e , b u t i n t e r r e l a t e d i m p l i c a t i o n s
f o r p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e t h a t d e r i v e f r o m t h e
107
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u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a m o n g p r i v a c y , c o m
m u n i c a t i o n , a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f " t h e i n t e r - s u b j e c t i v e
a n a l y t i c t h i r d " ( O g d e n 1 9 9 2 a , b , 1 9 9 4 a , b , c , d ) . A s w i ll
b e d i s c u s s e d , I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n a n a l y t i c
p r o c e s s d e p e n d s u p o n t h e c a p a c i t y o f a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d t o e n g a g e i n a d i a l e c t i c a l i n t e r p l a y o f s t a t e s
o f " r e v e r i e " ( B i o n , 1 9 6 2 a ) t h a t a r e a t t h e s a m e t i m e p r i
v a t e a n d u n c o n s c i o u s l y c o m m u n i c a t i v e .
A f t e r b r i e f l y d i s c u s s i n g t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e a n a
l y t i c t h i r d , I s h a l l a d d r e s s t h e r o l e o f t h e u s e o f t h e
c o u c h a s a c o m p o n e n t o f t h e a n a l y t i c f r a m e w o r k .
T h i s w i ll l e a d t o a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e
r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e r o l e o f t h e c o u c h t o t h e f r e q u e n c y
o f m e e t i n g s .
I s h a l l t h e n p r o p o s e t h a t t h e " f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e " o f
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a s i n t r o d u c e d a n d d e s c r i b e d b y F r e u d
( 1 9 0 0 , 1 9 1 2 , 1 9 1 3 ) f ai ls t o f a c i l i ta t e c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h
r e v e r i e s m i g h t b e g e n e r a t e d b y t h e a n a l y s a n d ( a n d b y
t h e a n a l y s t ) , a n d i n f a c t o f t e n i m p e d e s t h e c r e a t i o n o f
a n a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s . A r e c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n o f t h e f u n d a
m e n t a l r u l e w il l b e s u g g e s t e d .
I n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r , I s h a l l r e c o n s i d e r c o m m o n l y
h e l d b e l ie f s a b o u t t h e h a n d l i n g o f d r e a m s i n a n a l y s is
a n d s h a l l s u g g e s t a l t e r n a t i v e a p p r o a c h e s t h a t a r e
f o u n d e d u p o n a c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s a s a
d i a l e c t i c a l i n t e r p l a y o f s u b j e c t i v i t i e s o f a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d r e s u l t i n g i n t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n " i n t e r s u b j e c
t i v e d r e a m s p a c e . " T h e d r e a m d r e a m t i n t h e c o u r s e o f
a n a n a l y s i s is i n a s e n s e t h e d r e a m o f t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d .
A f r a g m e n t o f a n a l y t i c w o r k w il l b e p r e s e n t e d i n w h i c h
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Privacy, Reverie, and Analytic Technique
109
a d r e a m i s c o n c e p t u a l i z e d a n d r e s p o n d e d t o a s a p r o d
u c t o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c d r e a m s p a c e .
The Analytic Third
O v e r t h e p a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s , I h a v e d e v e l o p e d a c o n c e p
t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s t h a t is b a s e d o n t h e i d e a
t h a t i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d ; t h e r e is a
t h i r d s u b j e c t o f a n a l y s i s t o w h i c h I h a v e r e f e r r e d a s
" t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a ly t i c t h i r d " o r s i m p l y " t h e a n a
l y t i c t h i r d " ( O g d e n 1 9 9 2 a , b , 1 9 9 4 a , b , c , d ) . ( S e e
B a r a n g e r 1 9 9 3 , a n d G r e e n 1 9 7 5 , f o r r e l a t e d c o n c e p
t i o n s o f a n a l y t i c i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y . ) T h e ( i n t e r s u b j e c
t iv e ) t h i r d s u b j e c t o f a n a l y s i s s t a n d s i n d i a l e c t i c a l
t e n s i o n w i t h t h e a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d a s s e p a r a t e i n d i
v i d u a l s w i t h t h e i r o w n s u b j e c t i v i t i e s . A n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d e a c h p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r
s u b j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n ( t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d ) , b u t d o so
a s y m m e t r i c a l l y . S p e c i f i c a ll y , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e
r o l e s o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d s t r u c t u r e s t h e a n a l y t i c
i n t e r a c t i o n i n a w a y t h a t s t r o n g l y p r i v i l e g e s t h e exp lo
r a t i o n o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r n a l o b j e c t w o r l d o f t h e
a n a l y s a n d . T h i s is s o b e c a u s e m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l l y t h e
a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p e x i s t s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f h e l p i n g
t h e a n a l y s a n d m a k e p s y c h o l o g i c a l c h a n g e s t h a t w il l
e n a b l e h i m t o l iv e h i s l if e i n a m o r e f u ll y h u m a n w a y .
T h e p r i v i l e g i n g o f t h e e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s
l if e o f t h e a n a l y s a n d is e f f e c t e d t h r o u g h t h e a n a l y s t ' s
u s e o f h i s t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e e m p l o y m e n t
o f h i s o w n u n c o n s c i o u s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f b e i n g r e c e p -
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Reverie and Interpretation
tive t o t h e " d r i f t " ( F r e u d 1 9 2 3 a , p . 2 3 9 ) o f t h e u n c o n
s c i o u s o f t h e a n a l y s a n d .
T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f p a t i e n t a n d a n a l y s t i n r e l a t i o n
t o t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d is a s y m m e t r i c a l n o t
o n l y i n t e r m s
o f t h e
w a y i n w h i c h e a c h c o n t r i b u t e s t o i ts
c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d e l a b o r a t i o n . I t is a l s o a s y m m e t r i c a l i n
t h a t a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d e a c h e x p e r i e n c e t h e a n a l y t i c
t h i r d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f h i s o w n s e p a r a t e , i n d i v i d u a l p e r
s o n a l i t y s y s t em w h i c h is s h a p e d a n d s t r u c t u r e d b y h i s
o w n f o r m o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n , h i s o w n layer-
i n g s a n d
l inkages
o f p e r s o n a l m e a n i n g s d e r i v e d f r o m
t h e t o t a l i t y o f h i s h i s t o r y a n d u n i q u e s e t o f l if e e x p e r i
e n c e s , h i s o w n m o d e s o f o r g a n i z i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c i n g
b o d i l y s e n s a t i o n s , a n d s o o n . I n s u m , t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d
is n o t a s i n g l e e v e n t e x p e r i e n c e d i d e n t i c a l ly b y t w o p e o
p l e ; r a t h e r , it is a j o i n d y , b u t a s y m m e t r i c a l l y c o n
s t r u c t e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d s e t o f c o n s c i o u s a n d
u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e s i n w h i c h a n a
ly st a n d a n a l y s a n d p a r t i c i p a t e .
The Role
ofthe
C ouch in the Ana lytic Process
I n t h i s p o r t i o n o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n , I s h a l l f o c u s o n s o m e
i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r t e c h n i q u e o f t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e a n a
l y ti c t h i r d as i t b e a r s o n a c r i t i c a l e l e m e n t o f t h e a n a
l y ti c f r a m e : t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h .
I n a p p r o a c h i n g t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e r o l e o f t h e
c o u c h a s a n a s p e c t o f t h e a n a l y t i c f r a m e w o r k , i t i s n e c
e s s a r y t o b e g i n w i t h t h e d i f f ic u l t q u e s t i o n o f w h a t i t is
t h a t c o n s t i t u t e s t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s
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111
a s a t h e r a p e u t i c p r o c e s s . T h e f r a m e w o r k m u s t s e r v e t h e
p r o c e s s a n d t h e r e f o r e , i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r
a n e l e m e n t o f t h e f r a m e w o r k d o e s i n d e e d f a c il i t a te a
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s , o n e m u s t a t t e m p t t o b r o a d l y
d e l i n e a t e f o r o n e s e l f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e p r o c e s s .
I t is c l e a r l y b e y o n d t h e s c o p e o f t h e p r e s e n t c h a p t e r
t o o f fe r a t h o r o u g h d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l e l e
m e n t s t h a t c o n s t i t u t e p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a s a t h e r a p e u t i c
p r o c e s s . I n s t e a d , I s h a l l s i m p l y o f fe r s o m e t h o u g h t s o n
t h e s u b j e c t t h a t m i g h t s e r v e a s a s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r t h e
e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h i s q u e s t i o n . T o d o s o I s h a l l b u i l d u p o n
F r e u d ' s c o n c e p t i o n
o f t h e
e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s t h a t d e f i n e
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a s a m e t h o d o f t r e a t m e n t . F r e u d ( 1 9 1 4 )
h e l d t h a t " A n y l i n e o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n w h i c h r e c o g n i z e s . . .
t h e s e t w o f a c t s [ t r a n s f e r e n c e a n d r e s i s t a n c e ] a n d t a k e s
t h e m a s t h e s t a r t i n g - p o i n t o f i ts w o r k h a s a r i g h t t o c a l l
i t s e l f
psycho-analysis
. . . " ( p . 1 6 ) . I w o u l d s u g g e s t t h e f o l
l o w i n g e l a b o r a t i o n o f F r e u d ' s s u c c i n c t s t a t e m e n t . P e r
h a p s p s y c h o a n a l y s i s m i g h t b e v i e w e d a s i n v o l v i n g a
r e c o g n i t i o n n o t o n l y o f t r a n s f e r e n c e a n d r e s i s ta n c e , b u t
a l s o a r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e
f i e l d w i t h i n w h i c h t r a n s f e r e n c e a n d r e s i s t a n c e a r e g e n
e r a t e d . S p e c i f i c a ll y , a s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e , I h a v e i n m i n d
t h e c r e a t i o n o f a t h i r d s u b j e c t o f a n a ly s is t h r o u g h w h i c h
t h e p h e n o m e n a o f t r a n s f e r e n c e a n d r e s i s t a n c e a r e g iv e n
s y m b o l i c m e a n i n g o n t h e a n a l y t i c s t ag e . T h a t i n t e r s u b
j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n ( t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d ) is g e n e r a t e d
t h r o u g h t h e d i a l e c t ic a l i n t e r p l a y o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l
sub
j e c t i v i t i e s o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f
t h e i r r o l e s a s a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d .
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Reverie and Interpretation
T h e p r o b l e m o f d e f i n i n g t h e n a t u r e o f t h e r o l e o f
t h e c o u c h a s a c o m p o n e n t o f t h e a n a l y t i c f r a m e w o r k
t h e n b e c o m e s a p r o b l e m o f c o n c e p t u a l i z i n g t h e r o l e o f
t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h i n t h e p r o c e s s o f f a c i l i t a t i n g a s t a t e
o f m i n d i n w h i c h t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d
m i g h t b e g e n e r a t e d , e x p e r i e n c e d , e l a b o r a t e d , a n d u t i
l i z e d b y a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d . U t i l i z i n g e x p e r i e n c e i n
a n d o f t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d i n v o l v e s t h e c r e a t i o n o f sy m
b o l s i n t h e a n a l y t i c d i a l o g u e ( p r e d o m i n a n t l y , b u t n o t
e x c lu s iv e l y v e r b a l s y m b o l s ) f o r h e r e t o f o r e u n s p e a k a b l e
a n d u n t h i n k a b l e a s p e c t s o f t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s i n t e r n a l
o b j e c t w o r l d .
F r e u d ( 1 9 1 3 ) v i e w e d " g e t t i n g t h e p a t i e n t t o l ie o n
t h e s o f a w h i l e I s i t b e h i n d h i m o u t o f s i g h t " ( p . 1 3 3 ) a s
tw o e s s e n t i a l , i n t e r r e l a t e d e l e m e n t s o f t h e a n a l y t i c s e t
u p w h i c h h e s a i d h e " i n s i s t s u p o n " ( p . 1 3 4 ) . B o t h t h e
p a t i e n t ' s u s e
o f t h e
c o u c h a n d t h e a n a l y s t ' s b e i n g " b u t
o f s i g h t " a l l o w e d F r e u d t o " g iv e m y s e l f o v e r t o t h e c u r
r e n t o f m y u n c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s " ( p . 1 3 4 ) . A l t h o u g h
h e o r i g i n a l l y i n t r o d u c e d t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h a s a f o r
m a t d e s i g n e d t o h e l p t h e p a t i e n t " t o c o n c e n t r a t e h i s
a t t e n t i o n o n h i s s e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n " ( F r e u d 1 9 0 0 , p . 1 0 1 ) ,
F r e u d ' s ( 1 9 1 1 - 1 9 1 5 ) e m p h a s i s i n h i s d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e
u s e o f t h e c o u c h i n h i s Papers on Technique w a s n o t
o n i ts r o l e i n f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e p a t i e n t ' s c a p a c i t y t o f r e e
a s s o c i a t e . R a t h e r , F r e u d ' s p r i n c i p a l f o c u s i n t h e s e
p a p e r s w a s o n t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h
a f f o r d s t h e a n a l y s t t h e p r i v a c y t h a t h e r e q u i r e s t o d o
h i s w o r k : "I c a n n o t p u t u p w i t h b e i n g s t a r e d a t . . .
w h i l e I a m l i s t e n i n g t o t h e p a t i e n t . . ." ( 1 9 1 3 , p . 1 3 4 ) .
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T h i s s t a t e m e n t is o f t e n s e e n a s a r e f l e c t i o n o f o n e o f
F r e u d ' s p e r s o n a l i d i o s y n c r a c i e s o r e v e n a s a m a n i f e s t a
t i o n o f a n a s p e c t o f h i s p s y c h o p a t h o l o g y . I b e l i e v e t h a t
s u c h r e a d i n g s f a il t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e
t h a t F r e u d p l a c e d o n t h e n e c e s s i t y o f b u i l d i n g i n t o t h e
s t r u c t u r e o f t h e a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h
t h e r e v e r i e s o f t h e a n a l y s t c a n b e g e n e r a t e d a n d u t i
l i z e d . F r e u d ( 1 9 1 2 ) i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e t a s k o f t h e a n a l y s t
is t o " s i m p l y l i s t e n " ( p . 112) . I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e i n j u n c
t i o n to " s i m p l y l i s t e n " w a s F r e u d ' s h i g h l y c o n d e n s e d
w a y o f s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e a n a l y s t a t t e m p t t o r e n d e r
h i m s e l f a s u n c o n s c i o u s l y r e c e p t i v e as p o s s i b l e t o t h e
p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s a n d t o a t t e m p t t o a v o i d
be c om
T
i n g m i r e d i n c o n s c i o u s ( s e c o n d a r y p r o c e s s ) e f fo r ts a t
o r g a n i z i n g h i s e x p e r i e n c e .
I n s u m , F r e u d ( 1 9 1 3 ) b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e p a t i e n t ' s
u s e o f t h e c o u c h a n d t h e a n a l y s t ' s p r i v a c y i n h i s p o s i
t i o n " o u t o f s i g h t " b e h i n d t h e c o u c h a r e c r i t i c a l c o m p o
n e n t s o f t h e s u p p o r t i n g s t r u c t u r e , " t h e f r a m e w o r k " o f
p s y c h o a n a ly s i s . S u c h a n a r r a n g e m e n t h e l p s p r o v i d e
c o n d i t i o n s o f p r i v a cy i n w h i c h t h e a n a l y s t m i g h t e n t e r a
s t a t e o f r e v e r i e i n w h i c h h e gi v es h i m s e l f " o v e r t o t h e
c u r r e n t o f [ h i s ] u n c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s " ( p . 1 3 4 ) a n d
r e n d e r s h i s o w n u n c o n s c i o u s r e c e p t i v e t o t h e u n c o n
s c i o u s o f t h e a n a l y s a n d . I m p l i c i t i n th i s d i s c u s s i o n is t h e
i d e a t h a t t h e a n a l y s a n d i n u s i n g t h e c o u c h m i g h t a l so
e x p e r i e n c e s i m i l a r r e s p i t e f r o m b e i n g s t a r e d a t a n d
m i g h t m o r e e a s il y g i v e h i m s e l f o v e r t o t h e d r i f t o f h i s
o w n u n c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s ( a n d p e r h a p s a l s o t o t h o s e
o f t h e a n a l y s t ) .
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Some Comm ents on Technique
W h e n I i n t r o d u c e t o t h e p a t i e n t t h e i d e a o f t h e u s e o f
t h e c o u c h i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a n a n a l y si s , I e x p l a i n t o
t h e a n a l y s a n d t h a t i t is m y p r a c t i c e t o h a v e t h e p a t i e n t
l ie o n t h e c o u c h w h i l e I s it i n m y c h a i r b e h i n d t h e
c o u c h . I g o o n t o e x p l a i n t h a t I d o so b e c a u s e I h a v e
f o u n d t h a t t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t a f f o rd s m e t h e p r i v a c y t o
e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h i n k a b o u t w h a t is o c c u r r i n g i n a w a y
t h a t is n e c e s s a r y f o r m e t o d o t h e a n a l y t i c w o r k . I a d d
t h a t t h e a n a l y s a n d m a y find t h a t t h i s w a y o f w o r k i n g
a l s o a l l o w s h i m t o
e x p e r i e n c e
h i s o w n t h o u g h t s a n d
f e e l i n g s i n a w a y t h a t fe e l s t o h i m
di f fe rent
f r o m h i s
o r d i n a r y w ay s o f t h i n k i n g , f e e l in g , a n d e x p e r i e n c i n g
b o d i l y s e n s a t i o n s . P r e s e n t i n g t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h i n a
m a n n e r t h a t e m p h a s i z e s m y o w n n e e d a s w e l l a s t h a t o f
t h e a n a l y s a n d f o r a n a r e a o f p r i v ac y , a p s y c h o l o g i c a l
s p a c e ( i n b o t h a l i t e r a l a n d a m e t a p h o r i c a l s e n s e ) i n
w h i c h t o t h i n k a n d g e n e r a t e e x p e r i e n c e , r e p r e s e n t s a n
i m p o r t a n t s t a t e m e n t t o t h e p a t i e n t o f m y c o n c e p t i o n o f
t h e a n a l y t i c m e t h o d a n d o f o u r o v e r l a p p i n g r o l e s i n i t .
I t h a s b e e n i m p l i c i t i n w h a t h a s b e e n s a i d t h u s f a r
t h a t I v i ew t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s r e q u i r e d f o r b o t h a n a l y s t
a n d a n a l y s a n d t o g a i n a c c e s s t o a s t a t e o f r e v e r i e t o b e a
n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n f o r t h e c o n d u c t o f a n a l ys i s . O n e
m i g h t c o m p a r e t h e n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n s f o r a n a ly s i s t o
t h e s u r g e o n ' s r e q u i r e m e n t f o r a s t e r i l e field i n w h i c h t o
o p e r a t e . I n b o t h t h e c a s e o f t h e a n a l y s t a n d o f t h e s u r
g e o n , k n o w l e d g e , t r a i n i n g , a n d s k i l lf u ln e s s o f t e c h
n i q u e a r e l i a b l e t o b e r e n d e r e d i n c o n s e q u e n t i a l if t h e
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n e c e s s a r y c o n t e x t f o r t h e w o r k d o e s n o t e x i s t . I h a v e
c o m e t o v i e w t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h a s a n i m p o r t a n t c o n
t r i b u t i n g e l e m e n t t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n
w h i c h r e v e r i e m i g h t b e g e n e r a t e d a n d u t i l i z e d . A t t h e
s a m e tim e, t h e p a t i e n t ' s u s e o f t h e c o u c h ( w h i l e t h e
a n a l y s t s i t s b e h i n d i t , o u t o f s i g h t ) i s b u t o n e s e t o f f a c
t o r s c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e c o n d i t i o n s t h a t f a c i l i t a t e t h e
c r e a t i o n o f a n a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s . M o r e o v e r , t h e f a c t t h a t
t h e p a t i e n t is u s i n g t h e c o u c h i s b y n o m e a n s a g u a r a n
t e e t h a t a n a n a ly t i c p r o c e s s is b e i n g g e n e r a t e d a n d u t i
l i z e d ( S e e G o l d b e r g e r [ 1 9 9 5 ] f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s u s e o f t h e c o u c h a s a p o t e n t i a l f o r t r a n s f e r
e n c e e n a c t m e n t . )
T h e c u r r e n t d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e r o l e o f t h e c o u c h i n
f a c i l i t a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e e l a b o r a t i o n o f s t a t e s o f
r e v e r i e is n o t m e a n t t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e a n a l y s t s h o u l d
i n s i s t ( i n a s p o k e n o r a n u n s p o k e n m a n n e r ) t h a t e v e ry
a n a l y t i c p a t i e n t u s e t h e c o u c h a t a l l t i m e s ( F e n i c h e l
1 9 4 1 , F r a n k 1 9 9 5 , J a c o b s o n 1 9 9 5 , L i c h t e n b e r g 1 9 9 5 ) .
T h e r e a r e p e r i o d s o f a n a ly s is w h e n t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h
is t o o f r i g h t e n i n g fo r t h e p a t i e n t t o t o l e r a t e . U n d e r
t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i t w o u l d b e c o u n t e r - t h e r a p e u t i c
f o r t h e a n a l y s t t o a t t e m p t t o b y p a s s t h e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d
a n a l y s i s o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s a n x i e t y b y p r e s s u r i n g h i m t o
u s e t h e c o u c h . S u c h b e h a v i o r o n t h e p a r t o f t h e a n a l y s t
w o u l d l i ke ly r e p r e s e n t a f o r m o f c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e .
a c t i n g - o u t .
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6 . H o w e v e r
else
o n e d e f i n e s a n a ly s i s, i t s e e m s e s s e n
tial t o i n c l u d e i n o n e ' s d e f i n i t i o n t h e e f f o r t t o
g e n e r a t e a n d e x p e r i e n c e t h e u n c o n s c i o u s a n a
l yt ic t h i r d a n d t o f o s t e r a s t a t e o f r e v e r i e t h r o u g h
w h i c h t h e a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d m i g h t g e t a s e n s e
o f t h e " d r if t" ( F r e u d 1 9 2 3 a ) o f t h a t " s h a r e d " ( a n d
y e t i n d iv i d u a ll y e x p e r i e n c e d ) u n c o n s c i o u s c o n
s t r u c t i o n . T h e a n a ly t ic e n t e r p r i s e is b e s t d e f i n e d
n o t b y i ts f o r m ( i n c l u d i n g t h e frequency o f m e e t
i n g s ) , b u t b y i ts s u b s t a n c e , w h i c h i n v o l v e s t h e
a n a l y s i s o f t h e t ransference-counter t ransference
( i n c l u d i n g a n x i e t y / d e f e n s e ) a s t h e s e p h e n o m
e n a a r e g i v en s h a p e i n t h e e x p e r i e n c i n g o f a n d
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e a n a ly t ic t h i r d .
I t h a s b e e n m y e x p e r i e n c e t h a t i t is r e g u l a r l y t h e
c a s e t h a t i n c r e a s i n g t h e f r e q u e n c y o f s e s s i o n s p e r w e e k
e n h a n c e s t h e c a p a c i t y o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d t o g e n
e r a t e o v e r l a p p i n g s ta t e s o f r e v e r i e . T o m y m i n d , i t
m a k e s n o s e n s e t o r e s p o n d t o a c o m p r o m i s e o f o n e s e t
o f c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h a n a n a ly s i s is b e i n g c o n
d u c t e d b y c o m p r o m i s i n g o t h e r c o n d i t i o n s c o n d u c i v e
t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s . S p e c i f i c a l l y , i t
w o u l d b e d i f f i cu l t f o r m e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e l o g i c
u n d e r l y i n g a d e c i s i o n t o w o r k w i t h a p a t i e n t i n a f a c e -
t o - f ac e m a n n e r b e c a u s e c o n d i t i o n s c o n d u c i v e t o t h e
c r e a t i o n o f a n a n a ly t ic p r o c e s s h a v e b e e n c o m p r o m i s e d
a s a r e s u l t o f c o n s t r a i n t s l e a d i n g t o a f r e q u e n c y o f m e e t
i n g s t h a t s e e m s t o t h e a n a l y s t t o b e l es s t h a n o p t i m a l . A s
a r e s u l t , u n l e s s t h e r e a r e c o m p e l l i n g r e a s o n s n o t t o u s e
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s e n s i c a l , s o t h a t t h e r e is n o n e e d t o s a y i t. Y o u m u s t
n e v e r g iv e i n t o t h e s e c r i t i c i s m s , b u t m u s t s a y i t s p i t e o f
t h e m — i n d e e d ,
y o u m u s t s ay i t p r e c i s e l y because y o u
f e e l a n a v e r s i o n to d o i n g s o . . . S o s ay w h a t e v e r g o e s
t h r o u g h y o u r m i n d . . . F i na l l y , n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t y o u
h a v e p r o m i s e d t o b e a b s o l u t e l y h o n e s t , a n d n e v e r l e a v e
a n y t h i n g o u t b e c a u s e , f o r s o m e r e a s o n o r o t h e r , i t is
u n p l e a s a n t t o t e l l i t ' ( pp .13 4-1 35) .
A r e c e n t r e v i ew o f the l i t e r a t u r e ( L i c h t e n b e r g a n d
G a l l e r 1 9 8 7 ) r e v e a l e d t h a t " v e ry f e w p a p e r s i n t h e l i t e r a
t u r e h a v e a s t h e i r m a i n t o p i c a m o d i f i c a t i o n i n . . . t h e
f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e , a n d o n l y s l i g h t l y m o r e s u g g e s t m o d i
f i c a t i o n s i n p a s s i n g " ( p . 5 2 ) . I n a m o r e f ul ly e l a bo r a t e d
c o m m e n t a r y o n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e , E t c h e g o y e n
( 1 9 9 1 ) s t a te s : " S p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s c a n a r i s e i n w h i c h
i t is a d v i s a b l e t o f o l lo w a p a t h o t h e r t h a n t h e u s u a l o n e ,
w i t h o u t t h i s m e a n i n g in a n y w a y t h a t w e c a n d e p a r t
f r o m t h e [ f u n d a m e n t a l ] r u l e " ( p . 6 5 ) .
T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l a s p e c t s o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e
f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e t h a t I s h a l l a d d r e s s . I t s e e m s t o m e
t h a t a n y c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e r o l e o f t h e " f u n d a m e n t a l
r u l e " m u s t b e g i n b y r e l a t i n g t h i s a s p e c t o f t e c h n i q u e t o
o u r c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t ic p r o c e s s as a w h o l e s i n c e
technique must facilitate process.
V i e w e d v e r y b r o a d l y ,
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s m i g h t b e d e s c r i b e d as a p s y c h o l o g i c a l -
i n t e r p e r s o n a l p r o c e s s i n t e n d e d t o e n h a n c e t h e
a n a l y s a n d ' s c a p a c i t y t o b e a l i ve a s a h u m a n b e i n g .
A l t h o u g h a g r e a t m a n y a n a ly s i s h a v e m a d e p i v o t a l c o n
t r i b u t i o n s t o t h i s c o n c e p t i o n o f a n a l ys is , W i n n i c o t t is
p e r h a p s t h e p r i n c i p a l a r c h i t e c t o f a m o d e r n
c o n c e p -
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Privacy, Reverie, and Analytic Technique 121
tion o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i n w h i c h t h e c e n t r a l f o c u s o f t h e
a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s h a s b e e n b r o a d e n e d f r o m t h e t a s k o f
m a k i n g t h e u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s c i o u s ( i n t h e l a n g u a g e o f
t h e t o p o g r a p h i c m o d e l ) o r o f t r a n s f o r m i n g i d i n t o e g o
( i n t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e s t r u c t u r a l m o d e l ) . T h e a n a l y t i c
p r o c e s s f o r W i n n i c o t t ( 1 9 7 1 b ) h a s a s i t s c e n t r a l c o n
c e r n t h e e x p a n s i o n o f t h e c a p a c i t y o f a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d t o c r e a t e " a p l a c e t o l iv e " i n a n a r e a o f e x p e
r i e n c i n g t h a t lies b e t w e e n r e a l i t y a n d f a n ta s y .
T h e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s , a s c o n c e i v e d b y W i n
n i c o t t , d e m a n d s o f a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e a f ul l a p p r e c i a
t i o n o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e g e n e r a t i v e t e n s i o n
b e t w e e n p r iv a c y a n d i n t e r p e r s o n a l r e l a t e d n e s s :
" A l t h o u g h h e a l t h y p e r s o n s c o m m u n i c a t e a n d e n j o y
c o m m u n i c a t i n g , t h e o t h e r f a c t is e q u a l l y t r u e , t h a t each
individual is an isolate, perm anently non-comm unicat
ing, permanen tly unkno wn, in fact, unfound .
. .... A t t h e
c e n t r e o f e a c h h u m a n b e i n g is a n i n c o m m u n i c a d o e le
m e n t , a n d th i s is s a c r e d a n d m o s t w o r t h y o f p r e s e r v a
t i o n " ( W i n n i c o t t 1 9 6 3 , p . 1 8 7 ) .
O n t h e b a s i s o f t h i s c o n c e p t i o n o f w h a t i t is t o b e
h u m a n , W i n n i c o t t c o m m e n t s o n p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a s a
t h e o r y ( a l t h o u g h t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f h i s c o m m e n t s f o r
a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e a r e c l e a r ) : " W e c a n u n d e r s t a n d t h e
h a t r e d p e o p l e h a v e o f p s y c h o - a n a l y s i s w h i c h h a s p e n e
t r a t e d a l o n g w a y i n t o t h e h u m a n p e r s o n a l i t y , a n d
w h i c h p r o v i d e s a t h r e a t t o t h e h u m a n i n d i v i d u a l i n h i s
n e e d t o b e s e c r e t l y i s o l a t e d " ( p . 1 8 7 ) . A b i t l a t e r , h e
a d d s , " W e m u s t a s k o u r s e l v e s , d o e s o u r t e c h n i q u e a l lo w
f o r t h e p a t i e n t t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h a t h e o r s h e is n o t
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c o m m u n i c a t i n g ? " ( p . 1 8 8 ) . I t is t h i s q u e s t i o n t h a t f o r m s
t h e b a c k d r o p f o r m y o w n r e - e xa m i na t i on o f t h e f u n d a
m e n t a l r u l e .
I n p r e v i o u s c o n t r i b u t i o n s ( O g d e n 1 9 8 9 a , b ,
1 9 9 1 b ) , I h a v e d i s c u s s e d m y o w n c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e r o l e
o f p e r s o n a l i s o l a t io n i n p r o t e c t i n g t h e i n d i v i d u a l
a g a i n s t t h e c o n t i n u o u s s t r a i n t h a t is a n i n e s c a p a b l e p a r t
o f l iv i n g i n t h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e m a t r i x o f h u m a n o b j e c t
r e l a t i o n s ( 1 9 9 1 b ) . 1 h a v e e m p h a s i z e d t h e l i f e - s u s t a i n i n g
r o l e o f
s e n s a t i o n - d o m i n a t e d
( " a u t i s t i c - c o n t i g u o u s "
[ 1 9 8 9 a , b , ] ) f o r m s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e c r e a t i o n o f a
t e m p o r a r y s u s p e n s i o n o f r e l a t e d n e s s b o t h t o t h e
m o t h e r / a n a l y s t a s o b j e c t a n d t o t h e m o t h e r / a n a l y s t a s
e n v i r o n m e n t . A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s v i e w o f t h e c e n t r a l r o l e
o f p r i v a c y / p e r s o n a l i s o l a t io n i n h e a l t h y h u m a n e x p e r i
e n c e , I d o n o t i n m y o w n p r a c t i c e o f a n a l y s is i n s t r u c t
t h e p a t i e n t t o a t t e m p t t o s ay e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c o m e s t o
m i n d r e g a r d l e s s o f h o w " i l lo g ic a l o r e m b a r r a s s i n g o r
t r i v ia l o r s e e m i n g l y i r r e l e v a n t " ( G r e e n s o n 1 9 7 1 , p . 1 0 2 )
i t m a y s e e m . N e i t h e r d o I b e l i e v e t h a t i t is s u f f i c i e n t t o
" s o f te n " t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e w i t h c o m m e n t s s u c h a s ,
" I u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e t a sk o f s a y i n g e v e r y t h i n g t h a t
c o m e s t o m i n d is a d i f f ic u l t ( o r i m p o s s i b l e ) o n e . "
I n s t e a d , i t is m y p r a c t i c e t o s i m p l y i n v i t e t h e
p a t i e n t , i n a n u n s p o k e n w a y , t o b e g i n t h e a n a l y s is b y
c o n d u c t i n g m y s e l f i n t h e i n i t i a l m e e t i n g s i n a w a y t h a t
p r o v i d e s t h e p a t i e n t a s e n s e o f w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e i n
a n a ly s i s ( O g d e n 1 9 8 9 b ) . I n t h e o p e n i n g m o m e n t s o f
t h e first m e e t i n g I m a y s a y n o t h i n g o r m a y a s k t h e
p a t i e n t , " W h e r e s h o u l d w e b e g i n ? " M y e f fo r t is t o intro?
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I t is t h e p o i n t a t w h i c h t h e s e d i a l e c t i c s ( f o r e x a m p l e ,
t h e d i a l e c t ic a l t e n s i o n o f l o v e a n d h a t e , d i s c l o s u r e a n d
p r iv ac y , c o m m u n i c a t i n g a n d n o t c o m m u n i c a t i n g ) h a v e
c o l l a p s e d i n o n e " d i r e c t i o n " o r a n o t h e r ( fo r e x a m p l e ,
w h e n a n overvaluat ion o f d i s c l o s u r e h a s l e d t o t h e e q u a
tion o f p r i v a c y a n d r e s i s t a n c e ) t h a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l ( o r t h e
a n a l y t i c p a i r ) h a s e n t e r e d t h e r e a l m o f p s y c h o p a t h o l o g y .
F r o m t h i s p e r s p e c t i v e , p s y c h o p a t h o l o g y i n v o lv e s a v a r i e ty
o f f o r m s o f f a i l u r e o f t h e individual ( o r o f t h e a n a l y t i c
p a i r ) t o c o m e t o life i n t h e p r o c e s s o f g e n e r a t i n g a n d
p r e s e r v i n g t h e s e d i a l e c t ic a l t e n s i o n s a n d i n s t e a d b e c o m
i n g e n g a g e d i n c r e a t i n g s u b s t i t u t e s f o r t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f
a l iv e n e s s , f o r e x a m p l e , i n t h e f o r m o f p e r v e r s e p l e a s u r e ,
m a n i c e x c i t e m e n t , as-if c o n s t r u c t i o n s , a n d s o o n . I
b e l i e v e t h a t t o b e g i n o r f o u n d t h e a n a l y t i c e n t e r p r i s e o n
a s t a t e d ( o r u n s t a t e d ) i d e a l t h a t e m b o d i e s a c o l l a p s e o f
t h e d i a l ec t i c a l t e n s i o n o f c o m m u n i c a t i n g a n d n o t c o m
m u n i c a t i n g i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f d i s c l o s u r e r e p r e s e n t s a n
i n v i t a t i o n i n t o a p a t h o l o g i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p . T h e o u t c o m e
is o f t e n t h e c r e a t i o n o f a i a t r o g e n i c i l ln e s s i n w h i c h t h e
c a p a c i t y f o r r e v e r i e is p a r a l y z e d o r d r i v e n i n t o h i d i n g ,
t h u s m a k i n g i t
significandy
l es s l ik e ly t h a t a g e n u i n e a n a
l y ti c p r o c e s s w il l e v e r t a k e p l a c e .
A t t h i s p o i n t , I w o u l d l i k e t o o f f e r a b r i e f c l i n i c a l
e x a m p l e o f a c o l l a p s e o f t h e d i a l e c t i c o f p r i v a c y a n d
c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h a t r e s u l t e d i n a n e x p e r i e n c e o f p sy
c h o l o g i c a l d e a d n e s s .
I w a s c o n s u l t e d b y D r . E . a b o u t a n a n a l y s i s h e w a s
c o n d u c t i n g t h a t h a d f e l t " s t a g n a n t " t o h i m f o r s e v-
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era l y e a r s . T h e a n a l y s t f e lt o p p r e s s e d b y t h e
p a t i e n t , M s . J . , a l t h o u g h D r . E . s a i d t h a t h e q u i t e
l i k e d h e r . T h e a n a l y s t t o l d m e t h a t h e o f t e n w i s h e d
t h a t h e c o u l d d e c r e a s e t h e f r e q u e n c y o f s e s s io n s
f r o m five t i m e s p e r w e e k t o t w o o r t h r e e tim es p e r
w e e k , o r p e r h a p s t e r m i n a t e t h e a n al ys is a l t o g e t h e r .
I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e e x t e n d e d c o n s u l t a t i o n , I a s k e d
D r . E . t o p r e s e n t p r o c e s s n o t e s f r o m s e v e r a l se s
s i o n s i n c l u d i n g a d e t a i l e d a c c o u n t o f h i s c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e r e s p o n s e s t o t h e p a t i e n t .
D r . E . d e s c r i b e d t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t
w o u l d fil l t h e h o u r s w i t h a p p a r e n d y i n t r o s p e c t i v e
t a l k t h a t " s e e m e d t o g o n o w h e r e . " H e t o l d m e t h a t
h e o f t e n s t r u g g l e d t o fight o f f s l e e p . D r . E . a d d e d
t h a t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e f e e l i n g o f t h e a n a l y s i s
w o u l d b e i n c o m p l e t e i f h e o m i t t e d t h e f a c t t h a t
t h e r e w e r e t i m e s w h e n h e f e l t p a i n f u l l y s e lf -c o n
s c i o u s d u r i n g t h e s e s s i o n s w i t h t h i s p a t i e n t . D r . E .
s a i d t h a t M s . J . c o u l d b e e x t r e m e l y c u t t i n g i n h e r
" a lw a y s p e r c e p t i v e " c r i t i q u e o f h i s t a s t e i n c l o t h i n g ,
s l i g h t w e i g h t c h a n g e s , d e p o r t m e n t , o ff ic e d e c o r a
tion, a n d s o o n . S u c h c o m m e n t s w e r e o f f e r e d a p o l
o g e t i c a l l y b y t h e p a t i e n t a n d w e r e o f t e n p r e f a c e d
b y s u c h r e m a r k s a s , " I ' m a f r a i d I ' l l o f f e n d y o u o r
h u r t y o u i f I t e l l y o u w h a t I ' m t h i n k i n g . "
I n o n e o f t h e f ew d r e a m s r e p o r t e d b y t h e
a n a l y s a n d , s h e w a s i n a p u b l i c p l a c e n e e d i n g t o
t a k e a s h o w e r , b u t f o u n d t h a t n o n e o f t h e s ta l l s
h a d s h o w e r c u r t a i n s . T h e r e w a s a m o d e s t , u n a s
s u m i n g d o o r t h a t l o o k e d l i k e a b a t h r o o m d o o r
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Reverie and Interpretation
w h i c h l e d t o a l ov e ly a p a r t m e n t d e c o r a t e d i n t h e
p a t i e n t ' s f a v o r i t e c o l o r s , d e e p r e d s a n d b r o w n s .
M s . J . s a i d t h a t s h e h a d n o t h o u g h t s a b o u t t h e
d r e a m . I w o n d e r e d a l o u d w i t h D r . E . w h e t h e r t h e
d r e a m m i g h t h a v e r e f l e c t e d a p a i n f u l , a n d t h u s f a r
u n s p o k e n , f e e l i n g o f l a c k o f p r i v a c y i n t h e t r a n s f e r -
e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e . T h e " m o d e s t " d o o r l e d
t o a l i v i n g s p a c e ( a s p a c e w h e r e t h e p a t i e n t c o u l d
b e a l i v e i n p r i v a c y ) . I t w a s a p l a c e t h a t r e f l e c t e d a
s ty le o f h e r o w n . I s a i d t h a t t h e d e e p r e d a n d
b r o w n c o l o r s s e e m e d t o s u g g e s t t h a t s e x u a l
alive
n e s s w a s p a r t o f w h a t w a s b e i n g i m a g i n e d a n d
e x p e r i e n c e d b y t h e p a t i e n t i n t h e d r e a m , a n d p e r
h a p s w i s h e d f o r i n t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e .
I n t h e c o u r s e
o f t h e
d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s d r e a m , I
a s k e d D r . E . w h e t h e r h e h a d to ld M s . J . t h a t i t w a s
h e r t a s k t o s ay e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c a m e t o m i n d . H e
s a i d t h a t h e h a d t o l d th i s t o t h e p a t i e n t a t t h e
b e g i n n i n g o f t h e a n a l y s i s ( s e v e n y e a r s e a r l i e r ) , b u t
t h a t t h i s i n s t r u c t i o n h a d n o t b e e n m e n t i o n e d s i n c e
t h e n b y e i t h e r o f t h e m .
I ra i sed t h e p o s s i b i l i t y w i t h D r . E . t h a t h i s f e e l
i n g s o f b e i n g p a i n f u l l y a n d i n t r u s i v e l y s e e n a n d
e x p o s e d b y M s . J . m a y r e f le c t s o m e t h i n g o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s p r o j e c t e d e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g s a d i s t ic a ll y
r o b b e d o f h e r o w n i n n e r w o r l d . I t s e e m e d p o s s i b l e
t h a t t h i s f a n t a s i e d d e s t r u c t i v e p l u n d e r i n g w a s
o c c u r r i n g b e c a u s e b o t h t h e a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d
h a d s u b j u g a t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o a n i m a g i n e d a u t h o r
i ty , t h e " f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e " a n d all t h a t i t s y m b o l -
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i z e d f o r b o t h D r . E . a n d f o r t h e p a t i e n t . ( O f c o u r s e ,
n o s i n g l e f a c t o r s u c h a s t h e a n a l y s t ' s i n s t r u c t i n g t h e
p a t i e n t t o s ay e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c o m e s t o m i n d , w il l
d e t e r m i n e t h e c o u r s e o f a n a n a ly s is . I n t h e c a s e
b e i n g d i s c u s s e d , t h e a n a l y s t 's i n s t r u c t i o n s r e g a r d
i n g t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e w e r e a m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f
a n e v o l v i n g i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n w h i c h
a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d w e r e e n s n a r e d . )
A t h o r o u g h d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s a s p e c t o f t h e
t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e
o c c u r r e d o v e r
t h e s u c c e e d i n g m o n t h s o f c o n s u l t a t i o n . O n e e l e
m e n t i n t h i s d i s c u s s i o n i n v o l v e d D r . E . ' s t e l l i n g m e
t h a t h e h a d t a k e n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e a s a
" g i v e n " i n p a r t b e c a u s e i t h a d s e r v e d a s a m a j o r
c o m p o n e n t o f t h e c o n t e x t i n w h i c h h i s o w n a n a ly
s is h a d b e e n c o n d u c t e d . D r . E . r e c o g n i z e d i n h i s
o w n n o n - s e l f - r e f l e c t iv e n e s s a b o u t t h i s a s p e c t o f t h e
a n a l y t i c i n t e r a c t i o n , a n a c t i n g - o u t o f h i s r e s e n t
m e n t a b o u t t h i s a s p e c t o f h i s o w n e x p e r i e n c e i n
a n a l y s i s a n d s u s p e c t e d ( o n t h e b a s i s o f f u r t h e r r e v
e r i e s o c c u r r i n g d u r i n g t h e s e s s io n s w i t h M s . J . )
t h a t h e w a s i n v o l v e d i n a f a n t a s i e d r e t a l i a t o r y r e v e r
s a l o f r o l e s i n t h e c u r r e n t a n a l y s i s .
D r . E . e v e n t u a l l y t o l d t h e p a t i e n t t h a t r e c e n t
e v e n t s i n t h e a n a ly s i s h a d r e m i n d e d h i m o f M s . J . ' s
d r e a m a b o u t t h e p u b l i c s h o w e r s t h a t l a c k e d s h o w e r
c u r t a i n s . H e c o n n e c t e d t h i s i m a g e i n p a r t t o h i s
h a v i n g i n s t r u c t e d h e r t o s a y e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c a m e
t o m i n d . D r . E . t o l d t h e p a t i e n t t h a t h e h o p e d t h a t
a n a l y s e s t h a t h e c o n d u c t e d w o u l d r e s u l t i n c h a n g e s
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Reverie
and Interpretation
in h i m a s w e l l a s i n t h e p a t i e n t . O n e c h a n g e t h a t
h a d o c c u r r e d o v e r t h e p r e v i o u s s e v e n y e a r s w a s h i s
f e e l i n g a b o u t a s k i n g a p a t i e n t t o s a y e v e r y t h i n g t h a t
c o m e s t o m i n d . S h o w e r s s h o u l d h a v e s h o w e r c u r
t a i n s a n d a n a l y s e s s h o u l d h a v e a p l a c e f o r p r i v a c y .
T h e p a t i e n t w a s
gready
r e l i e v e d b y D r . E . ' s c o m
m e n t s . L a t e r i n t h e s e s s i o n , s h e s a i d t h a t i t h a d
m e a n t a g r e a t d e a l t o h e r t h a t h e h a d s p o k e n t o h e r
w i t h s u c h c a n d o r . D r . E . t o l d m e t h a t h e c o u l d n o t
r e c a l l M s . J . ' s e v e r h a v i n g e x p r e s s e d g r a t i t u d e t o
h i m i n s o d i r e c t a n d m o v i n g a w a y .
Reconceiving the Funda mental Rule
I f I w e r e t o p u t i n t o w o r d s f o r m y s e l f m y v i e w o f t h e
a n a l y s a n d ' s r o l e i n r e l a t i o n t o c o m m u n i c a t i n g a n d n o t
c o m m u n i c a t i n g in t h e a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g , I s u p p o s e i t
w o u l d b e g i n w i th t h e n o t i o n t h a t c o m m u n i c a t i n g a n d
p r i v a c y a r e e a c h t o b e v a l u e d as d i m e n s i o n s o f h u m a n
e x p e r i e n c e , e a c h c r e a t i n g a n d
p r e se r v i ng
t h e
vitality,
t h e " s e n s e o f r e a l " ( W i n n i c o t t 1 9 6 3 , p . 1 8 4 ) o f t h e i n d i
v i d u a l a n d o f t h e a n a l y t ic e x p e r i e n c e . F o r m u l a t e d a s a
b r i e f s t a t e m e n t t o a n a n a l y s a n d , i t m i g h t t a k e t h e f o l
l o w i n g f o r m : "I v i e w o u r m e e t i n g s a s a tim e f o r y o u t o
s ay w h a t y o u w a n t t o ay , w h e n y o u w a n t t o s a y i t, a n d
f o r m e t o r e s p o n d i n m y o w n w a y. A t t h e s a m e t i m e ,
t h e r e m u s t a lw a y s b e a p l a c e f o r p r i v a c y f o r b o t h o f u s . "
T h i s is a l o n g , r a t h e r a w k w a r d s t a t e m e n t , a n d I a m n o t
s u r e t h a t I h a v e e v e r s a i d t h i s i n p r e c i s e l y t h i s w a y t o a n
a n a l y s a n d . T h e s t a t e m e n t s o u n d s s t i l t e d t o m e , I t h i n k
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Technique
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i n p a r t b e c a u s e i t is a n i m a g i n a r y c o m m e n t d e v o i d o f
t h e p e r s o n a l c o n t e x t o f a s p ec i f ic h u m a n i n t e r a c t i o n .
N o n e t h e l e s s , i t c a p t u r e s a g o o d d e a l o f w h a t I o f t e n s ay
t o m y s e l f , a n d , w h e n t h e o c c a s i o n a r i s e s , w h a t I t a l k
a b o u t w i t h t h e p a t i e n t .
2
I t is n o t i n f r e q u e n t t h a t t h e a n a l y s a n d w il l h a v e
e i t h e r r e a d a b o u t t h e " f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e , " o r d e v i s e d a
v e r s i o n o f i t f o r h i m s e l f ( f o r e x a m p l e , o n t h e b a s i s o f
e x p e r i e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s w h o w e r e f e l t t o r e q u i r e h i m t o
" te l l a l l " ) o r " l e a r n e d a b o u t " t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e
t h r o u g h e x p e r i e n c e i n o n e o r m o r e p r e v i o u s a n a ly s e s .
U n d e r s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i t h a s b e e n e s s e n t i a l f o r m e
t o t a lk w i t h t h e p a t i e n t a b o u t
his
c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e
" r u l e s o f a n a l y s i s " r e l a t i n g t o f r e e a s s o c i a t i o n , i . e .,
his
r u l e s c o n c e r n i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n w h a t is s a id
a n d w h a t is l e f t u n s a i d , b e t w e e n w h a t
must
b e m a d e
p u b l i c a n d w h a t " is a l l o w e d t o " r e m a i n p r i v a t e . S e v e r a l
p a t i e n t s h a v e to ld m e t h a t o n t h e b a s is o f t h e i r e x p e r i
e n c e s i n p r e v i o u s a n a ly s e s , t h e y h a d c o m e to a s s u m e
2. Th is view of th e role of the analysand overlaps brief c om m en ts
made by Altman (1976) and Gill (personal communication
reported by Epstein, 1976) concerning their own versions of the
fundamental rule. Altman (1976) suggests speaking to the patient
in a way that conveys to the analysand that the analysand is "entitled
to say anything" (p. 59). Gill (personal com m un icatio n r ep or ted by
Epstein 1976) suggests saying to the analysand, 'You may say what
ever you wish (p. 54). These two statements overlap with my own
think ing, al tho ug h they place far less em phasis than I do o n the cen-
trality of the role of privacy in th e analytic ex pe rien ce.
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Reverie and Interpretation
t h a t al l a n a l y s e s w o u l d e v e n t u a l l y e v o l v e i n t o t w o c o n
v e r s a t i o n s , o n e s p o k e n , o n e s e c r e t , b e c a u s e o f t h e " r u l e
a b o u t s a y i n g e v e r y t h i n g . " E v e n t u a l l y , i n t h e c o u r s e o f
t h e s e d i s c u s s i o n s , I h a v e c l a r i f ie d t h a t m y o w n c o n c e p
t i o n o f a n a l y s is d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e a n a l y s a n d t o
a t t e m p t t o s ay e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c o m e s t o m i n d . B o t h t h e
a n a l y s a n d a n d I m u s t a lw a ys b e as f r e e t o c o m m u n i c a t e
w i t h o u r s e l v e s ( b o t h i n t h e f o r m o f w o r d s a n d s e n s a
tions) a s w e a r e f r e e t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h o n e a n o t h e r .
I t h a s n o t b e e n m y e x p e r i e n c e i n a n a l y s e s I h a v e
c o n d u c t e d o r s u p e r v i s e d t h a n a n a n a l y t i c s p a c e i n
w h i c h p r i v a c y i s v a l u e d a s m u c h a s c o m m u n i c a t i o n
l e a d s t o a n a l y t i c i m p a s s e s i n w h i c h s i l e n c e , f o r e x a m p l e ,
c o m e s t o s e r v e a s a n u n a n a l y z a b l e f o r m o f r e s i s t a n c e .
W h e n e x t e n d e d d e f e n s i v e s i l e n c e s h a v e o c c u r r e d , I
h a v e f o u n d i t t o b e i m p o r t a n t t o a c k n o w l e d g e a n d
i n t e r p r e t b o t h t h e p a t i e n t ' s n e e d f o r p r i v a c y a n d h i s
n e e d t o m a k e a t r a n s f e r e n c e c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h r o u g h
s i l e n c e ( C o l t a r t 1 9 9 1 ) . ( T h e t r a n s f e r e n c e c o m m u n i c a
t i o n t h a t is m a d e t h r o u g h s i l e n c e i s o f t e n a f o r m o f
t r a n s f e r e n c e as " t o t a l s i t u a t i o n " [ J o s e p h 1 9 8 5 ] . )
O v e r tim e i n a n a n a l y s i s , t h e i d e a o f t h e
a n a l y s a n d ' s s a y i n g o n l y w h a t h e w a n t s t o s ay a n d h o l d
i n g p r i v a c y a s " s a c r e d " ( W i n n i c o t t 1 9 6 3 ) p r o v e s t o b e
m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d t h a n i t first a p p e a r s s i n c e t h e
a n a l y s a n d is o f c o u r s e n o t a lw a y s c l e a r a b o u t w h a t i t is
t h a t h e w o u l d
like
t o s ay o r e v e n w h o " h e " is . T h e
a n a l y s a n d f i n d s t h a t t h e f i r s t p e r s o n s i n g u l a r is i n f a c t
p l u r a l : t h e r e a r e m a n y I 's. A f t e r a l l, t h e p a t i e n t w a n t s
t o s ay c e r t a i n t h i n g s w h i l e " h e " ( a n o t h e r a s p e c t o f h i s
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Privacy, Reverie, and Analytic Technique
131
e x p e r i e n c e o f
himself )
finds t h a t " h e " c a n n o t b r i n g
h i m s e l f t o s a y t h e s e t h i n g s t h a t " h e " w a n t s t o s ay . M o r e
o v e r , t h e r e a r e t h i n g s t h a t h e f e e l s h e w o u l d l i k e t o s a y ,
b u t d o e s n o t k n o w w h a t t h e y a r e . ( S e e O g d e n 1 9 9 2 a , b
f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e d i a le c t i c a l ly c o n s t i t u t e d / d e c e n -
t e r e d s u b j e c t o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s ) . I t is a n i m p o r t a n t
d e v e l o p m e n t i n a n a n a l y s i s w h e n a n a n a l y s a n d
b e c o m e s a b l e t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e a n d u n d e r s t a n d s o m e
t h i n g o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t s o f
h i m s e l f , f o r e x a m p l e , b e t w e e n h i s n o t w i s h i n g t o sa y
s o m e t h i n g ( b e c a u s e h e w a n t s t o " k e e p i t t o h i m s e l f f o r
t h e t i m e b e i n g ) a n d h is n o t f e e l i n g a b l e t o s a y s o m e
t h i n g w h i l e h o p i n g t h a t t h e a n a l y s t w i l l h e l p h i m f i n d a
w a y t o b e a b l e t o p u t i t i n t o w o r d s . S u c h c o n f l i c t s
b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t s o f s e lf e x p e r i e n c e o f t e n
r e m a i n u n r e c o g n i z e d , a n d t h e r e f o r e u n a n a l y z a b l e ,
w h e n a n an a ly s is is c o n d u c t e d u n d e r t h e a e g i s o f t h e
a n a l y s t ' s s t a t e m e n t o f , a n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s p a r t i a l l y d e f e n
s iv e u s e o f, t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e . T h i s t y p e o f i m p a s s e
m a y t a k e t h e f o r m o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s f a n t a s y
t h a t a n a l y s is r e q u i r e s t h e p a t i e n t t o s u b m i t t o a t y p e o f
" p s y c h i c e v i s c e r a t i o n . " T h e u n c o n s c i o u s o b j e c t r e l a
t i o n s c o n s t i t u t i n g t h i s f a n ta s y r e m a i n u n a n a l y z a b l e s o
l o n g a s t h e a n a l y s t i s
unselfref lectively
i m p o s i n g a n
a c t u a l e x p e r i e n t i a l c o n t e x t t h a t is g o v e r n e d b y t h e
e x p e c t a t i o n / d e m a n d t h a t t h e a n a l y s a n d " s a y e ve ry
t h i n g t h a t c o m e s t o m i n d . "
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Reverie and Interpretation
The Role
ofthe
Analyst and the
Fundamental Rule
F r e u d ( 1 9 2 3 a ) b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e o f
f r e e a s s o c i a t i o n h a s i ts c o u n t e r p a r t i n t h e a n a l y s t ' s
e f f o r t t o " s u r r e n d e r h i m s e l f t o h i s o w n u n c o n s c i o u s
m e n t a l a c ti v it y , i n a s t a t e o f e v e n l y s u s p e n d e d a t t e n
t i o n " ( p . 2 3 9 ) . T h e a n a l y s t a t t e m p t s " t o a v o i d s o f a r a s
p o s s i b l e r e f l e c t i o n a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f c o n s c i o u s
e x p e c t a t i o n s , [ a n d a t t e m p t s ] n o t t o t ry t o fix a n y t h i n g
t h a t h e h e a r d p a r t i c u l a r ly i n h i s m e m o r y , a n d b y t h e s e
m e a n s t o c a t c h t h e d r i f t o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s
w i t h h i s o w n u n c o n s c i o u s " ( p . 2 3 9 ) . T h e a n a l y s t ' s " w o r k
o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n [ i s ] n o t t o b e b r o u g h t u n d e r s t r ic t
r u l e s a n d [ l e a v e s ] a g r e a t d e a l o f p l a y t o t h e p h y s i c i a n ' s
t a c t a n d sk i ll " ( p . 2 3 9 ) . " O r , t o p u t i t p u r e l y i n t e r m s o f
t e c h n i q u e : ' H e [ t h e a n a l y s t ] s h o u l d s i m p l y l i s t e n , a n d
n o t b o t h e r a b o u t w h e t h e r h e is k e e p i n g a n y t h i n g i n
m i n d ' " ( 1 9 1 2 , p . 1 1 2 ) .
F r e u d ' s e m p h a s i s i n d e s c r i b i n g t h e " w o r k " o f t h e
a n a l y s t i s n o t o n t h e a n a l y s t ' s s e e i n g o r r e v e a l i n g e v e r y
t h i n g ( e v e n t o h i m s e l f ) , b u t o n c r e a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r
a p a r t i c u l a r s o r t o f r e c e p t i v i t y a n d " p l a y " o f t h e m i n d .
F r e u d a s k s t h e a n a l y s t t o a t t e m p t t o a l l o w h i s o w n
u n c o n s c i o u s t o e n t e r i n t o a r e s o n a n c e w i t h t h e u n c o n
s c i o u s o f t h e p a t i e n t . T h e a n a l y s t i n " s i m p l y l i s t e n i n g , "
a t t e m p t s not t o " g e t a fix" ( n o t t o r e m e m b e r o r u n d e r
s t a n d t o o m u c h ) a n d i n s t e a d " s im p l y " t o u s e h i s o w n
s t a t e o f u n c o n s c i o u s r e c e p t i v i t y t o g e t a s e n s e of , t o
" c a t c h t h e d r i f t " o f , t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s e x p e r i -
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Privacy, Reverie,
and
Analytic
Technique
133
e n c e . I t s e e m s t o m e t h a t t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t a t e
d e s c r i b e d h e r e b y F r e u d as " s i m p l y l i s t e n i n g " is t h e
s a m e p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t a t e t h a t B i o n ( 1 9 6 2 a ) r e f e r s t o as
" r e v e r i e , " a s t a te c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y t h e a b s e n c e o f " m e m
o r y a n d d e s i r e " ( B i o n 1 9 6 7 ) .
A l t h o u g h t h e a n a l y s t ' s s t a t e o f u n c o n s c i o u s r e c e p
t iv ity t o t h e u n c o n s c i o u s o f t h e a n a l y s a n d is d e s c r i b e d
a s t h e a n a l y s t ' s g i v i n g " e q u a l n o t i c e " ( F r e u d 1 9 1 2 , p .
1 1 2 ) t o h i m s e l f ( i . e . , a s t h e c o u n t e r p a r t o f t h e d e m a n d
m a d e o n t h e p a t i e n t i n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l
r u l e ) ,
t h e
e f f o r t t o e n t e r i n t o a s t a t e o f " e v e n l y s u s p e n d e d a t t e n
t i o n " ( F r e u d 1 9 1 2 , p .
I l l )
s e e m s h a r d l y t o r e p r e s e n t
" e q u a l n o t i c e " t o t h e d e m a n d t h a t t h e a n a l y s a n d s ay
e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c o m e s t o m i n d . I f t h e " d e m a n d " m a d e
o n t h e p a t i e n t ( o r b e t t e r , t h e r o l e a s s i g n e d t o t h e
p a t i e n t ) , w e r e g e n u i n e l y c o m p l e m e n t a r y i n n a t u r e t o
t h e r o l e F r e u d e n v i s i o n e d f o r t h e a n a l y s t i n t h e p r o c e s s
o f c r e a t i n g a s t a t e o f e v e n l y s u s p e n d e d a t t e n t i o n , I
b e l i e v e t h a t t h e a n a l y t i c p a i r c o u l d m o r e e a s i ly e n t e r
i n t o a t y p e o f r e l a t e d n e s s i n w h i c h it is p o s s i b l e f o r b o t h
t h e a n a l y s t a n d t h e a n a l y s a n d t o " c a t c h t h e d r i f t o f , " g e t
a s e n s e o f , t h e " c u r r e n t " o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s t r u c
t i o n s b e i n g g e n e r a t e d i n t h e a n al y s i s . U n d e r t h e s e c o n
d i t i o n s , a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d a r e e a c h i n a p o s i t i o n t o
" t u r n h i s o w n u n c o n s c i o u s l ik e a r e c e p t i v e o r g a n
t o w a r d s t h e t r a n s m i t t i n g u n c o n s c i o u s " ( F r e u d 1 9 1 2 , p .
1 1 5 )
o f t h e
o t h e r a n d t o w a r d t h e j o i n t l y , b u t a s y m m e t r i
c a l ly , c r e a t e d u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s t r u c t i o n s o f " t h e a n a
l y t i c t h i r d . "
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5
D r e a m A s s o c i a t i o n s
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A s i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h a n d " t h e
f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e " i n t h e p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r , I s h a l l
t a k e a s a s t a r t i n g p o i n t i n t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e a n a l y s i s
o f d r e a m s t h e i d e a t h a t a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e m u s t s e r v e
t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s . I v i e w t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s a s c e n
t r a l ly i n v o l v i n g t h e i n t e r p l a y o f c o n s c i o u s a n d u n c o n
s c i o u s s t a t e s o f " r e v e r i e " ( B i o n 1 9 6 2 a , b ) o f a n a l y s t
a n d a n a l y s a n d l e a d i n g t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f a t h i r d s u b
j e c t o f a n a l y s i s ( " t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d " )
( O g d e n 1 9 9 4 a , d ) . F u r t h e r , t h e r o l e o f a n a l y t i c t e c h
n i q u e i n s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e p r i v a c y o f a n a l y s a n d a n d
a n a l y s t is h e l d t o b e a s c r i t i c a l t o t h e f a c i l i t a t i o n o f t h e
a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s a s i s t h e r o l e o f a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e i n
c r e a t i n g a n d p r e s e r v i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r c o n s c i o u s a n d
u n c o n s c i o u s c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d . F r o m t h e p e r s p e c t i v e o f t h i s c o n c e p t i o n o f
t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s , I s h a l l i n t h i s c h a p t e r r e c o n s i d e r
137
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138
Reverie and Interpretation
a s p e c t s o f a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e r e l a t e d t o t h e a n a l y s i s o f
d r e a m s .
F o r a l m o s t a c e n t u r y , b e g i n n i n g w i t h F r e u d ' s
( 1 9 0 0 ) e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e a n a l y s is o f h i s o w n d r e a m s ,
t h e r e h a s b e e n g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t a m o n g p s y c h o a n a
ly st s t h a t t h e a n a l y t i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f d r e a m s p r e
s e n t e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f a n a n a l y s i s m u s t b e s h a p e d b y
t h e n e t w o r k o f a s s o c i a t i o n s a n d l i n k a g e s t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t g e n e r a t e s i n r e s p o n s e t o h i s d r e a m s ( s e e f o r
e x a m p l e , A l t m a n 1 9 7 5 , B o n i m e 1 9 6 2 , E t c h e g o y e n
1 9 9 1 , F r e n c h a n d F r o m m 1 9 6 4 , G a r m a 1 9 6 6 , G r a y
1 9 9 2 , R a n g e l l 1 9 8 7 , S e g a l 1 9 9 1 , a n d S h a r p e 1 9 3 7 ) .
D r e a m s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e l a t e n t c o n t e n t o f d r e a m s ,
h a v e b e e n v i e w e d a s t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s c o n
s t r u c t i o n s a n d t h e r o l e o f t h e a n a l y s t h a s b e e n l i k e n e d
t o t h a t o f t h e s k i l l f u l o b s t e t r i c i a n d e l i v e r i n g a b a b y a s
u n o b t r u s i v e l y a n d non-invasively a s h e c a n ( S . L u s t -
m a n 1 9 6 9 , p e r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) . T h e a n a l y s t
m u s t g i v e t h e p a t i e n t r o o m t o a s s o c i a t e a s f r e e l y a s
p o s s i b l e t o h i s d r e a m . I n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s
a s s o c i a t i o n s , t h e a n a l y s t i s l ef t i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f i n t e r
p r e t i n g o n l y m a n i f e s t d r e a m c o n t e n t , t h u s e n g a g i n g
i n a s u p e r f i c i a l ( a n d p r o b a b l y l a r g e l y i n a c c u r a t e )
f o r m o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ( A l t m a n 1 9 7 5 , G a r m a 1 9 6 6 ,
G r e e n s o n 1 9 6 7 , S h a r p e 1 9 3 7 ) . G i v e n t h e i m p o r t a n c e
o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s a s s o c i a t i o n s t o h i s d r e a m , i t is w i d e l y
h e l d t h a t t h e a n a l y s t m u s t n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e
p a t i e n t ' s a s s o c i a t i v e p r o c e s s b y m a k i n g " p r e m a t u r e "
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s b a s e d o n h i s o w n a s s o c i a t i o n s t o t h e
d r e a m . I f t h e p a t i e n t d o e s n o t p r o v i d e a s s o c i a t i o n s ,
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t h e a n a l y s t ' s r o l e c o m e s t o c e n t e r o n e x p l o r i n g t h e
a n a l y s a n d ' s u n c o n s c i o u s a n x i e t y / r e s i s t a n c e t o p r o v i d
i n g t h e a s s o c i a t i o n a l l i n k a g e s n e e d e d t o u n d e r s t a n d
a n d i n t e r p r e t h i s d r e a m ( i n c l u d i n g i t s t r a n s f e r e n c e
m e a n i n g ) ( G r a y 1 9 9 4 ) .
T h e a n a l y s t ' s o f f e r i n g o f a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o n
c e r n i n g a d r e a m i n t h e a b s e n c e
o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s a s s o c i a
t i o n s ( w i t h o u t e x p l o r i n g t h e p a t i e n t ' s a n x i e t y i n
r e l a t i o n t o a s s o c i a t i n g t o t h e d r e a m ) w o u l d b e c o n s i d
e r e d b y m a n y , i f n o t m o s t a n a l y s t s t o b e a f o r m o f " w i l d
a n a l y s is . " A f t e r a l l, t h e a n a l y s t u n d e r s u c h c i r c u m
s t a n c e s is s i m p l y o f f e r i n g h i s o w n a s s o c i a t i o n s . I f t h e
a n a l y s t is t o a v o i d e n g a g i n g i n " w i ld a n a l y s i s , " t h e
p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s , a n d n o t t h a t o f t h e a n a ly s t , m u s t
b e t h e f o c u s
o f t h e
a n a l y t i c e n t e r p r i s e .
W h a t I h a v e t h u s f a r p r e s e n t e d ( i n a h i g h l y s c h e
m a t i c f o r m ) a s t h e " g e n e r a l l y h e l d " v i e w o f t h e p r i n c i
p l e s o f t e c h n i q u e o f d r e a m a na ly s is , r e p r e s e n t s , f o r m e ,
a f u n d a m e n t a l a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e c o m p o n e n t o f t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e an a ly s is o f d r e a m s . H o w e v e r , i n
r e c e n t y e a r s , i t h a s s e e m e d i n c r e a s i n g l y i m p o r t a n t t o
s u p p l e m e n t th i s v i e w w i t h a p e r s p e c t i v e t h a t p l a c e s t h e
a n a l y s is o f d r e a m s i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f t h e d r e a m a s a n i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c e v e n t . I n
w h a t f o l l ow s , I s h a l l a t t e m p t t o e x p l o r e t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s
o f t h e i d e a t h a t a d r e a m d r e a m t i n t h e c o u r s e o f a n
a n a l y s i s r e p r e s e n t s a m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c
tive a n a l y t i c t h i r d . W i t h th i s p e r s p e c t i v e i n m i n d , I s h a l l
p r o p o s e a r e v i s e d v i e w o f a s p e c t s o f t h e t e c i q u e o f
d r e a m a n a l y s i s .
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140
Reverie and Interpretation
F r o m t h e v a n t a g e p o i n t o f t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e i n t e r
s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d , t h e q u e s t i o n o f d r e a m a n a l y s i s
i n g e n e r a l , a n d t h e h a n d l i n g o f d r e a m a s s o c i a t i o n s i n
p a r t i c u l a r , b e c o m e s a n e v e n m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g a n d c o m
p l e x e n d e a v o r t h a n h a d p r e v i o u s ly b e e n g e n e r a l l y
a p p r e c i a t e d .
1
O n e m i g h t w e l l a s k w h e t h e r i t is a n y
l o n g e r s e l f - e v i d e n t t h a t t h e p a t i e n t ' s a s s o c i a t i o n s t o h i s
d r e a m s h o u l d b e p r i v i l e g e d i n t h e w a y t h a t t h e y h a v e
b e e n i n t h e p a s t i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e a n a l y s t ' s c o n s c i o u s
r e s p o n s e s t o t h e d r e a m . D o w e m e a n t h e s a m e t h i n g
t h a t w e d i d e v e n a d e c a d e o r t w o a g o w h e n w e s p e a k o f
t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m a s " h is " d r e a m ? P e r h a p s , i t i s m o r e
a c c u r a t e t o t h i n k
o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m a s b e i n g g e n e r
a t e d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a n a n a ly s i s ( w i t h i t s o w n h i s t o r y )
c o n s i s t i n g o f t h e i n t e r p l a y o f t h e a n a l y s t , t h e a n a l y s a n d ,
a n d t h e a n a l y t ic t h i r d , a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e d r e a m is n o
l o n g e r t o b e c o n s i d e r e d s i m p l y " t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m . "
I n o t h e r w o r d s , d o e s i t a n y l o n g e r m a k e s e n s e t o s p e a k
o f t h e p a t i e n t a s t h e d r e a m e r o f h i s d r e a m o r a r e t h e r e
a lw a y s s e v e r a l a n a l y t i c s u b j e c t s ( d r e a m e r s ) i n d i a l e c t i c a l
t e n s i o n , e a c h c o n t r i b u t i n g t o e v e r y a n a l y t i c c o n s t r u c
tion, e v e n t o a p s y c h i c e v e n t a s s e e m i n g l y p e r s o n a l ( i .e . ,
s e e m i n g l y a p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g s o f t h e i n d i v id -
1. Isakower (1938) and Lewin (1950) were pi on ee rs in the
explora t ion of the analyst ' s use of his own consciousness as an
"analyt ic inst rument" (Isakower 1963), part icularly in re la t ion to
the use of th i s func t ion for purposes of un de rs ta nd ing
uie
u n c o n
sc ious meanings of the pa t ien t ' s dreams and o ther
sleep-related
p h e n o m e n a .
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Reverie and Interpretation
( O g d e n 1 9 9 2 b ) . T h i s is a " f e l t p l a c e " t h a t i s b y n o
m e a n s r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e a n a l y s t ' s c o n s u l t i n g r o o m . I t i s
a m i n d ( m o r e a c c u r a t e l y , a p s y c h e s o m a ) t h a t i s i n a
s e n s e t h e c r e a t i o n o f t w o p e o p l e , a n d y e t is t h e m i n d /
b o d y o f a n i n d i v i d u a l . ( I n w o r d s b o r r o w e d f r o m a
p o e m b y R o b e r t D u n c a n [ 1 9 6 0 ] , i t i s a p l a c e " t h a t i s
n o t m i n e , b u t is a m a d e p l a c e / t h a t is m i n e , i t i s s o
n e a r t o t h e h e a r t . " )
A s a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d g e n e r a t e a t h i r d s u b j e c t ,
t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s e x p e r i e n c e o f d r e a m i n g i s n o l o n g e r
a d e q u a t e l y d e s c r i b e d a s b e i n g g e n e r a t e d i n a m e n t a l
s p a c e t h a t i s e x c l u s i v e l y t h a t o f t h e a n a l y s a n d . A
d r e a m c r e a t e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f a n a ly s i s i s a d r e a m a r i s
i n g i n " t h e a n a l y t i c d r e a m s p a c e " a n d m i g h t t h e r e f o r e
b e t h o u g h t o f a s a d r e a m o f t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d . O n c e
a g a i n , w e m u s t n o t i n s i s t o n a n a n s w e r t o t h e q u e s t i o n ,
" Is t h e d r e a m t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s d r e a m , t h e a n a l y s t ' s
d r e a m o r t h e d r e a m o f t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d ? " T h e t h r e e
m u s t b e h e l d i n a n u n r e s o l v e d t e n s i o n w i t h o n e
a n o t h e r .
A s a n e x p e r i e n c e g e n e r a t e d i n t h e ( i n t e r s u b j e c
tive) a n a l y t i c d r e a m s p a c e , a d r e a m d r e a m t i n t h e
c o u r s e o f a n a n a l y s i s c o u l d b e c o n c e i v e d o f a s a " j o i n t
c o n s t r u c t i o n " ( i n t h e a s y m m e t r i c a l s e n s e d e s c r i b e d i n
C h a p t e r s 2 a n d 4 ) a r i s i n g f r o m t h e i n t e r p l a y o f t h e
u n c o n s c i o u s o f t h e a n a l y s t a n d t h e u n c o n s c i o u s o f t h e
a n a l y s a n d . S i n c e t h e a n a l y s t ' s a s s o c i a t i o n s t o t h e d r e a m
e x p e r i e n c e a r e d r a w n f r o m e x p e r i e n c e i n a n d o f t h e
a n a l y t i c t h i r d , t h e y a r e n o l es s i m p o r t a n t a s o u r c e o f
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a n a l y t i c m e a n i n g i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e d r e a m t h a n a r e t h e
p a t i e n t ' s a s s o c i a t i o n s
3
.
I n t h e f o l l o w i n g b r i e f c l i n i c a l v i g n e t t e , I w i l l
a t t e m p t t o c o n v e y s o m e t h i n g o f a n a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e
i n w h i c h a p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m w a s t r e a t e d b y t h e a n a l y t i c
p a i r a s h a v i n g b e e n g e n e r a t e d i n t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e
a n a l y t i c d r e a m s p a c e .
M r . G . w a s a r a t h e r s c h i z o i d m a n i n h i s e a r l y 4 0 ' s
w h o m I h a d b e e n s e e i n g i n a n a ly s i s f o r a l m o s t e i g h t
y e a r s . T h e p a t i e n t w a s e x t r e m e l y w e l l r e a d in a w i d e
r a n g e o f s u b j e c t s i n c l u d i n g p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . M r . G .
b e g a n a s e s s i o n i n t h i s p e r i o d o f t h e a n a l y s i s b y te l l
i n g m e t h a t a d r e a m h a d a w o k e n h i m d u r i n g t h e
n i g h t . H e h a d f e l t q u i t e s h a k e n f o r s o m e tim e a f t e r
w a k i n g u p . I n t h e d r e a m , h i s m o t h e r w a s h e r c u r
r e n t a g e ( i n h e r e a r l y 7 0 ' s ) a n d w a s p r e g n a n t . B o t h
s h e a n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s o l d e r s i s t e r w e r e v e r y m a t t e r
o f f a c t a b o u t i t , b e h a v i n g a s i f t h e r e w e r e n o t h i n g
3. Ju st as the drea m s
ofthe
analysand are generated in the context
ofthe
analytic dre am space, the analyst's dre am s shou ld similarly be
treated as sources of analytic meaning in relat ion to the leading
transference-countertransference
anxiety at a given ju nc tu re of an
analysis (Peltz 1996, Whitman et al. 1969, Winnicott 1947, Zweibel
1985). I have found that this is of part icular importance when the
analyst 's dream is recalled during the course of an analytic hour
(w hethe r or no t the patien t is rep rese nted in the manifest co nte nt
of the dream). It is beyond the scope of this discussion to explore
and clinically illustrate the analyst 's use of his own dreams in the
analysis of th e transference-countertransference.
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Dream
Associations
145
r e p l a c e d b y h i s s i s te r i n o r d e r t o d i m i n i s h t h e n a r
c is si s tic s t i n g o f t h e a c k n o w l e d g m e n t o f g e n e r a
tional d i f f e r e n c e a n d p a r e n t a l i n t e r c o u r s e .
T h e p a t i e n t s e e m e d t o b e w e a r i n g h i s h e a r t
" o n h i s s l e e v e i n t h e d r e a m i n a w a y t h a t w a s h i g h l y
u n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h is e x t r e m e l y c o n t r o l l e d m a n
w h o w a s v e r y l i tde a b l e t o e x p e r i e n c e h i s o w n f e el
i n g s . H o w e v e r , t h e p a t i e n t h a d i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e
p r e v i o u s m o n t h s o f a n a l y s is b e g u n f o r t h e first
t i m e t o f e e l w a r m t h f o r m e a n d t r u s t i n m e a n d
h a d b e e n a b l e t o s p e a k a b o u t t h o s e f e e l i n g s , a l b e i t
i n a n e x t r e m e l y t e n t a t i v e a n d o b l i q u e w a y . A s M r .
G . r e c o u n t e d t h e d r e a m , I e x p e r i e n c e d a n u m b e r
o f t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l in g s i n c l u d i n g a s e n s e o f
d e t a c h m e n t ( r e f l e c t e d i n m y " t r a n s l a t in g " t h e
d r e a m i n m y m i n d i n t o e a r l y d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d
a b s t r a c t t h e o r e t i c a l t e r m s [ e .g . , " g e n e r a t i o n a l d if
f e r e n c e " ] ) a s
well
a s a m i l d s e n s e o f b o r e d o m . I
a l s o f e l t d i s a p p o i n t e d i n m y s e l f f o r n o t b e i n g a b l e
t o b e m o r e t o u c h e d b y a d r e a m t h a t w a s c l e a r l y
v e r y s i g n i f i c a n t t o M r . G . a n d a n o v e l e x p e r i e n c e
f o r h i m ( i n t h e s e n s e o f r e v e a l i n g , i n a r a t h e r
u n d i s g u i s e d w a y , i n t e n s e , c h i l d - l i k e f e e l i n g s o f
a n g e r , e x c l u s i o n , a n d h e l p l e s s n e s s ) . T h e t h o u g h t
o c c u r r e d t o m e t h a t p e r h a p s I h a d b e e n d o i n g
a n a l y t i c w o r k f o r t o o l o n g a n d w a s b e c o m i n g
j a d e d . I r a t h e r obsessional ly a d d e d u p i n m y m i n d
t h e y e a r s I h a d b e e n i n p r a c t i c e i n v a r i o u s p l a c e s
a n d b e c a m e a w a r e t h a t I h a d b e e n p r a c t i c i n g i n
m y c u r r e n t o f f i c e f o r m o r e t h a n fifteen y e a r s . I
l o o k e d a r o u n d m y c o n s u l t i n g r o o m a n d w a s s t r u c k
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Reverie and Interpretation
b y t h e h e a v i n e s s o f i ts c o n t e n t s — t h e p o n d e r o u s
V i c t o r i a n m o l d i n g s ( t h e d e t a i l s o f w h i c h I h a d
p e r u s e d f o r y e a r s ) , t h e s i n g u l a r l y u n i m a g i n a t i v e
m a n d e p i e c e , t h e l a r g e w o o d e n s h u t t e r s w i t h t h e
s la ts g l u e d i n t o p l a c e b y t o o m a n y c o a t s o f p a i n t .
T h e i d e a o f m o v i n g o f fi ce s h a d c r o s s e d m y m i n d
m a n y t i m e s o v e r t h e y e a r s , b u t t h e t h o u g h t o f i t a t
t h a t m o m e n t l ef t m e f e e l i n g p h y s ic a l l y e x h a u s t e d .
M r . G . h a d t o l d m e o n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s t h a t
h e h a d f e l t s o r r y f o r h i s b r o t h e r w h o m h e f e l t h a d
n e v e r b e e n g i v e n a p l a c e i n t h e f a m i ly . H o w e v e r , i t
w a s o n l y o n e x p e r i e n c i n g m y o w n i n d i f f e r e n c e t o
" t h e b e s t " t h a t M r . G . h a d t o o f f e r m e ( i n h i s p e r
f e c t s p e c i m e n o f a n e m o t i o n a l l y i n t e n s e O e d i p a l
d r e a m ) t h a t I f e l t t h e f u ll i m p a c t o f w h a t i t w a s t h a t
M r . G . h a d b e e n so v e h e m e n d y , s p e e c h le s s ly ,
i m p o t e n t l y a n d f u ti le ly p r o t e s t i n g i n t h e d r e a m .
H i s p r o t e s t w a s n o t s i m p l y t h e p r o t e s t o f a n o l d e r
s i b l i n g r e b e l l i n g a g a i n s t t h e i d e a o f h a v i n g t o s h a r e
h i s m o t h e r w i t h a n e w b a b y o r a g a i n s t t h e i d e a t h a t
h e w a s a b a b y p r o d u c e d b y t h e s e x u a l u n i o n a n d
m a t u r e e m o t i o n a l a n d s e x u a l a l l i a n c e o f h i s p a r
e n t s f r o m w h i c h h e w a s e x c l u d e d a n d h a d n o
v o i ce . W h a t n o w s e e m e d a liv e a n d i m m e d i a t e t o
m e w a s M r . G . ' s p r o t e s t a g a i n s t h i s m o t h e r ' s a n d
m y o w n i n d i f f e r e n c e t o h i s a t t e m p t s a t c o m b a t i n g
t h e w a y i n w h i c h s h e / I f e lt l i fe le ss , w o o d e n , d e n s e ,
i m m o b i l e i n o u r w a y o f g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e m o t i o n s
o f b e i n g a m o t h e r / a n a l y s t .
I s a i d t o M r . G . t h a t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f h i s
i n a b i l i t y t o m a k e h i m s e l f h e a r d i n t h e d r e a m m a d e
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149
u n c e r t a i n t y c o n c e r n i n g t h e r e a l n e s s o f t h e f r i e n d
s h i p w i t h t h e c o n t r a c t o r i n m y r e v e r i e . )
M r . G . w a s s i l e n t f o r a b o u t a m i n u t e a n d t h e n
t o l d m e t h a t w h a t I h a d s a i d f e l t r i g h t . H e a d d e d
t h a t h e f e l t b o t h a s h a m e d t o b e s o c h i l d i s h a n d
g l a d t h a t I k n e w h i m a s w e l l a s I s e e m e d t o . T h e r e
w a s b o t h w a r m t h a n d d i s t a n c e in h i s v o i c e . I w a s
s t r u c k b y t h e w a y i n w h i c h M r . G . , i n t h e v e r y a c t
o f t e l l i n g m e t h a t h e a p p r e c i a t e d t h e f a c t t h a t I
u n d e r s t o o d h i m , w a s a l so c o n v e y i n g ( w i t h h i s
w o r d s " s e e m e d to " ) h i s c o n t i n u e d a n x i e t y t h a t I
w o u l d t u r n o u t t o b e a d i f f e r e n t p e r s o n f r o m t h e
o n e I a p p e a r t o b e . I n t h e c o u r s e
o f t h e
s u c c e e d
i n g m e e t i n g s p r i o r t o t h e p a t i e n t ' s v a c a t i o n , i t w a s
p o s s i b l e f o r M r . G . a n d m e t o f u r t h e r d i s c u s s h i s
f e a r t h a t t h e c l o s e n e s s t h a t h e h a d b e g u n to e x p e
r i e n c e w i t h m e w o u l d d i s a p p e a r w i t h o u t a t r a c e
w h i l e h e w a s a w a y a n d t h a t h e w o u l d r e t u r n t o a n
a n a l y s t w h o m h e d i d n o t k n o w a n d w h o d i d n o t
k n o w h i m .
I n t h i s b r i e f c l i n ic a l a c c o u n t , I h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o
p r o v i d e a s e n s e o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e m o v e m e n t t h a t
t o o k p l a c e i n a p i e c e o f a n a l y t i c w o r k i n v o l v i n g a d r e a m
a n d a s s o c i a t i o n s t o i t. M y r e v e r i e b e g a n w i t h t h e
d e t a c h e d , a b s t r a c t s o m e w h a t m e c h a n i c a l " t r a n s l a t i o n "
o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m in m y o w n m i n d , a c c o m p a n i e d
b y f e e l i n g s o f b o r e d o m . I w a s d i s a p p o i n t e d i n m y s e l f
f o r f e e l in g s o d e t a c h e d f r o m a d r e a m t h a t s e e m e d p a s
s i o n a t e a n d n o v e l f o r M r . G . I d o n o t t h i n k t h a t i t is p o s -
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150
Reverie and Interpretation
sible t o s ay i n a n y m e a n i n g f u l w a y w h e r e M r . G . ' s
d r e a m s t o p p e d a n d w h e r e m y r e v e r i e s b e g a n .
M y i n i t i a l a s s o c i a t i o n s w e r e a s s o c i a t i o n s b o t h t o h i s
d r e a m a n d t o m y r e v e r i e s ( w h i c h i n c l u d e d t h o u g h t s
a b o u t t h e
p o n d e r o u s n e s s
o f m y o f fi ce a n d m y o w n p h y s
i c a l " s t u c k n e s s " a n d p s y c h i c i m m o b i l i t y . ) M y a s s o c i a
t i o n s / r e v e r i e s f o r m e d a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e b a s is f o r
a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e p a t i e n t ' s e x p e r i e n c e
o f m e a s d e n s e l y i m p e r v i o u s t o h i m . T h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
w a s m a d e b e f o r e M r . G . o f f e r e d f o r m a l a s s o c i a t i o n s o f
h i s o w n , b u t i t d i d n o t f e e l t o m e a s i f I w e r e p r e e m p t i n g
h i m o r l e a d i n g h i m i n a d i r e c t i o n t h a t r e f l e c t e d m y p sy
c h o l o g y as d i s t i n c t f r o m h i s . A t t h e t i m e t h a t I m a d e t h e
i n i t i a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , I h a d o n l y a v a g u e s e n s e o f t h e
l e a d i n g t r ans fe rence -coun te r t r ans fe rence a n x i e t y . H o w
e v e r , t h e v e r y i n c o m p l e t e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a l lo w e d t h e
p a t i e n t t o ind i r ecdy ( u n c o n s c i o u s l y ) te l l m e m o r e a b o u t
h i s s e n s e o f m y staleness: ' Y o u ' v e s e e m e d t h e s a m e a s
a lw a y s t o m e . " M y n o t b e i n g c o m p l e t e l y d e a f t o t h e
a n g e r i n h i s c o m m e n t a b o u t m y b e i n g " t h e s a m e a s
a lw a y s " a l l o w e d M r . G . t o t e l l m e o f h i s t h o u g h t s a b o u t
t e r m i n a t i n g t h e a n a ly s i s a t t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r . O n t h e
b a s i s o f a w a r e n e s s o f m y e m b a r r a s s m e n t a b o u t a f a n
t a s y / i m p u l s e t o o f fe r t h e p a t i e n t a
pse udo - i n t e r p r e t a
tion ( r e f l e c t i n g a w i s h t o c l i n g t o t h e p a t i e n t ) a n d m y
r e v e r i e i n v o l v i n g a n x i e t y a b o u t t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h e
f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e c o n t r a c t o r , I w a s a b l e t o p r o v i d e a
f u l le r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . I n t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n I a d d r e s s e d
w h a t I h a d c o m e t o u n d e r s t a n d a s t h e l e a d i n g u n c o n
s c i o u s t r ans fe rence -coun te r t r ans fe rence a n x i e t y : t h e
p a t i e n t ' s f e a r o f h i s r e t u r n i n g t o f i n d t h a t t h e p e r s o n
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Dream Associations
151
t h a t h e f e lt h e k n e w to b e m e h a d d i s a p p e a r e d a n d t h a t
s o m e o n e e l se h a d t a k e n m y p l a c e w h o a p p e a r e d t o b e
m e , b u t d i d n o t f e e l l ik e m e .
T h e c l i n i c a l
v i g n e t t e
j u s t p r e s e n t e d r e p r e s e n t s a n
e f f o r t t o i l l u s t r a t e s o m e t h i n g n o t o n l y a b o u t a w a y o f
w o r k i n g w i t h d r e a m s i n a n a ly s i s , b u t , a s i m p o r t a n t l y ,
r e p r e s e n t s a n a t t e m p t t o c o n v e y a s e n s e o f t h e t y p e o f
m o v e m e n t t h a t c o n s t i t u t e s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a l i v e n e s s
i n t h e a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g . T h e g e n e r a t i v e m o v e m e n t
b e t w e e n d r e a m a n d r e v e r i e , b e t w e e n r e v e r i e a n d
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , b e t w e e n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d e x p e r i
e n c e i n ( a n d o f) t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d , a r e f o r m e t h e
h e a r t o f t h a t w h i c h is u n i q u e t o t h e f e e l i n g o f a l i ve
n e s s o f a n a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e .
Som e Thou ghts on Facets
ofthe
Technique of
Dream Analysis
O n t h e b a s i s o f t h e p e r s p e c t i v e t h a t I h a v e b e e n
d e s c r i b i n g , I h a v e b e c o m e m o r e i n c l i n e d t o o f f e r a n
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o r a s k a q u e s t i o n i n r e s p o n s e t o a
d r e a m p r e s e n t e d b y t h e a n a l y s a n d w i t h o u t " w a i t i n g "
4
4. It is im po rta nt to be ar in m ind the atemporal nature of dreams
and dream associat ions (Freud
1897,1915,1920,1923b).
If the ana
lyst is focused on the associational events following the patient's tell
ing of the dre am , h e m ay lose sight of the way in which th e patie nt
may have already associated to the dre am , for exam ple, in the form
ofthe
patient 's facial expression on seeing the analyst in the waiting
room or in the form of physical sensations or bodily movements
occurr ing during the te l l ing
ofthe
dream (Boyer 1988).
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152
Reverie
and Interpretation
f o r t h e p a t i e n t ' s a s s o c i a t i o n s . I f i n d t h a t i t i s o f t e n d if
f i c u l t a f t e r w a r d s t o r e c o n s t r u c t i n m y o w n
mind '
w h e t h e r i t w a s t h e p a t i e n t o r I w h o f irst r e s p o n d e d t o
t h e d r e a m . H o w e v e r , I a l s o f i n d t h a t I u s u a l l y r e s p o n d
i n a n u n h u r r i e d w a y t o a d r e a m p r e s e n t e d b y t h e
p a t i e n t , t h u s g i v i n g t h e p a t i e n t t i m e t o o f f e r c o m
m e n t s o f h i s o w n if h e is s o i n c l i n e d . T o c o n s i s t e n t l y
f ai l t o g i v e t h e p a t i e n t t i m e t o r e s p o n d t o h i s d r e a m
w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r e n c e f r o m t h e a n a l y s t m a y g i v e r i s e t o
a f o r m o f t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e e n a c t
m e n t i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t " s e rv e s u p d r e a m s " t o t h e
a n a l y s t w h o i n g e s t s a n d d i g e s t s t h e m a n d r e t u r n s t o
t h e p a t i e n t a n a r c i s s i s t i c i n v e n t i o n o f t h e a n a l y s t i n t h e
f o r m o f a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .
I h a v e f o u n d i n m y o w n w o r k a n d in t h e w o r k o f
t h e r a p i s t s a n d a n a ly s t s w h o s e w o r k I h a v e s u p e r v i s e d
t h a t t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r s p o n t a n e i t y a n d g e n e r a t i v e
t h o u g h t i n t h e a n a l y t i c d i a l o g u e is s i g n i f i c a n d y
e n h a n c e d w h e n a n a ly s t a n d a n a l y s a n d a r e r e l e a s e d
f r o m ( o r m o r e a c c u r a t e ly , r e l e a s e t h e m s e l v e s f r o m a n d
r e l e a s e o n e a n o t h e r f r o m ) t h e p r a c t i c e o f p r i v i l e g i n g
t h e p a t i e n t ' s a s s o c i a t i o n s t o h i s d r e a m s , a n d i n s t e a d
t r e a t t h e d r e a m a s a p s y c h o l o g i c a l e v e n t t h a t i s b e i n g
g e n e r a t e d i n t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c d r e a m s p a c e .
W h e n a d r e a m is v i e w e d as a p r o d u c t o f t h e a n a l y t i c
d r e a m s p a c e , a n a ly s t a n d a n a l y s a n d h a v e t h e f r e e d o m
t o b e r e c e p t i v e t o t h e u n c o n s c i o u s d r i f t o f t h e a n a l y t i c
t h i r d a s r e f l e c t e d i n t h e i r r e v e r i e s , t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s o f
" s i m p l y l i s t e n i n g . "
B e f o r e c o n c l u d i n g t h i s p o r t i o n o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n
o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f d r e a m s t o t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d , I
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154
Reverie and Interpretation
Concluding Comments
T o r e t u r n t o t h e b e g i n n i n g , a s o n e i n e v i t a b ly d o e s i n
a n a l y t ic t h i n k i n g a n d p r a c t i c e :
analytic technique must
serve the analytic process.
I v i e w t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s a s
c e n t r a l l y i n v o l v i n g a d i a l e c t i c a l i n t e r p l a y o f s t a t e s o f r e v
e r i e o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d r e s u l t i n g i n t h e c r e a t i o n
o f a t h i r d a n a l y t i c s u b j e c t . I t is t h r o u g h t h e ( a s y m m e t r i
c a l ) e x p e r i e n c i n g o f t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d b y a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d t h a t " t h e d r i f t " o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r n a l
o b j e c t w o r l d o f t h e a n a l y s a n d i s u n d e r s t o o d a n d ( e v e n
t u a l l y ) v e r b a l l y s y m b o l i z e d . T h e s t a t e o f r e v e r i e o f t h e
a n a l y t i c p a i r t h a t is s o
crit ical
a m e d i u m f o r t h e
-cre
a t i o n a n d e x p e r i e n c i n g o f t h e a n a l y t i c t h i r d r e q u i r e s
c o n d i t i o n s o f p r i v ac y w h i c h m u s t b e s a f e g u a r d e d b y
a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e . T h e r o l e o f a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e i n
s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e p r i v a c y o f a n a l y s a n d a n d a n a l y s t is
h e l d t o b e a s c r i t i c a l t o t h e f a c i l i t a t i o n o f t h e a n a l y t i c
p r o c e s s a s i s t h e r o l e o f a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e i n c r e a t i n g
a n d p r e s e r v i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r c o n s c i o u s a n d u n c o n
s c io u s c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d .
F r o m t h e p o i n t o f v ie w o f t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g of . t h e
a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s , I h a v e a t t e m p t e d i n t h i s a n d t h e p r e v i
o u s c h a p t e r t o r e c o n c e i v e a s p e c t s o f a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e
a n d p r a c t i c e r e l a t i n g t o t h e u s e o f t h e c o u c h , t h e " f u n
d a m e n t a l r u l e , " a n d t h e a n a ly s i s o f d r e a m s .
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6
R e v e r i e a n d I n t e r p r e t a t i o n
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Experience is never limited, and it is never
com plete; it is an imm ense sensibility, a kind of
huge spider-web of the finest silken threads
suspended in the chamber of consciousness, and
catching every air-borne particle in its tissue. It is
the very atmosphere of the mind; and when the
mind is imagina tive . . . it takes to itself the faintest
hints of life.. .
H e n r y J a m e s , 1 8 8 4
I b e l i e v e t h a t w e d o w e l l i n p s y c h o a n a l y s i s t o a l l o w
w o r d s a n d i d e a s a c e r t a i n s l i p p a g e . T h i s is p a r t i c u l a r l y
t r u e o f t h e t e r m
reverie
( B i o n 1 9 6 2 a , b ) . W h a t I s h a l l
a t t e m p t i n t h i s c h a p t e r is n o t a d e f i n i t i o n o f r e v e r i e ,
b u t a d i s c u s s i o n o f m y o w n e x p e r i e n c e o f a t t e m p t i n g t o
m a k e u s e o f m y o w n s t a t e s o f r e v e r i e t o f u r t h e r t h e a n a -
157
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Reverie and Interpretation
l y ti c p r o c e s s . I n t h i s w a y I h o p e t o c o n v e y a s e n s e o f
w h a t I m e a n b y t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f r e v e r i e i n a n a n a l y t i c
s e t t i n g a n d h o w I m a k e an a l y t ic u s e o f t h e " o v e r l a p p i n g
s t a t e s o f r e v e r i e " o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d .
I t i s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e n o t t o b e d i s m i s s i v e o f re v
e r i e s i n c e i t is a n e x p e r i e n c e t h a t t a k e s t h e m o s t m u n
d a n e a n d y e t m o s t p e r s o n a l o f s h a p e s . T h e s e s h a p e s ,
e s p e c i a l l y e a r l y o n i n t h e p r o c e s s o f m o v i n g t o w a r d
v e r b a l s y m b o l i z a t i o n o f r e v e r i e e x p e r i e n c e ( a n d w e
a r e m o s t o f t h e t i m e e a r l y o n i n t h e p r o c e s s ) , a r e t h e
s t u f f o f o r d i n a r y l i f e—the d a y - to - d a y c o n c e r n s t h a t
a c c r u e i n t h e p r o c e s s o f b e i n g a l i ve a s a h u m a n b e i n g .
R e v e r i e s " a r e t h i n g s m a d e o u t o f l i v es a n d t h e w o r l d
t h a t t h e l i v e s
i n h a b i t .
. . [ t h e y a r e a b o u t ] p e o p l e : p e o
p l e w o r k i n g , t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h i n g s , f a l l in g i n l o v e , t a k
i n g n a p s . . . [ a b o u t ] t h e h a b i t o f t h e w o r l d , i t s s t r a n g e
o r d i n a r i n e s s , i t s o r d i n a r y s t r a n g e n e s s . . . (farrell
1 9 5 3 , p . 6 8 , s p e a k i n g a b o u t F r o s t ' s p o e t r y ) . T h e y a r e
o u r r u m i n a t i o n s , d a y d r e a m s , f a n ta s i e s , b o d i l y s e n s a
t i o n s , f l e e t i n g p e r c e p t i o n s , i m a g e s e m e r g i n g f r o m
s t a t e s o f h a l f - s l e e p ( F r a y n 1 9 8 7 ) , t u n e s ( B o y e r 1 9 9 2 )
a n d p h r a s e s ( F l a n n e r y 1 9 7 9 ) t h a t r u n t h r o u g h o u r
m i n d s , a n d s o o n .
A/ I v i e w r e v e r i e a s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y a p e r s o n a l / p r i v a t e
e v e n t a n d a n i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e o n e . A s is t h e c a s e w i t h
o t h e r h i g h l y p e r s o n a l e m o t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s o f t h e
a n a l y s t , h e d o e s n o t o f t e n s p e a k w i t h t h e a n a l y s a n d
d i r e c d y
a b o u t h i s e x p e r i e n c e s , b u t a t t e m p t s t o s p e a k t o
t h e a n a l y s a n d
from
w h a t h e is t h i n k i n g a n d f e e l i n g .
T h a t is , h e a t t e m p t s t o i n f o r m w h a t h e sa ys b y h i s a w a r e -
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Reverie
and Interpretation
159
n e s s o f a n d g r o u n d e d n e s s i n h i s e m o t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e
w i t h t h e p a t i e n t .
I t is n o s m a l l t h i n g t h a t w e a s k o f o u r s e l v e s a s a n a
lysts
i n a t t e m p t i n g t o m a k e u s e o f o u r r e v e r i e e x p e r i
e n c e i n t h e a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g . R e v e r i e is a n e x q u i s i t e l y
p r i v a t e d i m e n s i o n o f e x p e r i e n c e i n v o lv i n g t h e m o s t
e m b a r r a s s i n g l y q u o t i d i a n ( a n d y e t a ll i m p o r t a n t )
a s p e c t s o f o u r l iv es . T h e t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s c o n s t i
t u t i n g r e v e r i e a r e r a r e l y d i s c u s s e d w i t h o u r c o l l e a g u e s .
T o a t t e m p t t o h o l d s u c h t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , a n d s e n s a
tions i n c o n s c i o u s n e s s is t o f o r e g o a t y p e o f p r i v a c y t h a t
w e o r d i n a r i l y u n c o n s c i o u s l y r e l y o n a s a b a r r i e r s e p a r a t
i n g i n s i d e f r o m o u t s i d e , p u b l i c f r o m p r i v a t e . I n o u r
e f f o r t s t o m a k e a n a l y t i c u s e o f o u r r e v e r i e s , " I" a s
u n s e l f c o n s c i o u s s u b j e c t is t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o " m e " as
o b j e c t o f a n a l y t i c s c r u t i n y .
P a r a d o x i c a l l y , a s p e r s o n a l a n d p r i v a t e a s t h e a n a
l y s t ' s r e v e r i e s f e e l t o h i m , i t is m i s l e a d i n g t o v i e w t h e
a n a l y s t ' s r e v e r i e s a s " h i s " p e r s o n a l c r e a t i o n s s i n c e r e v
e r i e i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e a j o i n t l y ( b u t a s y m m e t r i c a l l y )
c r e a t e d u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n t h a t
I h a v e t e r m e d " t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c t h i r d "
( O g d e n 1 9 9 4 a , b , c , d ) . I n c o n c e p t u a l i z i n g r e v e r i e a s
b o t h a n i n d i v i d u a l p s y c h i c e v e n t a n d a n u n c o n s c i o u s
i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n , I a m r e l y i n g o n a jd ia lec-
t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n
. o f . t h e . a n a ly t i c. i n t e r a c t i o n ^ T h e a n a -
r
lyst
a n d a n a l y s a n d t o g e t h e r c o n t r i b u t e t o a n d
^ p a r t i c i p a t e i n a n u n c o n s c i o u s in ter sub jec t iv i ty .^Para
p h r a s i n g a n d e x t e n d i n g W i n n i c o t t ( 1 9 6 0 ) , t h e r e i s n o
s u c h t h i n g a s a n a n a l y s a n d
a p a r t f r o m _ t h e - a n a l y s t ;
a t
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160
Reverie and Interpretation
t h e s a m e t i m e t h e a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d a r e s e p a r a t e
i n d i v i d u a l s , e a c h w i t h h i s o w n m i n d , b o d y , h i s t o r y ,
a n d s o o n . T h e p a r a d o x is " t o b e a c c e p t e d a n d t o l e r
a t e d a n d r e s p e c t e d . . . f o r i t u s n o t t o b e r e s o l v e d "
( W i n n i c o t t 1 9 7 l d , p . x i i ) .
T h e a n a l y s t ' s r e v e r i e s a r e i n a w a y m o r e d if f i c u lt t o
m a k e u s e o f a n a l y t i c a ll y t h a n t h e d r e a m s o f e i t h e r a n a
ly st o r a n a l y s a n d b e c a u s e r e v e r i e s a r e " u n f r a m e d " b y
s l e e p a n d w a k e f u l n e s s . W e c a n u s u a l l y d i f f e r e n t i a t e a
d r e a m f r o m o t h e r p s y c h i c e v e n t s b e c a u s e t h e e x p e r i
e n c e o c c u r s
b e t w e e n j h e
tim e w e f a ll a s l e e p a n d t h e
tim e w e w a k e upfjReverie, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , s e a m l e s s ly
m e l t s i n t o o t h e r p s y c h i c s t a t e s . I t d o e s n o t h a v e a c l e a r l y
d e l i n e a t e d p o i n t o f d e p a r t u r e o r p o i n t o f t e r m i n a t i o n
s e p a r a t i n g i t , f o r e x a m p l e , f r o m m o r e f o c u s e d s e c o n d
a r y p r o c e s s t h o u g h t t h a t m a y p r e c e d e o r f o ll o w it .
T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f r e v e r i e i s r a r e l y , i f e v e r , " t r a n s
l a t a b l e " i n a o n e - t o - o n e f a s h i o n i n t o a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f w h a t i s g o i n g o n i n t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p . T h e
a t t e m p t t o m a k e i m m e d i a t e i n t e r p r e t i v e u s e o f t h e
a f fe c ti v e o r i d e a t i o n a l c o n t e n t o f t h e a n a l y s t ' s r e v e r i e s
u s u a l l y l e a d s t o s u p e r f i c i a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s i n w h i c h
m a n i f e s t c o n t e n t is t r e a t e d a s i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e w i t h
l a t e n t c o n t e n t .
T h e a n a l y s t ' s u s e o f h i s r e v e r i e s r e q u i r e s t o l e r a n c e
o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g a d r i f t . T h e f a c t t h a t t h e
" c u r r e n t " o f r e v e r i e is c a r r y i n g t h e a n a l y s t a n y w h e r e
t h a t i s o f a n y v a l u e a t a l l t o t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s is u s u
a ll y a r e t r o s p e c t i v e d i s c o v e r y a n d is a l m o s t a lw a y s u n a n
ticipated. T h e s t a t e o f b e i n g a d r i f t c a n n o t b e r u s h e d t o
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Reverie and Interpretation
161
c l o s u r e . T h e a n a l y s t m u s t b e a b l e t o e n d a s e s s i o n w i t h J
a s e n s e t h a t t h e a n a l y s is is
at_a-pause^at -best ,
a _ c o m m a
i n a sen t ence
r
/
Ana ly t i c m o v e m e n t is b e t t e r d e s c r i b e d a s
a " s l o u c h i n g t o w a r d s "
(Coltar_t_J9_86,
b o r r o w i n g from
Y e a t s ) r a t h e r t h a n a n
arriyipg^at.
T h i s s o r t o f m o v e
m e n t is p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t t o b e a b l e t o b e a r i n
o n e ' s h a n d l i n g o f r e v e r i e . N o s i n g l e r e v e r i e o r g r o u p o f
r e v e r i e s s h o u l d b e o v e r v a l u e d b y v i e w i n g t h e e x p e r i
e n c e as a " r o y a l r o a d " to t h e l e a d i n g u n c o n s c i o u s t r a n s - ,-Xu.
fe rence-counte r t ransfe rence_anxieJyJ ;Rever ies~lnusTbe
a l l o w e d t o a c c r u e m e a n i n g w i t h o u t a n a ly s t o r
a n a l y s a n d f e e l i n g p r e s s u r e d t o m a k e i m m e d i a t e u s e o f
t h e m . H o w e v e r u r g e n t t h e s i t u a t i o n m a y f e e l , i t is
i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e a n a l y t i c p a i r ( a t l e a s t t o s o m e
d e g r e e ) m a i n t a i n a s e n s e t h a t t h e y h a v e " t i m e t o w a s t e , '
t h a t t h e r e is n o n e e d t o a c c o u n t f o r t h e " v a l u e " o f e a c h
s e s s i o n , e a c h w e e k o r e a c h m o n t h t h a t t h e y m a y s p e n d
t o g e t h e r . S y m b o l i z a t i o n ( i n p a r t v e r b a l ) u s u a l l y d e v e l
o p s o v e r tim e i f o n e is p a t i e n t a n d d o e s n o t f o r c e i t ( cf .
G r e e n 1 9 8 7 a n d L e b o v i c i 1 9 8 7 , f o r d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h e
r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n r e v e r i e a n d v e r b a l s y m b o l i z a t i o n ) .
F o r c e d s y m b o l i z a t i o n is a l m o s t a lw a y s e a s i ly r e c o g n i z
a b l e b y i t s i n t e l l e c t u a l i z e d , f o r m u l a i c , c o n t r i v e d q u a l i t y .
N e i t h e r s h o u l d a n y r e v e r i e b e d i s m i s s e d a s s i m p l y
t h e a n a l y s t ' s " o w n s t u ff , " i . e ., a s a r e f l e c t i o n o f h i s o w n
u n r e s o l v e d c o n f l ic t s , h i s d i s t r e s s r e g a r d i n g e v e n t s i n h i s
c u r r e n t l i f e ( h o w e v e r r e a l a n d i m p o r t a n t t h o s e e v e n t s
m i g h t b e ) , h i s s t a t e o f f a t i g u e , h i s t e n d e n c y t o b e se lf -
a b s o r b e d , a n d s o o n . A n i m p o r t a n t e v e n t i n t h e a n a ^ \ \^
lyst's l if e , s u c h a s t h e c h r o n i c i l l n e s s o f h i s c h i l d , is d if - /
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162
Reverie and Interpretation
f e r e n d y c o n t e x t u a l i z e d b y t h e a n a l y s t ' s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h
e a c h p a t i e n t , a n d as a r e s u l t b e c o m e s a d i f f e r e n t " a n a
l y t i c o b j e c t " ( B i o n 1 9 6 2 a , G r e e n 1 9 7 5 ) i n e a c h a n a l y s i s .
F o r e x a m p l e , w h i l e s i t t in g w i t h o n e p a t i e n t t h e a n a l y s t
m a y b e c o n s u m e d b y t h e a s p e c t o f h i s e x p e r i e n c e
i n v o l v i n g h i s f e e l i n g s o f i n t e n s e h e l p l e s s n e s s r e g a r d i n g
h i s i n a b i l i t y t o r e l i e v e t h e p a i n t h a t h i s c h i l d i s e x p e r i
e n c i n g . W h i l e w i t h a n o t h e r p a t i e n t ( o r a t a d i f f e r e n t
m o m e n t i n t h e h o u r w i t h t h e s a m e p a t i e n t ) , t h e a n a l y s t
m a y b e a l m o s t e n t i r e l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h f e e l i n g s o f
I erwy^c£fr iends.whose c h i l d r e n a r e hea l thy/ W h i l e w i t h
s ti l l a n o t h e r p a t i e n t ,
tfie
a n a l y s t
migh tDe
f i l l e d w i t h t e r
rible s a d n e s s i n
i m a g i n i n g
w h a t i t w o u l d f e e l l i k e
a t t e m p t i n g t o l iv e w i t h o u t o n e ' s c h i l d .
T h e e m o t i o n a l f a l l o u t o r w a k e o f r e v e r i e is u s u a l l y
q u i t e u n o b t r u s i v e a n d i n a r t i c u l a t e , c a r r y i n g f o r t h e a n a
ly st m o r e t h e q u a l i t y o f a n e l u s i v e s e n s e
o f be i ng
u n s e t -
tied t h a n a s e n s e o f h a v i n g a r r i v e d a t a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g .
I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e e m o t i o n a l d i s e q u i l i b r i u m g e n e r a t e d
b y r e v e r i e is o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t s o f
e x p e r i e n c e a t t h e a n a l y s t ' s d i s p o s a l w i t h w h i c h t o g e t a
s e n s e o f w h a t is h ap p e n i n g a t jm_un_conscious l e v e l i n
mejmaiytLc j re ja t ionship . R e v e r i e is a n e m o t i o n a l c o m
p a s s t h a t I h e a v i l y rely~on ( b u t c a n n o t c l e a r ly r e a d ) t o
g a i n m y b e a r i n g s i n t h e a n a l y t i c s i t u a t i o n . P a r a d o x i
c a l ly , w h i l e r e v e r i e i s f o r m e c r i t i c a l t o m y a b i l i t y t o b e
a n a n a l y s t , i t is a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e d i m e n s i o n o f t h e
a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e t h a t f e e l s i n t h e m o m e n t l e a s t w o r
t h y o f a n a l y t i c s c r u t i n y . T h e e m o t i o n a l t u m u l t a s so c i
a t e d w i t h r e v e r i e u s u a l l y f e e l s a s i f i t is p r i m a r i l y , i f n o t
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e n t i r e l y , a r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h o n e is not
b e i n g a n a n a l y s t a t t h a t m o m e n t . I t is t h e d i m e n s i o n o f
t h e a n a l y s t ' s e x p e r i e n c e t h a t m o s t f e e l s l i k e a m a n i f e s t a
tion o f h i s f a i l u r e t o b e r e c e p t i v e , u n d e r s t a n d i n g , c o m
p a s s i o n a t e , o b s e r v a n t , a t t e n t i v e , d i l i g e n t , i n t e l l i g e n t ,
a n d s o o n . I n s t e a d , t h e e m o t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e s a s s o c i
a t e d w i t h r e v e r i e r e g u l a r l y f e e l t o t h e a n a l y s t t o b e a
p r o d u c t o f h i s o w n i n t e r f e r i n g c u r r e n t p r e o c c u p a t i o n s ,
e x c e s s i v e n a r c i s s i s t i c s e l f - a b s o r p t i o n , i m m a t u r i t y , i n e x
p e r i e n c e , f a t ig u e , i n a d e q u a t e t r a i n i n g , u n r e s o l v e d
e m o t i o n a l c o n f l i c t s , a n d s o o n . T h e a n a l y s t ' s d i ff ic u l ty
i n m a k i n g u s e o f h i s r e v e r i e s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f a n a l y s i s is
e a s il y u n d e r s t a n d a b l e s i n c e s u c h e x p e r i e n c e is u s u a l l y
s o c l o s e , s o i m m e d i a t e , t h a t i t is d i f f i c u l t t o s e e : i t i s " t o o
p r e s e n t t o
i m a g i n e
( F r o s t 1 9 4 2 a , p . 3 0 5 ) .
~~~
S i n c e I v i e w t h e u s e o f o v e r l a p p i n g s t a t e s o f r e v e r i e
o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d a s a f u n d a m e n t a l p a r t o f a n a
l yt i c t e c h n i q u e , a c l o s e e x a m i n a t i o n o f a n y a n a l y t i c s es
s i o n o r s e r i e s o f s e s s i o n s w i ll s e r v e t o i l l u s t r a t e
s i g n i f i c a n t a s p e c t s
o f t h e
a n a l y t i c u s e o f r e v e r i e ( o r t h e
d i f fi c u lt y f a c e d b y t h e a n a l y t i c p a i r i n a t t e m p t i n g t o d o
s o ) . B y t h e s a m e t o k e n , a c l o s e e x a m i n a t i o n o f a n y
g i v e n e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e a n a l y t i c u s e o f r e v e r i e i s s p e
c if ic t o a p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t in a p a r t i c u l a r a n a l y s i s . A n
e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h a t m o m e n t w i l l n e c e s s a r i l y i n v o l v e
p r o b l e m s o f t e c h n i q u e a n d p o t e n t i a l i t i e s f o r e m o t i o n a l
g r o w t h t h a t a r e u n i q u e t o t h a t m o m e n t i n t h e
psycho
log ica l - in t e rpe r sona l
m o v e m e n t o f a n a l y s t a n d
a n a l y s a n d .
C o n s e q u e n t i y ,
t h e c l i n i c a l e x a m p l e t h a t I
w i ll p r e s e n t i n a n e f f o r t t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e a t t e m p t t o u t i -
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l iz e r e v e r i e e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e a n a l y t i c se t t i ng is n e c e s
s a r i l y a c l i n i ca l e x a m p l e o f a " s p e c i a l p r o b l e m " i n t h e
a n a l y t i c u s e o f r e v e r i e . ( T h e r e a r e n o " r u n o f t h e m i l l "
p r o b l e m s i n t h e e f f o r t t o m a k e u s e o f r e v e r i e . )
Clinical Illustration:
The Wom an Who Couldn t Consider
T h e f o l l o w i n g is a f r a g m e n t o f a n an a l y s is t h a t f o c u s e s
o n a s e r i e s o f t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e s e s s i o n s t h a t o c c u r r e d
a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s i x t h y e a r o f a n a n a ly s i s c o n - M-
d u c t e d f iv e tim es p e r w e e k . '
i
M y s t o m a c h m u s c l e s t e n s e d a n d I e x p e r i e n c e d a
f a i n t s e n s e o f n a u s e a a s I h e a r d t h e r a p i d f o o t fa l ls
o f M s . B . r a c i n g u p t h e s t a i r s l e a d i n g t o m y o f f ic e .
I t s e e m e d t o j h e t h a t j i h e j v a s ^ ^ s p e r a t e j i o t t o m i s s
a s e c o n d o f h e r ̂ session. I h a d felt f o r s o m e tim e"
t h a t t h e q u a n t i t y o f m i n u t e s t h a t s h e s p e n t w i t h m e
h a d h a d to s u b s t i t u t e f o r all
1
o f t h e w a y s i n w h i c h
s h e f e l t u n a b l e t o b e p r e s e n t w h i l e w i t h m e / S e c
o n d s l a t e r , I i m a g i n e d t h e p a t i e n t w a i t i n g i n a s t a t e
o f c h a f i n g u r g e n c y t o g e t t o m e . A s t h e p a t i e n t
led
t h e w a y f r o m t h e w a i t i n g r o o m i n t o t h e c o n s u l t i n g
r o o m , I c o u l d f e e l i n m y b o d y t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r i n k
i n g i n o f e v e r y d e t a i l o f t h e h a l lw a y . I n o t i c e d s ev
e r a l s m a l l f le c k s o f p a p e r f r o m m y w r i t i n g p a d o n
t h e c a r p e t . I knew that t h e p a t i e n t w a s t a k i n g t h e m
i n a n d h o a r d i n g t h e m " i n s i d e " o f h e r t o s i l e n d y
d i s s e c t m e n t a l l y d u r i n g a n d a f t e r t h e s e s s i o n . I f e l t
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i n a v e r y c o n c r e t e w a y t h a t t h o s e b i t s o f p a p e r w e r e
p a r t s o f m e t h a t w e r e b e i n g t a k e n h o s t a g e . ( T h e
^ f a n t a s i e s t h a t I a m d e s c r i b i n g w e r e a t t h i s p o i n t
' a l m o s t e n t i r e l y p h y s i c a l s e n s a t i o n s a s o p p o s e d t o
v e r b a l n a r r a t i v e s . )
A s M s . B . , a 4 1 - y e a r - o l d , d i v o r c e d a r c h i t e c t ,
l a i d d o w n o n t h e c o u c h , s h e a r c h e d h e r b a c k i n d i
c a t i n g i n a n u n s p o k e n w a y t h a t t h e c o u c h m a d e
h e r b a c k a c h e . ( S h e h a d i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e p r e v i
o u s m o n t h s c o m p l a i n e d o n s e ve r a l o c c a s i o n s t h a t
J ^ m y
c o u c h c a u s e d d i s c o m f o r t t o h e r b a c k . ) I s a i d t o
h e r t h a t s h e s e e m e d t o b e b e g i n n i n g t h e h o u r b y
r e g i s t e r i n g a p r o t e s t a b o u t t h e f a c t t h a t i t f e l t t o
h e r t h a t I d i d n o t c a r e e n o u g h a b o u t h e r t o p r o
v i d e a c o m f o r t a b l e p l a c e f o r h e r h e r e . ( E v e n a s I
w a s s p e a k i n g t h e s e w o r d s , I c o u l d h e a r b o t h t h e
c h i l l i n e s s i n m y v o i c e a n d t h e . r e f l e x iv e , c a n n e d
n a t u r e o f t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . T h i s was a n a c c u s a -
tion d i s g u i s e d a s a n
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n — I
w a s u n i n t e n -
Tionally~teIlihg Ms7~B.-
a b o u t
m y
o w n g r o w i n g
f r u s t r a t i o n , a n g e r , a n d f e e l in g s o f i n a d e q u a c y i n
r
~f* r e l a t i o n t o o u r w o r k t o g e t h e r . )
M s . B . r e s p o n d e d t o m y c o m m e n t b y s a y i n g
t h a t t h a t "is t h e w a y t h e c o u c h is ." ( T h e r e w a s a
h a r d n e s s t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p a t i e n t s a i d " is " r a t h e r
t h a n " f e e l s . " )
T h e p a t i e n t ' s b i t t e r r e s i g n a t i o n t o t h e f a c t
t h a t t h i n g s a r e t h e w a y t h e y a r e b r o u g h t t o m i n d
t h e p a t i e n t ' s c o n v i c t i o n ( w h i c h s h e t r e a t e d a s a
f ac t ) t h a t s h e h a d b e e n a n u n w a n t e d b a b y , " a m i s -
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and Interpretation
^ t a k e , b o r n a l m o s t a d e c a d e a f te r h e r o l d e r
b r o t h e r a n d s i s te r . M s . B . ' s m o t h e r h a d b e e n
a d v a n c i n g q u i c k l y i n h e r c a r e e r i n t h e f e d e r a l g o v
e r n m e n t w h e n s h e b e c a m e p r e g n a n t w i t h t h e
p a t i e n t a n d
g r udg i ng l y
t o o k a l e a v e o f a b s e n c e f o r
t h e f i r st f e w m o n t h s o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s l if e . M s . B . f e l t
t h a t h e r m o t h e r h a d h a t e d h e r a ll h e r l i f e a n d h a d
t r e a t e d h e r f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g w i t h a m i x t u r e o f
n e g l e c t a n d d i s g u s t w h i l e a t t h e s a m e tim e fiercely
i n s i s t in g t h a t t h e p a t i e n t b e a " m i n i a t u r e v e r s i o n "
o f t h e m o t h e r . T h e p a t i e n t ' s f a t h e r , a s h a d o w y fig
u r e i n t h e a n a l y s i s , w a s a l s o p a r t o f
tEe~unchange
a b l e " g i v e n " t o w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t f e lt
resigned. '
H e
w a s d e s c r i b e d as a b e n i g n , b u t i n e f f e c t u a l m a n
w h o s e e m e d t o h a v e e m o t i o n a l l y w i t h d r a w n f r o m
t h e f a m i l y b y t h e tim e t h e p a t i e n t w a s b o r n .
I s a i d t o M s . B . , i n c a r e f u l l y m e a s u r e d t o n e s ,
t h a t s h e m u s t f ee l t h a t s h e p e r e n n i a l l y a c c o m m o
d a t e s t o m e — I m u s t s e e m t o h e r n o t t o h a v e t h e
s l i g h t e s t i n t e n t i o n o f a c c o m m o d a t i n g t o h e r . B o t h
t h e p a t i e n t a n d I k n e w t h a t w h a t w e w e r e t a l k i n g
a b o u t w a s a m a j o r s t r u g g l e in t he ^ t r a ns f e r e nc e -
c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e : t h e p a t i e n t ' s i n t e n s e a n g e r a t
m e f o r n o t g i v i n g h e r w h a t
s h e J c n e w
I c o u l d e a s i l y
g iv e h e r i f
I~chose_to^-a magical ly
t r a n s f o r m a t i v e
p a r t o f m e t h a t w o u l d c h a n g e h e r l i fe . T h i s w a s
f a m i l i a r t e r r i t o r y a n d h a d b e e n a c t e d o u t i n i n n u
m e r a b l e w ay s i n c l u d i n g , m o s t r e c e ndy , i n t h e f o r m
o f s e x u a l a c ti v it y i n v o l v i n g h e r p e r f o r m i n g f e l l a t i o
o n a f r i e n d a n d t r i u m p h a n t l y s w a l l o w i n g h i s
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Reverie and Interpretation 167
s e m e n , c o n s c i o u s l y f a n t a s i e d t o b e h is s t r e n g t h
a n d v it a l i ty . I s u s p e c t e d t h a t u n c o n s c i o u s l y M s . B .
f a n t a s i e d t h e s e m e n t o b e t h e m a g i c a l ly t r a n s f o r
m a t i v e m i l k / p o w e r s t o l e n f r o m h e r m o t h e r a n d
f r o m m e . T h e p a t i e n t ' s a t t e m p t s t o s t e a l a m a g i
c a l l y t r a n s f o r m a t i v e p a r t o f m e e n g e n d e r e d in m e
a f e e l i n g t h a t i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o g i ve h e r a n y t h i n g
•~ i n t h e w a y o f c o m p a s s i o n o r c o n c e r n , m u c h le ss
a f f e c t i o n o r l o v e , w i t h o u t f e e l i n g t h a t I h a d s u b m i t
t e d t o h e r a n d w a s p a ss iv e ly g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e
m o t i o n s o f a r o l e s c r i p t e d b y h e r .
M s . B . t h e n s p o k e a b o u t e v e n t s t h a t h a d
o c c u r r e d e a r l i e r i n t h e d a y i n v o l v i n g a l o n g - s t a n d
i n g d i s p u t e w i t h a n e i g h b o r r e g a r d i n g a d o g w h o s e
b a r k i n g t h e p a t i e n t f o u n d " u n n e r v i n g . " I r e c o g
n i z e d ( w i th o n l y a t o u c h o f a m u s e m e n t ) t h a t I w a s
i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e n e i g h b o r ' s d o g , w h o , it
s e e m e d t o m e , w a s b e i n g a s k e d t o b e a n
imaginary
d o g ( a d o g i n v e n t e d b y M s . B . ) w h o d i d n o t m a k e
t h e n o i s e s d o g s d o . Desp i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e
s e e m e d t o b e s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e
d i s p l a c e m e n t o n t o t h e n e i g h b o r ' s d o g t h a t I m i g h t
h a v e i n t e r p r e t e d , I d e c i d e d n o t t o a t t e m p t s u c h a n
i n t e r v e n t i o n . I h a d l e a r n e d f r o m m y e x p e r i e n c e
w i t h M s . B . t h a t a g o o d d e a l o f t h e e f f e c t b e i n g c r e
a t e d b y h e r m o n o l o g u e a b o u t t h e d o g w a s t h e
u n s t a t e d d e m a n d t h e I p o i n t o u t t o h e r s o m e t h i n g
t h a t s h e w a s a l r e a d y f u ll y a w a r e o f ( i .e . , t h a t w h e n
s h e w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e d o g , s h e w a s a l s o t a l k i n g
a b o u t m e . ) F o r m e t o d o s o , I i m a g i n e d , w o u l d b e
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e x p e r i e n c e d b y t h e p a t i e n t a s a m o m e n t a r y v i c to r y
i n h e r e f f o r t t o g e t m e t o " s t i n g " h e r w i t h a n i n t e r
p r e t a t i o n t h a t r e f l e c t e d m y a n g e r / i n t e r e s t i n h e r .
S h e w o u l d i n f a n t a s y p a s s i v e ly a n d g l e e f u l l y s w a l
l o w t h e s t o l e n ( a n g r y ) p a r t o f m e . M y e x p e r i e n c e
w i t h M s . B . h a d a l so t a u g h t m e t h a t m y s u c c u m b
i n g t o t h e p r e s s u r e t o m a k e t h e d e m a n d i n g " s t in g
i n g " i n t e r p r e t a t i on w a s d i s a p p o i n t i n g t o t h e
p a t i e n t i n t h a t i t r e f l e c t e d a n i n a b i l i t y o n m y p a r t
t o
h o l d
o n t o m y o w n m i n d ( a s s h e h a d f o u n d
a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e t o d o w h i l e w i t h h e r m o t h e r . ) I
a l s o c o n c e i v e d o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s e f f o r t t o e v o k e a n
a n g r y r e s p o n s e from m e a s a n u n c o n s c i o u s
a t t e m p t t o b r i n g m e ( i n t h e p a t e r n a l t r a n s f e r e n c e )
o u t o f t h e s h a d o w s a n d i n t o l i f e. T h i s t o o h a d
m a n y t i m e s b e e n i n t e r p r e t e d .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , I c o u l d e x p e c t t h a t i f I
w e r e n o t t o m a k e a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , M s . B . w o u l d
b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y w i t h d r a w n a n d m o v e t o
a n o t h e r t o p i c t h a t w o u l d f e e l e v e n m o r e d e v o i d o f
l i f e t h a n t h e s e s s i o n
c u r r e n d y
f e l t. T h e p a t i e n t i n
t h e p a s t , u n d e r s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , h a d b e c o m e
s o m n o l e n t i n a w a y t h a t w a s e x p e r i e n c e d b y b o t h o f
u s a s a n g r i l y c o n t r o l l i n g a n d a t tim es s h e h a d f a l l e n
a s l e e p f o r p e r i o d s o f u p t o f i ft e en m i n u t e s . W h e n I
i n t e r p r e t e d t h e p a t i e n t ' s w i t h d r a w a l i n t o s l e e p a s a
w a y o f p r o t e c t i n g h e r s e l f a n d m e from h e r a n g e r
( a n d m i n e ) , m y e x p e r i e n c e h a d b e e n t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t w o u l d t r e a t m y w o r d s a s p r e c i o u s c o m m o d i
t ie s t o b e h o a r d e d ( l i k e t h e s c r a p s o f p a p e r o n t h e
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c a r p e t ) , r a t h e r t h a n u s i n g t h e m t o g e n e r a t e h e r
o w n i d e a s , f e e l i n g s , r e s p o n s e s , a n d s o o n . S i m i l a r ly ,
i n t e r p r £ l a t J£ r i o f t h£ r j a t i e m V^ use o f m y in te rven
tions i n th i s way had* n o t b e e n product iver-Ear l ier
d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h M s . B . c o n c e r n i n g th i s f o r m o f a n a
l yt ic s t a l e m a t e h a d l e d M s . B . t o q u i p t h a t O l i v e r
S a c k s s h o u l d w r i t e a s t o r y a b o u t h e r a n d call i t " T h e
W o m a n W h o C o u l d n ' t C o n s i d e r . "
A s M s . B . w a s s p e a k i n g a n d a s I w a s m u l l i n g
o v e r t h e d i l e m m a j u s t d i s c u s s e d , I b e g a n t h i n k i n g
a b o u t a s c e n e from a film t h a t I h a d s e e n t h e p r e v i
o u s w e e k e n d . A c o r r u p t o ff i c i a l h a d b e e n o r d e r e d
b y h i s M a f i a b o s s t o k i ll h i m s e l f . T h e c o r r u p t o ffi
c i a l p a r k e d h i s c a r o n t h e s h o u l d e r o f a b u s y h i g h
w a y a n d p u t a p i s t o l t o t h e s i d e o f h i s h e a d . T h e c a r
w a s t h e n film ed f r o m a d i s t a n c e a c r o s s t h e h i g h
w a y . T h e d r i v e r ' s s i d e w i n d o w i n a n i n s t a n t b e c a m e
a s h e e t o f s o l i d r e d , b u t d i d n o t s h a t t e r . T h e s o u n d
o f t h e s u i c i d e w a s n o t t h e s o u n d o f a g u n s h o t , b u t
t h e s o u n d o f u n i n t e r r u p t e d t r a ff ic . ( T h e s e
t h o u g h t s w e r e q u i t e u n o b t r u s i v e a n d o c c u p i e d
o n l y a f e w s e c o n d s o f tim e.)
M s . B . w e n t o n w i t h o u t a p a u s e o r t r a n s i t i o n
t o s p e a k a b o u t a d a t e t h a t s h e h a d h a d t h e p r e v i
o u s e v e n i n g . S h e d e s c r i b e d t h e m a n b y m e a n s o f a
c o l l e c t i o n o f d i s j o i n t e d o b s e r v a t i o n s t h a t w e r e
q u i t e d e v o i d o f
f e e l i ng— he
w a s h a n d s o m e , w e ll -
r e a d , d i s p l a y e d a n x i o u s m a n n e r i s m s , a n d s o o n .
T h e r e w a s a l m o s t n o i n d i c a t i o n o f w h a t i t h a d f e l t
l i k e f o r t h e p a t i e n t t o h a v e s p e n t a n e v e n i n g w i t h
•+-
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170
Reverie an d
Interpretation
h i m . I w a s a w a r e t h a t a l t h o u g h M s . B . w a s t a l k i n g ,
s h e w a s n o t t a l k i n g t o m e . I t m a y h a v e b e e n t h a t
s h e w a s n o t e v e n t a l k i n g t o h e r s e l f i n t h a t i t d i d n o t
s e e m t o m e t h a t s h e w a s t h e l e a s t b i t i n t e r e s t e d i n
w h a t s h e w a s s a y i n g . I h a d m a n y tim es i n t e r p r e t e d
t h i s s e n s e o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s d i s c o n n e c t i o n f r o m m e
a n d f r o m h e r s e l f . I d e c i d e d n o t t o o f fe r t h a t o b s e r
v a t i o n a s a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n h e r e i n p a r t b e c a u s e I
f e l t t h a t i t w o u l d h a v e b e e n e x p e r i e n c e d a n d u t i
l i z e d a s a n o t h e r " s t i n g " a n d I d i d n o t f e e l t h a t I
h a d a d i f f e r e n t w a y o f t a l k i n g t o h e r .
A s t h e p a t i e n t c o n t i n u e d , I w a s f e e l i n g t h a t
t h e h o u r w a s m o v i n g e x t r e m e l y s lo w ly . I h a d ' t h e
c l a u s t r o p h o b i c e x p e r i e n c e o f c h e c k i n g t h e time
o n t h e c l o c k a n d t h e n s o m e time l a t e r l o o k i n g a t
t h e c l o c k t o find t h a t t h e h a n d s s e e m e d n o t t o
h a v e m o v e d . Also, I f o u n d m y s e l f p l a y i n g a g a m e
( wh i c h^ c Ud^ n^ t J i e ^ l ^ t ^ a j l ^ l a ^ i l )
o f w a t c h i n g t h e
s e c o n d h a n d o n t h e c l o c k a c r o s s t h e r o o m m a k e
i ts s i l e n t r o u n d s a n d finding t h e p r e c i s e p l a c e i n it s
m o v e m e n t t h a t t h e d i g i t a l c l o c k o n m y a n s w e r i n g
m a c h i n e n e x t t o m y c h a i r w o u l d t r a n s f o r m o n e
d i g i t t o t h e n e x t . T h e c o n v e r g e n c e o f t h e t w o
e v e n t s ( t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e s e c o n d h a n d o f t h e
c l o c k a n d t h e m o m e n t o f t h e m e l t i n g o f t h e d i g i t a l
n u m b e r o n t h e a n s w e r i n g m a c h i n e ) h e l d m y
a t t e n t i o n i n a w a y t h a t w a s
odd ly_mesmer i z ing ,
a l t h o u g h j i o t j ^ c i t i n g o r f a s c i n a t i n g * - T h i s
w a s a n
activity t h a t I h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l y e n g a g e d i n d u r i n g
s e s s i o n s w i t h M s . B . o r w i t h a n y o t h e r p a t i e n t . I h a d
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t h e t h o u g h t t h a t t h is m e n t a l g a m e m a y h a v e
r e f l e c t e d t h e f a c t t h a t I w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e i n t e r
a c t i o n w i t h M s . B . a s m e c h a n i c a l , b u t t h i s i d e a
s e e m e d r o t e a n d w h o l l y i n a d e q u a t e t o t h e d i s t u r b
i n g n a t u r e o f t h e c l a u s t r o p h o b i a a n d o t h e r p o o r l y
d e f i n e d f e e l i n g s t h a t I w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g .
I t h e n b e g a n ( w i t h o u t b e i n g fu lly a w a r e o f i t )
t o t h i n k a b o u t a p h o n e c a ll t h a t I h a d r e c e i v e d se v
e r a l h o u r s e a r l i e r f r o m a f r i e n d w h o h a d j u s t h a d a
d i a g n o s t i c c a r d i a c c a t h e t e r i z a t i o n . H e t o l d m e t h a t
e m e r g e n c y b y p a s s s u r g e r y w o u l d h a v e t o b e p e r
f o r m e d t h e n e x t d a y . M y t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s
m o v e d f r o m a n x i e t y a n d d i s t r e s s a b o u t t h e f r i e n d ' s
i l l n e s s a n d i m m i n j m j ^ r g e j y ^ ^ t o ^ n n ^
' \ ^ b e i n g _ - t o i c K t h e
n e w s t h a t
I ^ e q m r ^ d - e ^ n e r g e r i c y
^ hyrjas^_surgery.
I n
t f t e r a n t a s y
o f m y b e i n g g i v e n
^th is n e w s , I i n i t i a l l y f e l t i n t e n s e f e a r o f n e v e r w a k - —y
i n g u p a g a i n f r o m t h e s u r g e r y . T h i s f e a r g a v e w a y
t o a s e n s e o f p s y c h i c n u m b n e s s , a f e e l i n g o f
d e t a c h m e n t t h a t f e l t s o m e t h i n g l ik e t h e o n s e t o f
e m o t i o n a l d u l l i n g a f t e r r a p i d l y d r i n k i n g a g l a s s o f
w i n e . T h a t n u m b n e s s d i d n o t h o l d a n d
quiet iy
s l i d
i n t o a d i f f e r e n t f e e l i n g t h a t d i d n o t y e t h a v e w o r d s
o r i m a g e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i t . T h e e x p e r i e n c i n g o f
t h i s n e x t f e e l i n g p r e c e d e d a n y f o r m o f t h o u g h t o r
i m a g e i n a w a y t h a t o n e s o m e t i m e s a w a k e s f r o m
s l e e p w i t h i n t e n s e a n x i e t y , p h y s i c a l p a i n o r s o m e
o t h e r f e e l i n g , a n d o n l y
several
s e c o n d s l a t e r
r e m e m b e r s t h e e v e n t s i n o n e ' s l i fe o r t h e d r e a m
w i t h w h i c h t h e f e e l in g s a r e c o n n e c t e d . I n t h e
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Reverie and Interpretation
i n s t a n c e I a m d e s c r i b i n g i n the s e s s i o n w i t h M s . B . ,
I r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e n e w f e e l i n g w a s o n e o f p r o f o u n d
lonel ineslT^and
l o s s t h a t
was_
u n m i s t a k a b l y c o n
nec t ed w i t h t h e r e c e n t d e a t h o f a c l o s e f r i e n d , J . I
r e c a l l e d t h e f e e l i n g s I h a d
felt
w h i l e t a l k i n g w i t h J .
s h o r d y a f te r s h e h a d b e e n d i a g n o s e d w i t h a r e c u r
r e n c e o f h e r b r e a s t c a n c e r . D u r i n g a l o n g w a l k o n
a w e e k e n d m o r n i n g , w e w e r e b o t h " f i g u r i n g o u t "
w h a t t h e n e x t s t e p s h o u l d b e i n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f
h e r t h e n w i d e l y m e t a s t a s i z e d c a n c e r . T h e r e w a s
d u r i n g t h a t w a l k (I t h i n k f o r b o t h o f u s ) a m o m e n
t a r y r e s p i t e f r o m t h e f u ll i n t e n s i t y o f t h e h o r r o r o f
w h a t w a s o c c u r r i n g a s w e w e i g h e d a l t e r n a t i v e s a s i f
t h e c a n c e r c o u l d b e c u r e d . A s I w e n t o v e r p a r t s o f
t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n i n m y m i n d , i t s e e m e d i n r e t r o
s p e c t t h a t t h e m o r e p r a c t i c a l w e b e c a m e t h e m o r e
\make -be l i eve
t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n
fel t—we
w e r e c r e a t
i n g a w o r l d t o g e t h e r , a w o r l d i n w h i c h t h i n g s
w o r k e d a n d h a d c a u s e a n d e f f ec t r e l a t i o n s h i p s
w i t h o n e a n o t h e r . I t w a s n o t a n e m p t y s e n s e o f
m a k e - b e l i e v e , b u t a l o v i n g o n e . A f t e r a l l , i t i s o n l y
f a i r t h a t 3 p l u s 8 e q u a l s 11. E m b e d d e d i n t h i s p a r t
o f t h e r e v e r i e w a s n o t o n l y a w i s h f o r f a i r n e s s , b u t a
w i s h f o r s o m e o n e t o e n f o r c e t h e r u l e s . A t t h a t
p o i n t i n t h e flow o f r e v e r i e , I b e c a m e a w a r e i n a
w a y t h a t I h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l y e x p e r i e n c e d t h a t t h e
m a k e - b e l i e v e w o r l d t h a t J . a n d I h a d b e e n c r e a t i n g
was a^vxt r ld jn^which
t h e r e w a s n o s u c h t h i n g a s
y V e ^ s h e w a s d y i n g j l w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t her d y i n g /
S h e h a d b e e n a l o n e i n i t i n a w a y a n d t o a d e g r e e
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t h a t I h a d n e v e r d a r e d f ee l b e f o r e t h a t m o m e n t i n
t h e s e s s i o n . I f e l t a v e r y p a i n f u l s e n s e o f s h a m e
a b o u t t h e c o w a r d i c e t h a t I f e l t I h a d d i s p l a y e d i n
h a v i n g p r o t e c t e d m y s e l f i n t h e w a y t h a t I h a d .
M o r e i m p o r t a n d y , I f e l t t h a t I h a d left J . e v e n m o r e
i s o l a t e d t h a n s h e h a d h a d t o b e b y n o t f ul ly r e c o g
n i z i n g t h e e x t e n t o f h e r i s o l a t io n .
I t h e n re focused m y a t t e n t i o n o n M s . B . S h e
w a s s p e a k i n g i n a r a t h e r p r e s s u r e d w a y (w i th a n
e x a g g e r a t e d l i l t i n h e r v o i c e ) a b o u t t h e g r e a t p l e a
s u r e t h a t s h e w a s d e r i v i n g f r o m h e r w o r k a n d f r o m
t h e f e e l i n g o f m u t u a l r e s p e c t a n d f r i e n d l y c o l l a b o
r a t i o n t h a t s h e e x p e r i e n c e d w i t h h e r c o l l e a g u e s i n
h e r a r c h i t e c t u r a l f i r m . I t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t o n l y
t h i n l y d i s g u i s e d b y t h e i d e a l i z e d p i c t u r e b e i n g p r e
s e n t e d w e r e f e e l i n g s of ^loneliness a n d h o p e l e s s -
n e s s a b o u t t h e p r o s p e c t y o f h e r e v e r g e n u i n e l y
e x p e r i e n c i n g s u c h f e e l i n g s o f e a s e a n d c l o s e n e s s
w i t h h e r c o l l e a g u e s , h e r f r i e n d s , o r m e .
A s I l i s t e n e d t o M s . B . ' s p r e s s u r e d d e s c r i p t i o n ,
I w a s a w a r e o f f e e l i n g a c o m b i n a t i o n o f a n x i e t y
a n d d e s p o n d e n c y , t h e n a t u r e o f w h i c h w a s q u i t e
n o n s p e c i f i c . I w a s r e m i n d e d o f t h e g r i m s a t is fa c
tion t h a t I h a d fe l t e a r l i e r i n t r a c k i n g t h e c o n v e r
g e n c e o f t h e p r e c i s e , r e p e a t a b l e l o c a t i o n o f t h e
s w e e p s e c o n d h a n d o f t h e c l o c k a n d t h e i n s t a n t o f
m o v e m e n t o f t h e d i g i ta l n u m b e r s o n t h e a n s w e r
i n g m a c h i n e . I t h o u g h t t h a t p e r h a p s t h e f ac t t h a t
t h e r e w a s a p l a c e a n d a m o m e n t w h e r e t h e s e c o n d
h a n d a n d t h e d i g i t a l c l o c k " s q u a r e d " m a y h a v e r e p -
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r e s e n t e d a n u n c o n s c i o u s e f fo r t o n m y p a r t t o c re
a t e a f e e l i n g t h a t t h i n g s c o u l d b e n a m e d , k n o w n ,
i d e n t i f i e d , l o c a t e d , i n a w a y t h a t I k n e w t h a t t h e y
c o u l d n o t .
M s . B . b e g a n t h e f o l l o w i n g s e s s i o n w i t h a
d r e a m :
I w a s w a t c h i n g a m a n t a k e c a r e o f a b a b y i n a n
o u t d o o r p l a c e o f s o m e s o r t t h a t m i g h t h a v e
b e e n a p a r k . H e s e e m e d t o b e d o i n g a g o o d
j o b o f a t t e n d i n g t o i t . H e c a r r i e d t h e b a b y
o v e r t o a s t e e p s e t o f c o n c r e t e s t a i r s a n d l i f te d
t h e b a b y a s i f t h e r e w e r e a s l i d e t o p l a c e i t ' o n ,
b u t t h e r e w a s n o s l i d e . H e l e t g o o f t h e b a b y
a n d le t i t h u r d l e d o w n t h e s t a i rs . I c o u l d s e e
t h e b a b y ' s n e c k b r e a k as i t h i t t h e t o p s t e p a n d
I n o t i c e d t h a t i ts h e a d b e c a m e floppy. W h e n
t h e b a b y l a n d e d a t t h e b o t t o m o f t h e s t e p s ,
t h e m a n p i c k e d u p i t s m o t i o n l e s s b o d y . I w a s
s u r p r i s e d t h a t t h e b a b y w a s n o t c r y i n g . I t
l o o k e d d i r e c dy i n t o m y e y e s a n d s m i l e d i n a n
e e r i e w a y .
A l t h o u g h M s . B . o f t e n b e g a n h e r s e s s i o n s
w i t h a d r e a m , t h i s d r e a m w a s u n u s u a l i n t h a t i t
w a s d i s t u r b i n g t o m e . T h i s l e d m e t o f e e l a f l i c k e r
o f h o p e f u l n e s s . T h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m s i n t h e p a s t
h a d f e l t f l a t a n d d i d n o t s e e m t o i n v i t e i n q u i r y o r
d i s c u s s i o n . M s . B . m a d e n o m e n t i o n o f t h e d r e a m
a n d i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n t o t a lk i n a n e l a b o r a t e l y
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d e t a i l e d w a y a b o u t a p r o j e c t a t w o r k w i t h w h i c h
s h e h a d b e e n i n v o l v e d f o r s o m e t i m e . I i n t e r
r u p t e d h e r a f t e r s e v e r a l m i n u t e s a n d s a i d t h a t I
t h o u g h t t h a t i n t e l l i n g m e t h e d r e a m s h e h a d
a t t e m p t e d t o s ay s o m e t h i n g t o m e t h a t s h e f e l t
w a s i m p o r t a n t t h a t I h e a r a n d a t t h e s a m e
t ime,
s h e w a s a f r a i d t o h a v e m e h e a r i t . ( H e r b u r y i n g t h e
d r e a m i n t h e n o i s e o f t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e p r o j e c t
m a d e i t a p p e a r t h a t s h e h a d s a i d n o t h i n g o f s ig
n i f i c a n c e t o m e .
M s . B . t h e n s a i d , i n a n e a r n e s t , b u t s o m e w h a t
c o m p l i a n t w a y , t h a t a s s h e w a s t e l l i n g m e t h e
d r e a m , s h e a t firstjelt i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e b a b y i n
t h a t s h e o f t e n
;
f ee ls d r o p p e d b y m£. S h e q u i c k l y
a n d unexpectedJy~weliTon t o s a y t h a t t h i s i n t e r p r e
t a t i o n f e l t t o h e r l i k e a " k i n d o f a l i e " s i n c e it f e l t
l i k e a " t i r e d o l d r e f r a i n , a k n e e - j e r k r e a c t i o n . "
T h e p a t i e n t t h e n s a i d t h a t t h e r e w e r e s e v e r a l
v e ry u p s e t t i n g t h i n g s i n t h e d r e a m b e g i n n i n g w i t h
t h e f a c t t h a t s h e h a d f e lt " i m m o b i l i z e d " a n d
u n a b l e t o p r e v e n t f r o m h a p p e n i n g w h a t s h e s a w
u n f o l d i n g . ( I w a s r e m i n d e d o f t h e s h a m e t h a t I
h a d f e l t i n t h e p r e v i o u s s e s s i o n i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h
t h e t h o u g h t t h a t I h a d s h i e l d e d m y s e l f f r o m J . ' s
i s o l a t i o n a n d i n a s e n s e h a d l o o k e d o n i n a n i m m o
b i l i z e d m a n n e r . ) M s . B . s a i d t h a t e v e n m o r e d i s
t r e s s i n g t o h e r w a s h e r s e n s e o f h e r s e l f a s b o t h t h e
b a b y a n d t h e m a n i n t h e d r e a m . S h e r e c o g n i z e d
h e r s e l f i n t h e b a b y ' s a c t o f p o i n t e d l y l o o k i n g i n t o
h e r e y es a n d s m i l i n g i n a d e t a c h e d , m o c k i n g w ay .
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Reverie and Interpretation
M s . B . s a i d t h a t t h e b a b y ' s s m i l e f e l t l i k e t h e i n v i s i
b l e s m i l e o f t r i u m p h t h a t s h e o f t e n i n w a r d l y g iv e s
m e a t t h e e n d o f e a c h m e e t i n g ( a n d a t v a r i o u s
j u n c t u r e s d u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g s ) i n d i c a t i n g t h a t s h e
is " a b o v e " o r " i m m u n e to " p s y c h o l o g i c a l p a i n a n d
t h a t t h i s m a k e s h e r m u c h m o r e p o w e r f u l t h a n I a m
( d e s p i t e w h a t I m a y t h i n k ) .
I w a s m o v e d b y t h e p a t i e n t ' s c o n s c i o u s a n d
u n c o n s c i o u s e f f o r t s t o tell m e , a l b e i t indirect iy,
t h a t s h e h a d s o m e s e n s e o f w h a t i t h a d fe l t l i k e f o r
m e t o h a v e h a d t o e n d u r e h e r d e f i a n t c l a i m s n o t t o
n e e d m e a n d h e r t r i u m p h a n t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f
h e r c a p a c i t y t o o c c u p y a p l a c e a b o v e ( o u t s i d e
of)
h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l p a i n .
M s . B . t h e n t o l d m e t h a t s h e w a s v e r y f r i g h t
e n e d b y h o w e a s y i t is f o r h e r t o b e c o m e t h e m a n
a n d t h e b a b y i n t h e d r e a m , t h a t is , h o w e a s i l y s h e
e n t e r s i n t o a " r o b o t i c " m o d e i n w h i c h s h e is fu l ly
c a p a b l e o f d e s t r o y i n g t h e a n a ly s i s a n d h e r life. S h e
s a i d t h a t s h e w a s t e r r i f i e d b y h e r c a p a c i t y t o
d e c e i v e h e r s e l f i n t h e w a y t h a t t h e m a n s e e m e d t o
b e l i e v e t h a t h e w a s p l a c i n g t h e b a b y o n a s l i d e . M s .
B . t o l d m e s h e c o u l d e a s i ly d e s t r o y t h e a n a l y s i s i n
t h i s m i n d l e s s w a y . S h e f e l t t h a t s h e c o u l d n o t a t
all
r e l y o n h e r a b i l i ty t o d i s t i n g u i s h r e a l t a l k t h a t is
a i m e d a t c h a n g e f r o m pseudo- ta lk t h a t i s
d e s i g n e d t o m a k e m e t h i n k s h e is s a y i n g s o m e
t h i n g w h e n s h e i s n ' t . M s . B . s a i d t h a t e v e n a t t h a t
m o m e n t s h e c o u l d n ' t t e l l t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n
w h a t s h e r e a l l y f e l t a n d w h a t s h e w a s i n v e n t i n g .
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I w i l l o n l y s c h e m a t i c a l l y p r e s e n t e l e m e n t s o f
t h e s u b s e q u e n t m e e t i n g i n a n e f fo r t t o c o n v e y a
s e n s e o f t h e s h a p e o f t h e a n a l y t i c p r o c e s s t h a t w a s
s e t i n m o t i o n b y t h e tw o s e s s i o n s j u s t d e s c r i b e d .
T h e n e x t m e e t i n g b e g a n w i t h M s . B . 's p i c k i n g
a p i e c e o f
l oose , t h r e a d
f r o m t h e c o u c h
and j
i n a n
exaggera ted ges t in^s j i f j i i sd^^
b e t w e e n h e r _ t h u m b a n d f o r e f i n g e r a n d d r o p p i n g i t
o n t h e f loorJbefore_sheJa id jiown. W h e n I a s k e d
he r~wha t i t f e l t l i k e t o b e g i n o u r m e e t i n g as s h e
h a d , s h e l a u g h e d
embar ra ssed ly
a s if s h e w e r e s u r
p r i s e d b y m y i n q u i r y . S i d e s t e p p i n g m y q u e s t i o n ,
s h e s a i d t h a t s h e h a d b e e n i n a c o m p u l s i v e c l e a n i n g
f r e n z y f r o m e a r l y t h a t m o r n i n g . S h e h a s a w o k e n a t
4 : 0 0 A .M . i n a s t a t e o f g r e a t a g i t a t i o n t h a t s e e m e d t o
b e r e l i e v e d o n l y b y c l e a n i n g h e r h o u s e , p a r t i c u l a r l y
t h e b a t h r o o m . S h e s a i d t h a t s h e f e l t t h a t s h e h a d
f a i l e d i n l if e a n d i n a n a l y s i s a n d t h a t t h e r e w a s
n o t h i n g t o d o b u t t o c o n t r o l " t h e ridiculous t h i n g s "
t h a t s h e h a d i t i n h e r p o w e r t o c o n t r o l . ( I c o u l d f e e l
h e r d e s p e r a t i o n , b u t h e r e x p l a n a t i o n s e e m e d t e x t -
b o o k i s h . ) T h e p a t i e n t w e n t o n t o fill t h e f ir s t h a l f o f
t h e s e s s i o n w i t h r u m i n a t i v e t h i n k i n g . M y e f fo r ts t o
i n t e r p r e t t h e c o m p u l s i v e / r u m i n a t i v e a c t i v i t i e s a s
a n a n x i o u s r e s p o n s e t o h e r h a v i n g s a i d t o o m u c h
( m a d e a " m e s s " ) i n t h e p r e v i o u s d a y ' s m e e t i n g
w e r e g i v e n o n l y p e r f u n c t o r y n o t i c e b e f o r e M s . B .
r e s u m e d h e r r u m i n a t i o n s .
W h i l e t h e p a t i e n t w a s i n t h e t h r o e s o f h e r
d e f e n s i v e r u m i n a t i o n s , I f o u n d m y s e l f w a t c h i n g
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178 Reverie and Interpretation
t h e p l a y o f s u n l i g h t o n t h e g l a ss v a s e s n e a r o n e o f
t h e w i n d o w s i n m y o f fi ce . T h e c u r v e s o f t h e v a s e s
w e r e l o v e ly . T h e y s e e m e d v e r y f e m i n i n e , r e s e m
b l i n g t h e c u r v e s o f a w o m a n ' s
b o d y T A b i t
l a t e r I
h a d a n i m a g e o f a
large~stainless
s t e e l c o n t a i n e r i n
w h a t s e e m e d t o b e a f a c t o ry , p e r h a p s a: f o o d p r o
c e s s i n g p l a n t 7 M y a t t e n t i o n i n t h e f a n t a s y w a s a n x
i o u s l y riveted o n t h e g e a r s a t t h e e n d o f o n e o f t h e
c o n t a i n e r s . T h e m a c h i n e r y w a s c l a n k i n g l o u d l y . I t
w a s n o t c l e a r w h a t w a s f r i g h t e n i n g m e , b u t i t
s e e m e d t h a t t h e g e a r s w e r e n o t w o r k i n g a s t h e y
s h o u l d a n d t h a t a m a j o r m a l f u n c t i o n w i t h c a ta
s t r o p h i c r e s u l t s w a s a b o u t t o o c c u r . I w a s r e m i n d e d
o f t h e e x t r e m e d i f f i cu l t y M s . B . a n d h e r m o t h e r
h a d h a d w i t h b r e a s t - f e e d i n g . A c c o r d i n g t o M s . B . ' s
m o t h e r , t h e p a t i e n t b i t t h e m o t h e r ' s n i p p l e s s o
h a r d t h a t t h e y b e c a m e i n f l a m e d a n d b r e a s t - f e e d
i n g w a s t e r m i n a t e d .
I h a d t h e t h o u g h t t h a t I w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g a
s e n s u o u s a n d s e x u a l a l i v e n e s s w i t h M s . B . , b u t h a d
b e e n m a d e a n x i o u s b y i t a n d h a d t u r n e d h e r f e m i
n i n i t y ( h e r b r e a s t s i n p a r t i c u l a r ) i n t o s o m e t h i n g
i n h u m a n ( t h e s t a in l e s s s t e e l c o n t a i n e r a n d i t s n i p
p l e / g e a r s )
.
I t s e e m e d t h a t I w a s f e e l i n g t h a t c a t a
s t r o p h i c b r e a k d o w n w o u l d f o l l o w c l os e ly o n t h e
h e e l s o f s e x u a l d e s i r e f o r , a n d s e n s u a l p l e a s u r e
w i t h , M s . B . T h e s e d e s i r e s a n d fe a r s c a m e a s a s u r
p r i s e t o m e s i n c e t o t h i s p o i n t I h a d f e l t n o s e x u a l
o r s e n s u a l a t t r a c t i o n t o M s . B . , a n d i n f a c t , h a d
b e e n a w a r e o f t h e a r id i ty a n d b o r e d o m t h a t h a d
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r e s u l t e d f r o m t h e s t a r k a b s e n c e o f t h i s d i m e n s i o n
o f e x p e r i e n c e . I t h o u g h t
o f t h e
w a y i n w h i c h M s . B .
h a d a r c h e d h e r b a c k t w o s e s s i o n s e a r l i e r a n d f o r
t h e f ir s t tim e e x p e r i e n c e d t h e i m a g e o f h e r a r c h
i n g h e r b a c k o n t h e c o u c h a s a n o b s c e n e c a r i c a
t u r e o f s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e .
W i t h a b o u t t w e n t y m i n u t e s r e m a i n i n g i n t h e
s e s s i o n , M s . B . s a i d t h a t s h e h a d c o m e t o d a y w a n t
i n g t o t e l l m e a d r e a m t h a t h a d a w o k e n h e r d u r
i n g t h e n i g h t , b u t t h a t s h e h a d f o r g o t t e n i t u n t i l
t h a t m o m e n t :
I ' v e j u s t h a d a b a b y a n d I ' m l o o k i n g a t i t i n
t h e b a s s i n e t . I d o n ' t s e e a n y t h i n g o f m e i n i t s
f a c e w h i c h is d a r k , h e a r t - s h a p e d , M e d i t e r r a
n e a n . I d o n ' t r e c o g n i z e it a s s o m e t h i n g t h a t
c a m e o u t o f m e . I t h i n k , " H o w c o u l d I h a v e
g i v e b i r t h t o s u c h a t h i n g ? " I p i c k i t u p a n d
h o l d h i m , a n d h o l d h i m , a n d h o l d h i m a n d h e
b e c o m e s a l i t t l e b o y w i t h w i l d c u r l y h a i r .
M s . B . t h e n s a i d , " I n t e l l i n g y o u t h e d r e a m , I
w a s t h i n k i n g o f t h e f a c t t h a t w h a t c o m e s o u t o f
m e h e r e d o e s n ' t
f e e J
-
J f c jne_^I_don l t__ take_any
p r i d e i n i t o r f e e l a n y c o n n e c t i o n w i t h i t . " (I w a s
a w a r e t h a t t h e
pa t ien t rwas~ leav ing
m e o u t o f t h e
p i c t u r e ,
a
fact , th at .was par t ic ula r lyj str i ki n g
g i v e n
that_my_hair
i s c u r l y , I w a s a l s o s t r u c k b y t h e a l i v e
n e s s o f t h e d r e a m i n t h e h o u r a n d t h e w a y th i s
s e e m e d t o h e i n p a r t g e n e r a t e d b y t h e p a t i e n t ' s
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180
Reverie and Interpretation
t e l l i n g i t i n t h e p r e s e n t t e n s e w h i c h w a s u n u s u a l
f o r h e r . )
I s a i d t o t h e p a t i e n t t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t i t
s e e m e d t r u e t h a t s h e f e lt d i s g u s t e d b y e v e r y t h i n g
t h a t c a m e o u t o f h e r h e r e , b u t t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t
i n t e l l i n g m e t h e d r e a m s h e w a s s a y i n g s o m e t h i n g
m o r e t h a n t h a t t o m e . I_sa id_she-seemed^C|ui t e
f r i g h t e n e d o f f e e l i n g o r l e t t i n g m e f e e l t h e l o v e s h e
f e l t f o r t h e c h i l d i n j h e j d r e a r r 4 I a s k e d i f s h e h a d
e x p e r i e n c e d t h e c h a n g e o f f e e l i n g w h e n s h e
s h i f t e d f r o m r e f e r r i n g t o t h e c h i l d a s a " t h i n g " o r
" i t " t o u s i n g t h e w o r d " h i m " w h e n s h e s a i d t h a t s h e
h a d p i c k e d i t
u p l a n d J i e l d
h i m a n d h e l d h i m a n d
h e l d h imj M s . B . f el l s i l e n t f o r a m i n u t e o r t w o d u r
i n g w h i c h time I h a d t h e t h o u g h t t h a t I m a y h a v e
p r e m a t u r e l y u s e d t h e w o r d " lo v e " w h i c h w a s a
w o r d t h a t I c o u l d n o t a t t h a t m o m e n t r e m e m b e r
e i t h e r o f u s e v e r h a v i n g u s e d d u r i n g t h e e n t i r e
c o u r s e o f t h e a n a l y s i s .
M s . B . t h e n s a i d t h a t s h e h a d n o t i c e d t h a t
c h a n g e i n t e l l i n g m e t h e d r e a m , b u t s h e c o u l d f e e l
i t as a feeling o n l y w h e n s h e l i s t e n e d t o m e s a y i n g
h e r w o r d s . T h e p a t i e n t t o l d m e t h a t w h i l e I w a s
s p e a k i n g , s h e f e lt g r a t e f u l t o m e f o r m y n o t l e t t i n g
t h a t p a r t o f t h i n g s b e " t h r o w n a w ay ," b u t a t t h e
s a m e tim e s h e f e lt i n c r e a s i n g l y t e n s e w i t h e a c h w o r d
t h a t I s p o k e f o r f e a r t h a t I w o u l d sa y s o m e t h i n g
e m b a r r a s s i n g t o h e r . S h e a d d e d t h a t i t w a s a s i f I
m i g h t u n d r e s s h e r a n d s h e w o u l d b e n a k e d o n t h e
c o u c h . A f t e r a n o t h e r s i l en c e o f a l m o s t a m i n u t e ,
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M s . B . s a i d t h a t i t w a s h a r d t o t e ll m e t h i s b u t t h e
t h o u g h t h a d g o n e t h r o u g h h e r m i n d a s s h e w a s
i m a g i n i n g b e i n g n a k e d o n t h e c o u c h t h a t I w o u l d
l o o k a t h e r b r e a s t s a n d f i n d t h e m t o b e t o o s m a l l .
I t h o u g h t o f t h e a g o n y s u r r o u n d i n g J . ' s s u r
g e r y f o r b r e a s t c a n c e r a n d b e c a m e a w a r e a t t h i s
p o i n t i n t h e h o u r t h a t I w a s f e e l i n g b o t h a w a v e o f
t h e d e e p l o v e t h a t I f e l t f o r J . t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e s a d
n e s s o f t h e e n o r m o u s v o i d t h a t h e r d e a t h h a d le ft
i n m y l if e . T h i s r a n g e o f f e e l i n g h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l y
b e e n p a r t o f m y e x p e r i e n c e w h i l e w i t h M s . B .
B y t h i s p o i n t i n t h e h o u r , I f o u n d m y s e l f l is
t e n i n g a n d r e s p o n d i n g t o M s . B . i n q u i t e a d i f fe r
e n t w a y . I t w o u l d b e a n o v e r s t a t e m e n t t o s ay t h a t
t h e f e e l i n g s o f a n g e r a n d i s o l a t i o n h a d d i s a p
p e a r e d , b u t t h e y w e r e n o w p a r t o f a l a r g e r c o n s t e l
l a t i o n o f e m o t i o n . N o l o n g e r w a s t h e i s o l a t i o n
s i m p l y a n e n c o u n t e r w i t h s o m e t h i n g t h a t f e l t n o n -
h u m a n ; r a t h e r , t h e i s o l a t io n f e l t m o r e l i k e a n
e x p e r i e n c e o f m i s s i n g t h e h u m a n n e s s o f M s . B .
t h a t I v i s c e r a ll y k n e w t o b e t h e r e , b u t w a s o n l y
b e i n g a l l o w e d t o f l e e t i n g l y g l i m p s e from a f a r .
I t o l d t h e p a t i e n t t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t h e r
d r e a m a n d o u r d i s c u s s i o n o f i t a l s o s e e m e d t o
i n v o l v e f e e l i n g s o f s a d n e s s t h a t l a r g e p a r t s o f h e r
l i f e w e r e b e i n g u n n e c e s s a r i l y w a s t e d , " t h r o w n
a w a y ." I s a i d t h a t s h e b e g a n t e l l i n g m e t h e d r e a m
b y s a y i n g fTye j u s t h a d a baby, ̂ b u t a g r e a t d e a l o f
w h a t f o l l o w e d w a s a b o u t t h e w a y s i n w h i c h s h e prer
v e n t e d h e r s e l f f r o m l iv i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f h a v -
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i n g a b a b y . ( I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e a n a l y s i s , M s . B .
r a r e l y h a d h a d f a n ta s i e s o r d r e a m s o f ha v i ng a
b a b y a n d o n l y t w i c e t h a t I c o u l d r e c a l l h a d d i s
c u s s e d t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r s h e m i g h t e v e r
w a n t
t o h a v e c h i l d r e n . ) T h e r e w e r e t e a r s o n h e r
f a c e , b u t n o s o u n d o f c r y i n g i n h e r v o i c e a s s h e
s a i d t h a t s h e h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l y p u t t h e f e e l i n g
i n t o w o r d s , b u t a g o o d d e a l o f h e r s h a m e a b o u t
h e r b r e a s t s is t h a t t h e y f e e l l i k e b o y s ' b r e a s t s t h a t
c o u l d n e v e r m a k e m i l k f o r a b a b y .
Discussion
I b e g a n t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e first o f t h r e e s e s s i o n s
o c c u r r i n g i n t h e s i x t h y e a r o f M s . B . ' s a n a l y s i s w i t h a
d e s c r i p t i o n o f m y r e s p o n s e t o h e a r i n g t h e p a t i e n t ' s
r a p i d f o o t s t e p s o n t h e s t a i rs l e a d i n g t o m y o f f ic e . I f i n d
i t i n v a l u a b l e t o b e a s f u ll y a w a r e a s I c a n o f w h a t i t
feels
l i k e t o m e e t
th f i -pa t i en t each , se ss ion
( i n c l u d i n g _ th e
f e e l i n g s , t h o u g h t s , f a n t a s ie s , a n d b o d i l y s e n s a t i o n s
\ e x p e r i e n c e a ^ i n a n t i c i p a t i o n p f _ t h a t _p a r t i cu l a r m e e t -
i n g J ^ M u c h o f m y r e s p o n s e t o M s . B . t h a t d a y , b o t h i n
l i s t e n i n g t o h e r a p p r o a c h m y o ff ic e a n d i n e n c o u n t e r
i n g h e r i n t h e w a i t i n g r o o m , w a s i n t h e f o r m o f b o d i l y
r e s p o n s e s ( " p h a n t a s i e s i n t h e b o d y " [ G a d d i n i 1 9 8 2 ] ) . I
w a s f r o m t h e o u t s e t a n t i c i p a t i n g ( i n f a n t as y ) b e i n g
p h y s i c a l l y a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y i n v a d e d b y t h e p a t i e n t :
m y s t o m a c h m u s c l e s t e n s e d a s I u n c o n s c i o u s l y a w a i t e d
r e c e i v i n g a b l o w t o t h e a b d o m e n a n d I w a s e x p e r i e n c
i n g n a u s e a i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r e v a c u a t i n g a n o x i o u s
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p r e s e n c e t h a t I e x p e c t e d t o e x p e r i e n c e i n s i d e o f m e .
T h e s e f e e l i n g s w e r e e l a b o r a t e d i n t h e f o r m o f f a n t a s ie s
o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s c h a f i n g t o " g e t t o m e " ( t o g e t i n t o m y
o f f i c e / b o d y ) a n d f a n t a s i e s o f h e r c a n n i b a l i z i n g m e
t h r o u g h h e r e y e s a s s h e t o o k p a r t s o f m e h o s t a g e i n
" d r i n k i n g i n " t h e s c r a p s o f p a p e r f r o m m y n o t e b o o k
t h a t s h e n o t i c e d o n t h e c a r p e t .
C l e a r l y , t h i s r e v e r i e , o c c u r r i n g e v e n b e f o r e t h e
p a t i e n t e n t e r e d t h e c o n s u l t i n g r o o m , r e f l e c t e d a s e t o f
\ t j ^ns f e r e j i ce - coun te r t r a ns f e r ence \ f e e l i n g s t h a t h a d
b e e n g r o w i n g i n i n t e n s i t y a n d sp e c i fi c i ty f o r s o m e t i m e
a n d y e t w e r e n o t a v a i l a b l e t o e i t h e r t h e p a t i e n t o r t o m e
f o r r e f l e c t iv e t h o u g h t o r v e r b a l s y m b o l i z a t i o n . T h i s
a s p e c t o f t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p w a s l a r g e l y e x p e r i
e n c e d b y b o t h o f u s a s s i m p l y t h e w a y t h i n g s w e r e .
I e x p e r i e n c e d M s . B . ' s a r c h i n g o f h e r b a c k o n l y as
a c o m p l a i n t a n d w a s n o t a t t h a t p o i n t a b l e t o e n t e r t a i n
t h e p o s s ib i l i ty t h a t t h e g e s t u r e h a d o t h e r m e a n i n g s . M y
i n i t i a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a d d r e s s e d t h e i d e a t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t w a s a n g r i l y p r o t e s t i n g m y u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o p r o
v i d e a c o m f o r t a b l e p l a c e f o r h e r i n m y o f fi ce . I c o u l d
h e a r a n d fe e l t h e c h i l l i n e s s i n m y v o i c e t h a t t r a n s
f o r m e d t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i n t o a n a c c u s a t i o n . I w a s a t
t h a t m o m e n t f e e l i n g u n a b l e t o b e a n a n a l y s t w i t h t h e
p a t i e n t a n d i n s t e a d w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g m y s e l f a s a n g r y , a t
s e a , a n d r a t h e r h e l p l e s s t o a l t e r t h e c o u r s e o f e v e n t s .
T h e " c a n n e d " n a t u r e o f m y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a l e r t e d m e
t o m y o w n e m o t i o n a l f ix i t y i n r e l a t i o n t o M s . B . a n d t o
m y i n a b i l i t y a t t h a t p o i n t t o t h i n k o r t o s p e a k f r e s h l y o r
t o r e n d e r m y s e l f o p e n t o n e w p o s s ib i l i t i e s f o r u n d e r -
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s t a n d i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c i n g w h a t w a s o c c u r r i n g b e t w e e n
u s . T h e s e r e a l i z a t i o n s w e r e d e e p l y u n s e t t l i n g t o m e .
A l t h o u g h a s p e c t s o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s e x p e r i e n c e o f
h e r p a r e n t s w e n t t h r o u g h m y m i n d a t t h i s p o i n t , I w a s
v e r y
l i tde
a b l e t o b r i n g t h a t c o n t e x t t o b e a r o n t h e
p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n i n a w a y t h a t f e lt r e a l . M o r e o v e r , t h e
c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f i d e a s a b o u t t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e t h a t h a d e v o l v e d i n t h e ' c o u r s e o f t h i s
p e r i o d o f a n a l y s is ( f o r e x a m p l e , t h e i d e a t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t w a s
re l endess ly
d e m a n d i n g m a g i c a l l y t r a n s f o r
m a t i v e m i l k / s e m e n / p o w e r ) h a d l o s t m o s t o f t h e v i t a l i t y
t h a t i t o n c e h a d h e l d . A t t h e j u n c t u r e i n a n a ly s i s b e i n g
d e s c r i b e d , t h e s e i d e a s h a d b e c o m e f o r b o t h t h e p a t i e n t
a n d f o r m e s t a g n a n t f o r m u l a e t h a t l a r g e ly s e r v e d a s a
d e f e n s e b o t h a g a i n s t f e e l i n g s o f c o n f u s i o n a n d h e l p l e s s
n e s s a n d a g a i n s t t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a f u l le r r a n g e o f
f e e l i n g s ( i n c l u d i n g l o v i n g o n e s ) .
P e r h a p s t h e d i s t u r b i n g a w a r e n e s s o f t h e w a y m y
a n g e r w a s i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h m y a b i l i t y t o o f f e r u t i l i z a b l e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a l l o w e d f o r t h e
b e g i n n i n g s
o f a p s y c h o
l o g i c a l s h i f t t o o c c u r i n m e t h a t w a s r e f l e c t e d i n m y a b i l
i ty t o s e e ( a n d feel) t h e h u m o r i n v o l v e d i n m y
i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e n e i g h b o r ' s d o g w h o w a s ( I f e l t )
b e i n g a s k e d n o t t o b e a d o g a n d in s t e a d w a s b e i n g a s k e d
t o b e t h e p a t i e n t ' s i m a g i n a r y , i n v e n t e d c r e a t u r e . T h i s
l e d m e t o b e a b l e t o r e f r a i n from o f f e r i n g st i ll a n o t h e r
i n t e r v e n t i o n o f t h e c h il ly , c l e n c h e d t e e t h ( " c a re f u l ly
m e a s u r e d " ) v a r ie t y , a n d i n s t e a d , t o a t t e m p t t o l i s t e n .
I t w a s a f t e r th i s a f f ec t iv e s h i f t o c c u r r e d t h a t r e v e r i e
o f a m o r e v e r b a l l y s y m b o l i c ( le s s e x c l u s i v e l y s o m a t i c )
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s o r t b e g a n t o b e e l a b o r a t e d . T h e r e v e r ie t h a t o c c u r r e d a t
t h i s p o i n t i n t h e s e s s i o n c o n s i s t e d o f a s e t o f i m a g e s a n d
f e e l i n g s ( d e r i v e d f r o m a f i l m ) i n w h i c h a c o r r u p t o f fi ci al
is o r d e r e d t o c o m m i t s u i c i d e . H e d o e s s o i n s u c h a w a y
t h a t t h e s o u n d o f t h e s u i c i d e is n o t t h a t o f r a p i d b r e a t h
i n g , t h e r e p o r t o f a g u n , t h e s h a t t e r i n g o f g la ss , o r t h e
s p r a y i n g o f b l o o d , b u t t h e u n i n t e r r u p t e d s o u n d o f t r a ff ic
o b l i v i o u s t o t h i s s o l i t a ry h u m a n e v e n t . A l t h o u g h t h e
i m a g e s o f t h i s r e v e r i e w e r e e m o t i o n a l l y p o w e r f u l , t h e y
w e r e a t t h i s p o i n t s o u n o b t r u s i v e , s o b a r e l y a v a i l a b l e t o
s e lf -r e fl ec t i v e c o n s c i o u s n e s s t h a t t h e y s e r v e d a l m o s t
e n t i r e l y a s a n i n v is ib l e e m o t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d .
T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h i s r e v e r i e , a l t h o u g h h a r d l y
n o t i c e d a n d n o t c o n s c i o u s l y u t i l i z e d a t t h e t i m e i t
o c c u r r e d , w as n o n e t h e l e s s
u n s e t d i n g
a n d c o n t r i b u t e d
t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f a s p e c i f ic e m o t i o n a l c o n t e x t f o r t h e
u n c o n s c i o u s f r a m i n g o f w h a t f o l lo w e d . M s . B . ' s a c c o u n t
o f h e r d a t e t h e prev ious n i g h t w a s e x p e r i e n c e d d if fe r
e n t l y t h a n i t w o u l d h a v e b e e n o t h e r w i s e . T h e p r i n c i p a l
e f f e c t o n m e o f h e r t a l k w a s t h e c r e a t i o n o f a p a i n f u l
a w a r e n e s s o f t h e f e e l i n g o f n o t b e i n g s p o k e n t o , a s e n s e
o f w o r d s f i l l i n g e m p t y s p a c e , w o r d s n o t s p o k e n b y an y
o n e t o a n y o n e ( e v e n t o h e r s e l f ) .
F e e l i n g a t a l o s s t o k n o w h o w t o s p e a k t o t h e
p a t i e n t a b o u t h e r n o t t a l k i n g e i t h e r t o m e o r t o h e r
s e l f , I c o n t i n u e d t o k e e p s i l e n t . A g a i n I f o u n d m y
m i n d w a n d e r i n g , t h i s time t o a b r i e f i m m e r s i o n i n t h e
m e n t a l " g a m e " o f o b s e r v i n g t h e p r e c i s e p l a c e a n d
t i m e o f t h e c o n v e r g e n c e o f m o v e m e n t o f t h e d i g i t a l
t i m e o f t h e a n s w e r i n g m a c h i n e a n d t h e s w e e p s e c o n d
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h a n d o f t h e c l o c k a c r o s s t h e r o o m . I n p a r t , t h i s s e r v e d
t o r e l i e v e t h e c l a u s t r o p h o b i a I w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g i n
f e e l i n g t r a p p e d alone w i t h M s . B . I h y p o t h e s i z e d t h a t
b o t h t h e r e v e r i e a b o u t t h e s u i c i d e a n d t h e " g a m e "
i n v o l v i n g t h e w o r k i n g s o f t w o t i m e p i e c e s m a y h a v e
r e f l e c t e d m y s e n s e o f t h e m e c h a n i c a l , n o n - h u m a n
q u a l i t i e s o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h M s . B . , b u t t h i s i d e a
s e e m e d s u p e r f i c i a l a n d h a c k n e y e d .
T h e r e v e r i e s t h a t f o l lo w e d r e f l e c t e d a m o v e m e n t
f r o m a r a t h e r rigid, r e p e t i t i v e o b s e s s i o n a l f o r m t o a f a r
m o r e a f fe c t - l a d e n " s t r e a m o f t h o u g h t "
(Wm.
J a m e s
1 8 9 0 ) . I f e l t d i s t r e s s e d i n r e c a l l i n g a p h o n e c a ll f r o m a
f r i e n d w h o h a d b e e n t o l d h e n e e d e d e m e r g e n c y o p e n -
h e a r t s u r g e r y . V e r y q u i c k l y I p r o t e c t e d m y s e l f f r o m t h e
f e a r o f h i s d y i n g b y n a r c i s s i s t ic a l ly t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e
e v e n t i n fa n t a s y i n t o a s t o r y o f m y r e c e i v i n g t h i s n e w s .
M y o w n f e a r o f d y i n g w a s e x p r e s s e d a s a f e a r o f " n e v e r
w a k i n g u p . " T h e i d e a o f n o t w a k i n g u p w a s a t t h i s j u n c
t u r e u n c o n s c i o u s l y o v e r d e t e r m i n e d a n d i n r e t r o s p e c t
s e e m s t o h a v e i n c l u d e d b o t h a r e f e r e n c e t o t h e o p p r e s
s iv e " l i v i n g d e a t h " o f t h e a n a l y s a n d a s w e l l a s t o m y o w n
a n a e s t h e t i z e d s t a t e i n t h e a n a l ys i s f r o m w h i c h I u n c o n
s c i o u s ly f e a r e d I w o u l d n e v e r a w a k e .
I n a ll o f t h i s t h e r e w a s a r a p i d l y g r o w i n g s e n s e o f
b e i n g o u t o f c o n t r o l b o t h i n r e l a t i o n t o m y o w n b o d y
( i l l n e s s / s l e e p / d e a t h ) a n d i n r e l a t i o n t o p e o p l e I
l o v e d a n d d e p e n d e d u p o n . T h e s e f e e l i n g s w e r e
m o m e n t a r i l y a l l a y e d b y a d e f e n s i v e w i t h d r a w a l i n t o
e m o t i o n a l d e t a c h m e n t , a p s y c h i c n u m b n e s s . M y
u n c o n s c i o u s e f f o r ts a t e m o t i o n a l d e t a c h m e n t d i d n o t
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h o l d f o r v e r y l o n g a n d g a v e w a y t o a f o r m o f r e v e r i e i n
t h e s h a p e o f v i v i d i m a g e s o f a t i m e s p e n t w i t h a v e r y
c l o s e f r i e n d , J . , i n t h e m i d s t o f h e r a t t e m p t i n g t o w r e s
t l e w i t h i m m i n e n t d e a t h . ( I w o u l d o n l y f o r w a n t o f a
b e t t e r w o r d r e f e r t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e s e r e v e r i e
i m a g e s a s " r e m e m b e r i n g " b e c a u s e t h e i d e a o f r e m e m
b e r i n g t o o s t r o n g l y c o n n o t e s s o m e t h i n g fixed i n m e m
o r y t h a t i s " c a l l e d u p t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s again" [ r e
m e m b e r e d ] . T h e e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e s e s s i o n w a s n o t a
r e p e t i t i o n o f a n y t h i n g , n o t a r e m e m b e r i n g o f s o m e
t h i n g t h a t h a d a l r e a d y o c c u r r e d ; i t w a s a n e x p e r i e n c e
o c c u r r i n g f o r t h e f ir s t t i m e , a n e x p e r i e n c e b e i n g g e n
e r a t e d f r e s h l y i n t h e u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n
t e x t
o f t h e
a n a l y s i s . )
I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e
rever ie
o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n
w i t h J . ( i n w h i c h m a k e - b e l i e v e , b u t d e s p e r a t e l y r e a l
e f f o r t s w e r e b e i n g m a d e t o " f i g u r e o u t " w h a t n e x t t o
d o ) , a n i m p o r t a n t p s y c h o l o g i c a l s hi f t o c c u r r e d . W h a t
b e g a n i n t h e r e v e r i e a s a w i s h f u l i n s i s t e n c e t h a t t h i n g s
b e f a ir a n d " m a k e s e n s e " b e c a m e a p a i n f u l f e e l i n g o f
s h a m e r e g a r d i n g m y s e n s e t h a t I h a d f a i l e d t o a p p r e c i
a t e t h e d e p t h o f i s o l a t i o n
t h a t
J . w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g . T h e
s y m b o l i c a n d a f fe c t i v e c o n t e n t o f t h e r e v e r i e w a s b a r e l y
c o n s c i o u s a n d d i d n o t y e t c o n s t i t u t e a c o n s c i o u s se l f -
a w a r e n e s s o f i s o l a t i o n a b o u t w h i c h I c o u l d s p e a k t o
m y s e l f o r from w h i c h I c o u l d s p e a k t o t h e p a t i e n t .
N o n e t h e l e s s , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t a c o n s c i o u s , v e r b a l l y
s y m b o l i z e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e r e v e r i e e x p e r i e n c e
d i d n o t t a k e p l a c e a t t h i s m o m e n t , a n i m p o r t a n t
uncon
scious
p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o v e m e n t d i d o c c u r w h i c h , a s w il l
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Reverie
and Interpretation
b e s e e n , signif icant iy s h a p e d t h e s u b s e q u e n t e v e n t s o f
t h e h o u r .
1
I n " r e t u r n i n g " t h e f o c u s o f m y a t t e n t i o n t o M s . B . , I
w a s n o t g o i n g b a c k t o a p l a c e I h a d b e e n in t h e s e s s i o n ,
b u t w a s g o i n g t o a n e w p s y c h o l o g i c a l " p l a c e " t h a t h a d
n o t p r e v i o u s l y e x i s t e d , a p l a c e i n p a r t e m o t i o n a l l y g e n e r
a t e d b y t h e r e v e r i e e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t I h a v e j u s t
d e s c r i b e d . M s . B . w a s s p e a k i n g i n a n a n x i o u s l y p r e s
s u r e d , i d e a l i z i n g w a y a b o u t r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i th col leagues.
T h e r e v e r i e e x p e r i e n c e s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e ( i n c l u d i n g m y
e x p e r i e n c e o f d e f e n s i v e p s y c h i c n u m b i n g ) h a d l e ft m e
a c u t e l y s e n s i t iv e t o t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l p a i n
d i s g u i s e d b y r e l i a n c e o n m a n i c d e f e n s e , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e
p a i n o f e f f o r t s t o l iv e w i t h t e r r i b l e l o n e l i n e s s a n d i n i s o la
tion w i t h o n e ' s f e e l i n g s
of
p o w e r l e s s n e s s .
T h e " c l o c k - g a m e " r e v e r i e t h a t h a d o c c u r r e d e a r l i e r
i n t h e h o u r t o o k o n n e w m e a n i n g i n t h e e m o t i o n a l
1 . Th e uncon sc ious m ove m ent br ou gh t abo ut by the rever ie
exp er ience m ight be tho ug ht of as the ou tcom e of the un con
sc ious "unders tanding work"
(Sandler
1976) that is an integral
part of dreaming (and reverie) . Dreaming and reverie a lways
involve an unconscious internal discourse between "the dreamer
who d reams the d ream and the d reamer who unde rs t ands the
dream" (Grots te in 1979). If there were no such unconscious dis
course ( if the r e were no unconsc ious " un ders tand ing work" s tand
ing in re la t ion to the unconscious "dream work") , we would have
to conclude that only the dreams (or reveries) that we remember
have psychological value and contribute to psychological growth.
Th is is a view to w hich few analysts w ou ld sub scrib e.
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Reverie and Interpretation
o b j e c t ) r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J . c o u l d h a v e t a k e n p l a c e i n
t h e w a y t h a t i t d i d o n l y i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e s p e c i f i c
u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h M s . B .
t h a t e x i s t e d a t t h e m o m e n t i n t h e a n a l y t ic r e l a t i o n s h i p
b e i n g d e s c r i b e d . T h e i n t e r n a l o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J .
( o r w i t h a n y o t h e r i n t e r n a l o b j e c t ) i s n o t a fixed e n t i t y ;
i t is a f l u i d s e t o f t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s t h a t
is c o n t i n u a l l y i n m o v e m e n t a n d is a lw a y s s u s c e p t i b l e t o
b e i n g s h a p e d a n d re - s t ruc tu red as i t i s newly e x p e r i
e n c e d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f e a c h n e w u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b
j e c t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p . I n e v e r y i n s t a n c e i t w i ll b e a
d i f f e r e n t f a c e t o f t h e c o m p l e x m o v e m e n t o f f e e l i n g c o n
s t i t u t i n g a n i n t e r n a l o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t w i l l b e m o s t
a l i v e i n t h e n e w u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n t e x t . I t
is t h i s t h a t m a k e s e a c h u n c o n s c i o u s a n a ly t i c i n t e r a c t i o n
u n i q u e b o t h f o r a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d . I d o n o t c o n
c e i v e o f t h e a n a l y t i c i n t e r a c t i o n i n t e r m s o f t h e a n a l y s t ' s
b r i n g i n g p r e - e x i s t i n g s e n s i t i v i t i e s t o t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a
tionship t h a t a r e " c a l l e d i n t o p l a y " ( l i k e k e y s o n a p i a n o
b e i n g s t r u c k ) b y t h e p a t i e n t ' s p r o j e c t i o n s o r p r o j e c t i v e
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s . R a t h e r , I c o n c e i v e o f t h e a n a l y t i c p r o
c e ss a s i n v o l v i n g t h e c r e a t i o n o f n e w u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r
s u b j e c t iv e e v e n t s t h a t h a v e n e v e r p r e v i o u s l y e x i s t e d i n
t h e a f f ec t iv e li fe o f e i t h e r a n a l y s t o r a n a l y s a n d .
M s . B . 's e x p e r i e n c e o f a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e
u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e m o v e m e n t t h a t I h a v e b e e n
d e s c r i b i n g w a s r e f l e c t e d i n t h e d r e a m w i t h w h i c h s h e
b e g a n t h e s e c o n d o f t h r e e s e s s io n s p r e s e n t e d . I n t h a t
d r e a m the p a t i e n t w a s w a t c h i n g a m a n t a k e c a r e o f a
b a b y . T h e m a n p l a c e d t h e b a b y o n a n i m a g i n a r y s l i d e
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a n d a l l o w e d i t t o f al l d o w n a c o n c r e t e s t a i rc a s e b r e a k i n g
i ts n e c k i n t h e p r o c e s s . A t t h e e n d o f t h e d r e a m , as t h e
m a n p i c k e d u p t h e s i le n t , m o t i o n l e s s b a b y , t h e i n f a n t
l o o k e d d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e p a t i e n t ' s e y e s a n d s m i l e d e e r i l y .
M s . B . w e n t o n a f t e r r e p o r t i n g t h e d r e a m a s i f s h e
h a d n o t s a i d a n y t h i n g o f s i g n i f i c a n c e r e g a r d i n g h e r
d r e a m l if e o r a n y o t h e r p a r t o f h e r l if e . I f o u n d ( w i th
o u t p l a n n i n g i t ) t h a t t h e w o r d i n g o f t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
I o f f e r e d d r e w u p o n b o t h t h e i m a g e r y o f m y r e v e r i e o f
t h e t ra f f i c n o i s e c o v e r i n g t h e s o l i t a r y s u i c i d e a s w e l l a s
t h e e m o t i o n a l e f fe c t o n m e o f t h e a b s o l u t e s i l e n c e t h a t
f r a m e d t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m ( n o s p o k e n w o r d s , c r ie s ,
s c r e a m s , s n a p s , t h u d s o c c u r r e d i n M s . B . ' s a c c o u n t o f
t h e d r e a m ) . I c o m m e n t e d o n t h e w a y t h e p a t i e n t h a d
u s e d w o r d s a s " n o i s e " t o t a l k o v e r ( d r o w n o u t ) s o m e
t h i n g o f g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e t h a t s h e b o t h h o p e d I w o u l d
h e a r a n d w a s t r y i n g t o p r e v e n t m e f r o m h e a r i n g i n h e r
t e l l i n g m e t h e d r e a m . T h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e r e m y r e v e r
i e s s t o p p e d a n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m b e g a n w a s n o t p o s
s i b l e t o d e t e r m i n e i n a n y m e a n i n g f u l w a y a t t h i s p o i n t .
B o t h m y r e v e r i e s a n d t h e p a t i e n t ' s d r e a m w e r e c r e a t e d
i n t h e s a m e " i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e a n a l y t i c d r e a m s p a c e " ( s e e
C h a p t e r 5 ) .
M s . B ' s r e s p o n s e t o m y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w a s m o r e
d i r e c t , s e l f - re f le c t iv e , a n d a f fe c t i v el y c o l o r e d t h a n h a d
b e e n t h e c a s e f o r s o m e t i m e . D e s p i t e a n o t e o f c o m p l i
a n c e , i t w a s c l e a r t h a t t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p w a s i n
t h e p r o c e s s o f c h a n g i n g . A f t e r b e g i n n i n g b y s a y i n g t h a t
s h e s a w h e r s e l f a s t h e b a b y t h a t w a s b e i n g d r o p p e d b y
m e , t h e p a t i e n t w a s
ab le
t o o b s e r v e t h a t t h e i n t e r p r e t a -
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i n g p a t t e r n fo r t h e p a t i e n t t o a n x i o u s l y w i t h d r a w a f t e r
s e s s i o n s i n w h i c h i t h a d fe l t t o m e t h a t w e h a d s p o k e n
t o o n e a n o t h e r i n a w a y t h a t r e f l e c t e d a f e e l i n g o f
h u m a n w a r m t h . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e i m p e r i o u s , d e t a c h e d
q u a l i t y o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s g e s t u r e l ef t m e w i t h a d i s t i n c t
f e e l i n g o f d i s a p p o i n t m e n t t h a t t h e c o n n e c t i o n I h a d
b e g u n t o f e e l w i t h M s . B . h a d a g a i n a b r u p d y b e e n
b r o u g h t t o a n e n d . I f e l t t h a t I w a s b e i n g d r o p p e d w i t h
a b o u t a s m u c h c o n c e r n a s s h e w a s f e e l i n g t o w a r d t h e
p i e c e o f t h r e a d t h a t w a s b e i n g d r o p p e d t o t h e floor.
I t s e e m e d t h a t s h e t o o w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g d i s a p
p o i n t m e n t i n h e r s e l f , f e e l i n g h e r s e l f t o b e a f a i l u r e i n
l i f e a n d i n a n a l y s i s . T h e p a t i e n t w a s a l s o a p p a r e n t l y
f e e l i n g f r i g h t e n e d a n d e m b a r r a s s e d t h a t s h e h a d ( i n
f a n t a s y ) s o i l e d h e r s e l f a n d m e a n d w a s f e v e r i s h ly
e n g a g e d i n c l e a n i n g u p t h e s p i l l e d b o d i l y c o n t e n t s /
f e e l i n g s ( t h e d i r t y b a t h r o o m m e s s ) . M y e f f o rt s t o t a lk
w i t h M s . B . a b o u t w h a t I t h o u g h t I u n d e r s t o o d a b o u t
t h e w a y h e r c u r r e n t f e e l i n g s a n d b e h a v i o r r e p r e s e n t e d
a r e s p o n s e t o w h a t s h e h a d e x p e r i e n c e d w i t h m e i n t h e
p r e v i o u s m e e t i n g w e r e s y s t em a t ic a ll y i g n o r e d .
D u r i n g t h e b u l k o f t h e s e s s i o n , w h i l e t h e p a t i e n t
w a s r u m i n a t i n g , m y o w n r e v e r i e s i n c l u d e d a s e n s u o u s
e n j o y m e n t o f t h e f e m i n i n e l i n e s c r e a t e d b y t h e p l a y o f
s u n l i g h t o n t h e v a s e s i n m y o f fi ce . T h e s e f e e l i n g s w e r e
f o l l o w e d b y a n a n x i e t y - fi l le d s e t o f r e v e r i e i m a g e s o f m a l
f u n c t i o n i n g g e a r s o n c o n t a i n e r s i n a f a c to r y t h a t m a y
h a v e b e e n a f o o d p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t . T h e r e w a s a s t r o n g
s e n s e o f i m p e n d i n g d i s a s t e r . T h e s e i m a g e s a n d f e e l i n g s
w e r e c o n n e c t e d i n m y m i n d w i t h t h e p a t i e n t ' s descr ip-
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tion o f t h e v e r y e a r l y t e r m i n a t i o n o f b r e a s t - f e e d i n g t h a t
h a d r e s u l t e d f r o m h e r " e x ce s si v e" d e s i r e ( h e r b i t i n g h e r
m o t h e r ' s n i p p l e s s o h a r d t h a t t h e y b e c a m e i n f l a m e d ) .
I t f e l t t o m e t h a t d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t I h a d n o t p r e
v i o u s ly e x p e r i e n c e d a n y h i n t o f s e x u a l o r s e n s u a l a l i ve
n e s s w h i l e w i t h M s . B . , I w a s n o w b e g i n n i n g t o f e e l t h e s e
f e e l i n g s a n d w a s i n f a c t e x p e r i e n c i n g a n x i e t y a b o u t t h e
c a t a s t r o p h e t h a t s u c h f e e l i n g s w o u l d i n f a n t a s y b r i n g o n .
I w a s r e m i n d e d o f M s . B . ' s a r c h i n g h e r b a c k a t t h e
b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s e s s io n e a r l i e r i n t h e w e e k a n d
r e c a l l e d h o w t h e g e s t u r e h a d h e l d n o s e x u a l f o r c e f o r
m e a t t h e time. T h a t b o d i l y m o v e m e n t n o w s e e m e d t o
m e t o b e a d e n i g r a t i n g c a r i c a t u r e o f s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e ,
t h a t is , b o t h a n e x p r e s s i o n o f s e x u a l d e s i r e t o w a r d m e
a n d t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s d e n i g r a t i o n o f t h a t d e s i r e .
T h e t h o u g h t s a s w e l l a s t h e r e v e r i e f e e l i n g s a n d
i m a g e s j u s t d e s c r i b e d s e r v e d a s t h e e m o t i o n a l c o n t e x t
f o r m y l i s t e n i n g a n d r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e d r e a m t h a t t h e
p a t i e n t p r e s e n t e d in t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e h o u r . I n
t h a t d r e a m , M s . B . h a d j u s t g i v e n b i r t h t o a b a b y t h a t
f e l t a l i e n t o h e r . O n h o l d i n g h i m a n d h o l d i n g h i m a n d
h o l d i n g h i m , h e t u r n e d i n t o a li t t ie b o y w i t h w i l d c u r l y
h a i r . M s . B . q u i t e u n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y o f f e r e d h e r o w n
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e d r e a m s a y i n g t h a t s h e f e l t t h a t i t
r e f l e c t e d t h e w a y i n w h i c h s h e f e e ls n o c o n n e c t i o n w i t h
w h a t c o m e s o u t o f h e r i n t h e a n a ly s i s . I a c k n o w l e d g e d
t h a t t h i s d i d s e e m t o c a p t u r e s o m e t h i n g s h e h a d f e l t f o r
a l o n g tim e, b u t ( i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e f e e l i n g r e s i d u e o f
m y r e v e r i e s ) , I t o l d h e r t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t s h e w a s t e l l
i n g m e m o r e t h a n t h a t i n t e l l i n g m e t h e d r e a m . I s a i d
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t h a t I t h o u g h t t h a t i t w a s f r i g h t e n i n g t o M s . B . t o o p e n l y
e x p e r i e n c e a f f e c t i o n f o r h e r c h i l d . (I c h o s e t o d e f e r
u n t i l a l a t e r s e s s i o n i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e i d e a / w i s h t h a t t h e
c u r l y h a i r e d b a b y w a s " o u r s " b e c a u s e i t s e e m e d n e c e s
s a r y t h a t t h e p a t i e n t first b e a b l e t o g e n u i n e l y e x p e r i
e n c e h e r o w n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h h i m
[ m e / h e r s e l f / t h e
a n a l y s i s . ] I t h e n a s k e d if M s . B . h a d f e l t t h e w a y i n
w h i c h , a l m o s t d e s p i t e h e r s e l f , s h e h a d a l l o w e d t h e b a b y
t o b e c o m e h u m a n ( a n d l o v e d ) as s h e m o v e d m i d - s e n
t e n c e f r o m r e f e r r i n g t o t h e i n f a n t a s " i t " t o u s i n g t h e
w o r d " h i m " i n h e r s a y i n g , " I p i c k i t u p a n d h o l d h i m
a n d h o l d h i m a n d h o l d h i m . "
A f t e r a s i l e n c e t h a t f e l t b o t h t h o u g h t f u l a n d a n x
i o u s , M s . B . t o l d m e t h a t s h e h a d f e l t g r a t e f u l t h a t I
h a d n o t " t h r o w n a w a y t h a t p a r t o f t h i n g s . " I w a s a w a r e
t h a t M s . B . w a s u s i n g v a g u e l a n g u a g e ( " t h a t p a r t o f
t h i n g s " ) i n s t e a d o f u s i n g t h e w o r d " l o v e " ( a s I
had
d o n e ) , o r i n t r o d u c i n g a w o r d o f h e r o w n t o n a m e t h e
f e e l i n g t h a t w a s " n o t t h r o w n aw a y . " S h e w e n t o n t o t e l l
m e t h a t s h e h a d b e e n a f r a id t h a t I w o u l d e m b a r r a s s
h e r w i t h m y w o r d s ( i n f a n ta s y , u n d r e s s h e r ) a n d t h a t
h e r b r e a s t s w o u l d b e r e v e a l e d a n d t h a t I w o u l d f i n d
t h e m t o b e t o o s m a l l .
I t h e n e x p e r i e n c e d i n a w a y t h a t I h a d n o t b e e n
a b l e
to
f e e l i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e a n a l y s i s t o t h a t p o i n t
t h e i n t e n s i t y o f t h e l o v e t h a t I f e l t f o r J . a s w e l l a s t h e
d e p t h o f m y f e e l i n g s o f s a d n e s s a n d lo ss . I t w a s o n l y a t
t h a t j u n c t u r e t h a t I b e g a n t o s u s p e c t t h a t t h e f e e l in g s o f
s h a m e t h a t I h a d f e l t d u r i n g t h e r e v e r i e a b o u t J . i n t h e
e a r l i e r s e s s i o n h a d s e r v e d t o p r o t e c t m e f r o m e x p e r i -
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e n c i n g t h e p a i n o f t h a t l o v e a n d t h e f e e l i n g o f l o s s . I
s u s p e c t e d t h a t M s . B . ' s s h a m e r e g a r d i n g t h e f a n t a s y o f
m y finding h e r b r e a s t s t o o s m a l l s i m i l a r l y s e r v e d a s a
d e f e n s i v e f u n c t i o n i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e m o r e f r i g h t e n i n g
w i s h e s t o b e a b l e t o l o v e m e a n d t o f e e l l o v e d b y m e ( a s
w e l l a s t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g f e a r s o f m y c o n t e m p t f o r h e r
a n d h e r c o n t e m p t f o r h e r s e l f f o r h a v i n g s u c h w i s h e s ) .
T h i s f e a r f u l , d e f e n s i v e c o n t e m p t h a d b e e n e x p r e s s e d i n
h e r i m p e r i o u s g e s t u r e a t t h e s t a r t o f t h e m e e t i n g .
T h e r e v e r i e s a n d t h o u g h t s t h a t I h a v e j u s t
d e s c r i b e d ( f o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e v e r i e s i n v o l v in g a n a n o n
y m o u s s u i c i d e , t h e e f f o r t t o c o n t r o l t h e p a s s a g e o f t i m e ,
t h e i n a b i l i t y t o f ul ly g r i e v e t h e e a r l y d e a t h o f a f r i e n d ,
t h e a n x i e t y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h f o r e c l o s e d s e x u a l a n d s e n
s u a l a l i v e n e s s a n d r e l a t e d n e s s ) s t r o n g l y c o n t r i b u t e d t o
m y s a y i n g t o M s . B . t h a t I f e l t t h a t t h e r e w a s a s a d n e s s i n
w h a t w e w e r e t a l k i n g a b o u t t h a t h a d t o d o w i t h t h e f ee l
i n g t h a t i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t s o f h e r l i fe w e r e n o t b e i n g
l i v e d ( w e r e b e i n g " t h r o w n a w a y " ) . I n r e f e r r i n g t o t h e
s a d n e s s o f a t h r o w n a w a y l if e , a l if e u n l i v e d , I w a s t h i n k
i n g n o t o n l y o f t h e w a y M s . B . h a d n o t a l l o w e d h e r s e l f
t o h a v e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g t h e m o t h e r o f h e r
( o u r ) b a b y i n t h e d r e a m , b u t a l s o o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h
( t o v a r y i n g d e g r e e s ) s h e h a d n o t a l l o w e d h e r s e l f t o l iv e
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g i n a n a ly s i s w i t h m e a n d h a d
n o t a l l o w e d h e r s e l f t o l i ve t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g a
d a u g h t e r t o h e r m o t h e r o r o f h a v i n g a m o t h e r .
M s . B . r e s p o n d e d t o w h a t I s a i d b y c r y i n g i n a w a y
t h a t f e lt t o m e t h a t M s . B . w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g s a d n e s s
w i t h m e a s o p p o s e d t o d r a m a t i z i n g f o r m e a n i n v e n t e d
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f e e l i n g . S h e e l a b o r a t e d o n t h e i d e a t h a t m u c h o f h e r
l i f e h a d n o t b e e n l i v e d b y t e l l i n g m e t h a t s h e h a d t o a
l a r g e e x t e n t n o t e x p e r i e n c e d h e r l i f e a s a g i r l a n d a s a
w o m a n s i n c e s h e h a d n o t h a d a s e n s e o f h e r s e l f a s h a v
i n g h a d a f e m a l e b o d y . A s a r e s u l t s h e f e l t s h e w o u l d
n e v e r b e a b l e t o " m a k e m i l k f o r a b a b y . " I m p l i c i t i n t h i s
f in a l s t a t e m e n t o f t h e h o u r w a s t h e p a t i e n t ' s f e a r t h a t
s h e w o u l d n e v e r b e a b l e t o f u l ly e x p e r i e n c e b e i n g a l i v e
a s a s e x u a l w o m a n w i t h m e a n d e x p e r i e n c e ( i n im a g i
n a t i o n ) b e i n g m o t h e r o f o u r b a b y .
Concluding Comment
T h e r e a r e o f c o u r s e i n n u m e r a b l e l i n e s o f t h o u g h t a n d
f e e l i n g a n d l e v e l s o f m e a n i n g i n t h e s e t h r e e s e s s i o n s
t h a t I h a v e i n m y d i s c u s s i o n e i t h e r i g n o r e d a l t o g e t h e r
o r o n l y b r ie f ly a n d i n c o m p l e t e l y a l l u d e d t o . S u c h is t h e
n a t u r e o f a n a l y t i c w o r k , e s p e c i a l l y a n a l y t i c w o r k i n
w h i c h o n e a t t e m p t s t o a t t e n d t o t h e i n f i n i t e c o m p l e x i t y
o f t h e
i n t e r p l a y
o f t h e
u n c o n s c i o u s l i f e
o f t h e
a n a l y s a n d
a n d t h a t o f t h e a n a l y s t a n d t o t h e
eve r -chang ing
u n c o n
s c i o u s c o n s t r u c t i o n s g e n e r a t e d i n t h e " o v e r l a p " o f t h e
t w o . M y i n t e n t h a s n o t b e e n t o b e e x h a u s t i v e i n t h e
e x p l i c a t i o n o f u n c o n s c i o u s m e a n i n g s , b u t t o p r o v i d e
s o m e t h i n g o f a s e n s e o f t h e r h y t h m o f t h e to-and-fro o f
e x p e r i e n c i n g a n d r e f l e c t in g , o f l i s t e n i n g a n d i n t r o s p e c
t i o n , o f r e v e r i e a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , i n a n a l y t i c w o r k t h a t
v i ew s t h e u s e
o f t h e
a n a l y s t ' s r e v e r i e s a s a f u n d a m e n t a l
c o m p o n e n t o f a n a ly t ic t e c h n i q u e .
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7
O n t h e Use of L a n g u a g e
i n Psychoanalysis
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T h e s u b j e c t o f t h e u s e o f l a n g u a g e i n p s y c h o a n a l y s i s
t o u c h e s o n v i r t u a l l y e v e r y a s p e c t o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . I n
t h i s c h a p t e r , I s h a l l m a k e n o a t t e m p t t o b e e n c y c l o
p a e d i c ; r a t h e r , I s h a l l o f f e r a f e w t e n t a t i v e t h o u g h t s
c o n c e r n i n g t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e c o n s c i o u s a n d u n c o n
s c i o u s e x p e r i e n c e o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d is c o n
v e y e d / c r e a t e d ( in l a r g e p a r t t h r o u g h l a n g u a g e ) i n t h e
a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g . I s h a l l d i s c u s s s o m e i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r
a n a l y s i s o f t h e i d e a t h a t l a n g u a g e is n o t s i m p l y a p a c k
a g e i n w h i c h c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a r e w r a p p e d , b u t t h e
m e d i u m i n w h i c h e x p e r i e n c e is b r o u g h t t o l i f e i n t h e
p r o c e s s o f b e i n g s p o k e n o r w r i t t e n .
T h i s c h a p t e r d o e s n o t r e p r e s e n t a n e f f o r t t o a p p l y
a n a l y t i c t h i n k i n g t o t h e f i e ld o f l i t e r a r y s t u d i e s .
I n s t e a d , I h o p e t o m a k e a s m a l l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o a n
a w a r e n e s s o f t h e l i f e o f w o r d s ( a n d t h e l i f e i n w o r d s )
t h a t o c c u r s i n t h e a n a l y t i c s i t u a t i o n . R a t h e r t h a n
201
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2 2
Reverie and Interpretation
a t t e m p t i n g t o l o o k b e h i n d l a n g u a g e , t h e e f f o r t h e r e is
t o l o o k i n t o i t .
Reading, W riting, and Psychoanalysis
I s h a l l b e g i n i n a w a y t h a t I r e a l i z e is m o r e t h a n a litde
o d d f o r a n a n a l y t ic p a p e r : I w i ll a t t e m p t t o d e s c r i b e
s o m e t h i n g o f m y e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e i n t r o d u c t o r y E n g l i s h
c o u r s e s t h a t I t o o k w h e n I w a s a s t u d e n t a t A m h e r s t C o l
l e g e . M y e x p e r i e n c e i n t h o s e c o u r s e s r e m a i n s a t t h e c o r e
o f t h e w a y I a p p r o a c h t h e u s e o f
l a ngua ge
b o t h w i t h i n
a n d o u t s i d e o f t h e a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g .
T h e i n t r o d u c t o r y w r i t i n g c o u r s e ( r e q u i r e d f o r a l l
f r e s h m e n ) w a s t a u g h t b y t h e f a c u l t y o f t h e E n g l i s h
D e p a r t m e n t i n s e c t i o n s o f a b o u t f i f te e n s t u d e n t s . T h e
s e c t i o n s m e t t h r e e t i m e s p e r w e e k f o r a n a c a d e m i c
y e a r , a n d a p a p e r o f a b o u t a page-and-a-ha l f i n l e n g t h
( w r i t t e n i n r e s p o n s e t o a g i v e n q u e s t i o n ) w a s t o b e s u b
m i t t e d a t e a c h c la ss m e e t i n g . T h e c o u r s e b e g a n w i t h
t h e f o l l o w i n g w r i t i n g a s s i g n m e n t : " D e s c r i b e a s i t u a t i o n
( r e a l o r i m a g i n e d ) i n w h i c h y o u w e r e b e i n g s i n c e r e . " A t
e a c h m e e t i n g o f t h e c l a ss , a p o r t i o n ( a t f i rs t , o n l y a s e n
t e n c e ) o f s e v e r a l o f t h e s t u d e n t s ' p a p e r s t h a t h a d b e e n
w r i t t e n f o r t h e p r e v i o u s m e e t i n g w e r e d i s t r i b u t e d , r e a d
a l o u d s e v e r a l tim es b y t h e p r o f e s s o r , a n d d i s c u s s e d .
T h e e ff e ct o f w r i t i n g t h r e e o f t h e s e p a p e r s e a c h w e e k
w a s t o g e n e r a t e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f c o n t i n u o u s i m m e r
s i o n i n
the
p r o c e s s o f w r i t i n g f o r a f u l l a c a d e m i c y e a r .
W r i t i n g a n d t h i n k i n g a b o u t l a n g u a g e b e c a m e a w a y o f
l i f e i n a f a s h i o n n o t u n l i k e t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e e x p e r i -
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On the
Use
of
Language
in
Psychoanalysis
2 3
e n c e o f b e i n g i n a n a l y s i s b e c o m e s " a w a y o f l if e " f o r a
p e r i o d o f time. T h e w r i t i n g a s s i g n m e n t s c o n t i n u e d :
• " D e s c r i b e a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h y o u w e r e b e i n g
i n s i n c e r e . "
• " I n t h e s i t u a t i o n y o u d e s c r i b e d i n w h i c h y o u
w e r e i n s i n c e r e , h o w d i d y o u ' k n o w ' t h a t y o u
w e r e b e i n g i n s i n c e r e ? "
• " D e s c r i b e a c o n v e r s a t i o n i n w h i c h y o u s a i d
s o m e t h i n g t h a t f e l t i n s i n c e r e a n d t h e n y o u
c h a n g e d a w o r d o r p h r a s e o r s e n t e n c e , o r e v e n
a n i n t o n a t i o n o f v o i c e w h i c h r e s u l t e d i n y o u r
f e e l i n g t h a t w h a t y o u h a d s a id w a s n o w m o r e
s i n c e r e . W h a t w a s c h a n g e d ? "
• " W h a t d o e s t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t m e a n t o y o u :
' T h a t w a s s o u n l i k e m e l i k e e v e r y t h i n g e ls e I
do . '
• " C o m p o s e a l e t t e r i n w h i c h y o u m i s r e p r e s e n t
s o m e t h i n g . "
• " C o m p o s e a l e t t e r i n w h i c h y o u t ry t o c o r r e c t a
m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g . "
• " W h a t is d i f f e r e n t a b o u t t h e w r i t i n g i n t h e t w o
l e t t e r s t h a t y o u h a v e w r i t t e n i n t h e p r e v i o u s
a s s i g n m e n t s ? "
T h e s e w e r e n o t e x e r c i s e s i n p s y c h o l o g y , s e m a n t i c s ,
r h e t o r i c , l i n g u i s t i c s , l o g i c , o r p h i l o s o p h y . T h e y i n v o l v e d
s u c c e s s i v e e f f o r t s a t c r e a t i n g a s e t t i n g i n w h i c h e a c h s t u
d e n t c o u l d listen to himself in h i s e f f o r t s t o u s e w o r d s
a n d c o n s t r u c t s e n t e n c e s i n t h e p r o c e s s o f a t t e m p t i n g t o
e x p r e s s / c r e a t e h i s t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s i n w r i t i n g .
![Page 200: []Ogden, T.H. (1998), Reverie and Interpretation Sensing Something Human.pdf](https://reader033.fdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022052710/577cc0761a28aba711903189/html5/thumbnails/200.jpg)
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2 4
Reverie and Interpretation
A l t h o u g h I h a d r e a d s o m e w o r k s b y S h a k e s p e a r e ,
M e l v i l l e , O r w e l l , H a w t h o r n e , H e m i n g w a y , a n d t h e l i k e
i n h i g h s c h o o l , I h a d a l m o s t n o s e n s e o f w h a t w a s c o n
s i d e r e d t o b e g o o d , m u c h le ss g r e a t , a b o u t t h e i r w r i t
i n g . ( I ' m n o t s u r e I e v e r r e a l l y a s k e d m y s e l f t h e
q u e s t i o n . ) I r e m e m b e r w i t h g r e a t c l a r i t y t h e first tim e I
w a s a b l e t o h e a r i n a s t u d e n t ' s p a p e r t h e s o u n d o f g o o d
w r i t i n g . I n a p a r a g r a p h b e i n g r e a d a l o u d i n t h e i n t r o
d u c t o r y w r i t i n g c la ss i n t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 6 4 , t h e s t u
d e n t w r i t e r d e s c r i b e d f e e l i n g g o o d o n e m o r n i n g . A s h e
w a l k e d d o w n t h e s i d e w a l k i n f r o n t o f h i s h o u s e , h e s a i d
h e l l o t o a d o g h e p a s s e d . I c a n n o t r e c a l l t h e p r e c i s e
w o r d s t h e s t u d e n t u s e d i n t h e s e s e n t e n c e s , b u t I h e a r d
a n d f e l t a v i ta l i ty i n t h e l a n g u a g e t h a t I h a d n e v e r h e a r d
b e f o r e . W i t h t h e a g e o f t h e s p e a k e r u n s p e c i f i e d i n t h e
p a r a g r a p h , t h e w r i t e r h a d n o t o n l y s o m e h o w c o n v e y e d
i n h i s l a n g u a g e , a s e n s e o f w h a t i t i s t o f e e l l i g h t , b u t
a l s o h a d m a n a g e d t o c a p t u r e a n e s s e n c e o f w h a t i t f e e ls
l ike u n s e l f c o n s c i o u s l y t o b e a b o y — a b o y o f five o r a
b o y o f s i x t e e n , i t d i d n ' t m a t t e r . I m a r v e l e d a t t h e w a y i n
w h i c h t h e r e w a s a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g i m i t a t i v e o r p o s e d
a b o u t t h e s e s e n t e n c e s .
T h e p l a c e w h e r e s ty le s t o p p e d a n d c o n t e n t b e g a n
b e c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f f i cu l t t o d e t e r m i n e w i t h a n y c e r
t a i n t y a s
t h e
a c a d e m i c y e a r p r o g r e s s e d . T h e r e l a t i o n
s h i p b e t w e e n p a s t a n d p r e s e n t a l s o b e c a m e
i n t e r e s t i n g l y c o m p l e x : i t b e g a n t o s e e m t h a t t h e p a s t
w a s i n m a n y w a y s o n l y a s r e a l f o r o n e s e l f a s t h e l a n
g u a g e o n e c o u l d c r e a t e i n t h e p r e s e n t . T h e i n a r t i c u
l a t e n e s s o f t h e p a s t b e c a m e p a l p a b l e i n i t s o b s t i n a t e
![Page 201: []Ogden, T.H. (1998), Reverie and Interpretation Sensing Something Human.pdf](https://reader033.fdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022052710/577cc0761a28aba711903189/html5/thumbnails/201.jpg)
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On the
Use
of Lan guage in
Psychoanalysis
2 5
r e f u s a l t o b e r e d u c e d t o w o r d s . T h e i l l u s i o n o f a n
" i n n e r s i n c e r e s e l f t h a t is t a r n i s h e d b y w o r d s s e e m e d
t o b r e a k d o w n . I n i t s p l a c e b e g a n t o e m e r g e a s e n s e
t h a t " s i n c e r i t y " ( a w o r d w h o s e m e a n i n g w a s c o n t i n u a l l y
s l i p p i n g a n d s l i d i n g ) w a s a n e x p e r i e n c e i n e x t r i c a b l y
l i n k e d w i t h t h e w a y o n e u s e s l a n g u a g e t o m a k e o n e s e l f
k n o w n t o o n e s e l f o r t o a n o t h e r p e r s o n . I n e v e r a r t ic u
l a t e d t h e s e i d e a s a s s u c h w h i l e i n c o l l e g e ( o r f o r
d e c a d e s t h e r e a f t e r ) . I t w a s n ' t
only
t h a t I c o u l d n ' t h a v e
d o n e s o , I f e l t n o i n c l i n a t i o n t o t r y .
I n r e t r o s p e c t , i t s e e m s t h a t a m o n g t h e s u b j e c t s
b e i n g e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h i n t h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n t o r e a d
i n g a n d w r i t i n g w a s t h a t o f t h e i n t e r p e n e t r a t i o n o f o n e ' s
e x p e r i e n c e , o n e ' s a t t e m p t s t o u s e l a n g u a g e t o c o m m u
n i c a t e t h a t e x p e r i e n c e , a n d t h e e f f ec t ( o n o n e s e l f a n d
o n o t h e r p e o p l e ) o f t h e w o r d s o n e u s e s a n d t h e s en
t e n c e s o n e m a k e s i n t h a t e f f o rt . T h e e x p e r i m e n t i n w r i t
i n g , r e a d i n g , a n d l i s t e n i n g t h a t I h a v e j u s t d e s c r i b e d h a s
a g r e a t d e a l i n c o m m o n w i t h t h e e x p e r i m e n t i n t h i n k
i n g , f e e l i n g , a n d c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h a t l ie s a t t h e h e a r t o f
t h e a n a l y t i c e x p e r i e n c e . I n t h e a n a l y t i c h o u r , w e r a r e l y
u s e w r i t i n g a s o u r m e d i u m o f e x p r e s s i o n , b u t w e d o u s e
w o r d s a n d w e d o u s e o u r d e v e l o p e d c a p a c i t i e s f o r l i s te n
i n g t o l a n g u a g e ( b o t h t o t h e p a t i e n t ' s a n d t o o u r o w n )
i n i t s s p o k e n a n d u n s p o k e n f o r m s .
T h e
Ear Does It
I n a n e f f o r t t o d e v e l o p a v o c a b u l a r y w i t h w h i c h t o t h i n k
a b o u t a n d d i s c u ss t h e u s e o f l a n g u a g e i n p s y c h o a n a l y -
![Page 202: []Ogden, T.H. (1998), Reverie and Interpretation Sensing Something Human.pdf](https://reader033.fdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022052710/577cc0761a28aba711903189/html5/thumbnails/202.jpg)
8/9/2019 []Ogden, T.H. (1998), Reverie and Interpretation Sensing Something Human.pdf
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2 6
Reverie and Interpretation
s is , I w o u l d l i k e t o t u r n t o a n i n c i d e n t d e s c r i b e d b y t h e
l i t e r a r y c r i t i c R i c h a r d P o i r i e r ( 1 9 9 2 ) i n v o l v i n g h i s f el
l o w t e a c h e r a n d c r i t i c , R e u b e n B r o w e r . T h e i n c i d e n t
r e f l e c t s s o m e t h i n g o f a n a e s t h e t i c s e n s i b i l i t y t h a t is
c o m m o n t o B r o w e r ' s a p p r o a c h t o t e a c h i n g s t u d e n t s
a b o u t r e a d i n g p o e t r y a n d t o a n a p p r o a c h t o
psycho
a n a l y s i s t o w h i c h I a s p i r e :
O n e y e a r [ B r o w e r ] b e g a n t h e c o u r s e [ a n u n d e r
g r a d u a t e c o u r s e i n t h e r e a d i n g o f E n g l i s h l i t e r a
t u r e ] w i t h a n e x e r c i s e o n a s h o r t p o e m b y E d w i n
M u i r , w h i c h , a s a n e x a s p e r a t e d n e w c o m e r t o t h e
s ta ff c o m p l a i n e d , s i m p l y " d o e s n ' t c o m e t o g e t h e r . "
T h i s s i m p l y c o n f i r m e d t h e w i s d o m o f t h e c h o i c e
f o r B r o w e r , w h o s a i d s i m p l y , " W e l l , l e t ' s s e e w h a t
t h e y c a n d o w i t h i t ." " D o w i t h i t ," n o t " G e t o u t o f
i t . " T h e q u e s t i o n h e l i k e d t o a s k o n t h i s a n d o n
o t h e r o c c a s i o n s w a s , a g a i n , s i m p l y " W h a t is i t l i k e
t o r e a d t h i s p o e m ? — t h e v e ry h a r d e s t o f q u e s t i o n s ,
a n d n o t o n e l i ke ly t o e n c o u r a g e a s e a r c h f o r c o h e r
e n t pa t t e rns , [ p . 1 8 4 ]
T h e q u e s t i o n " W h a t is i t l i k e t o r e a d t h i s p o e m ? "
f o c u s e s o n the experience of reading, t h e e x p e r i e n c e
o f w h a t i t f e e l s l i k e t o r e a d , t o l i s t e n t o , t o b e s p o k e n t o
( o r w r i t t e n t o ) b y t h e s p e a k e r / w r i t e r . I b e l i e v e t h a t
t h e r e is a n i m p o r t a n t a n d i n t e r e s t i n g o v e r l a p b e t w e e n
t h e q u e s t i o n " W h a t is i t l i k e t o r e a d t h i s p o e m ? " a n d
t h e q u e s t i o n " W h a t i s i t l i k e t o b e w i t h t h i s p a t i e n t ? " F o r
B r o w e r ( 1 9 5 1 , 1 9 6 8 ) t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g is n o t
![Page 203: []Ogden, T.H. (1998), Reverie and Interpretation Sensing Something Human.pdf](https://reader033.fdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022052710/577cc0761a28aba711903189/html5/thumbnails/203.jpg)
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On the Use of Language in Psychoanalysis
2 7
m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l l y a m a t t e r o f u n c o v e r i n g " c o h e r e n t
p a t t e r n s " o f m e a n i n g h i d d e n i n t h e t e x t w h i c h m u s t b e
d e c i p h e r e d , d e c o d e d , o r e x p l i c a t e d ; r a t h e r , t h e
e m p h a s i s i s o n c r e a t i n g o n e ' s o w n w o r d s a n d s e n t e n c e s
w i t h w h i c h t o d e s c r i b e t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t c r e a t e d b y
t h e c o l l i s i o n o f a u t h o r a n d r e a d e r . A s i m p o r t a n t a s is
t h e p r o c e s s o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g ( in b o t h t h e p s y c h o a n a
ly ti c e x p e r i e n c e a n d i n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g ) , t h e
p r o c e s s o f n o t " k n o w [ i n g ] t o o m u c h ( W i n n i c o t t 1 9 7 1 ,
p . 5 7 ) i s a t l e a s t a s i m p o r t a n t . " M u c h b e t t e r t o p r a c t i c e
t h e a r t o f not a r r i v i n g [ a t p r e c i s e m e a n i n g ] " ( P o i r i e r
1 9 9 2 , p . 1 8 2 ) .
O n c e a p o e m , a n o v e l , a p l a y , a n e s s a y is w r i t t e n ,
t h e q u e s t i o n o f a u t h o r s h i p a n d t h e ( c o n s c i o u s ) i n t e n
tion o f t h e a u t h o r r e c e d e s s i n c e t h e r e a d e r is a u t h o r o f
h i s r e s p o n s e s t o w h a t h a s b e e n s a i d o r w r i t t e n . T h e
p o e m , f o r e x a m p l e , h a v i n g b e e n w r i t t e n ( t h e l i n e s h av
i n g b e e n s p o k e n ) h a s d o n e i t s w o r k , a n d t h e r e a d e r / l i s
t e n e r t h e n b e c o m e s t h e c r e a t o r o f m e a n i n g s , t h e a u t h o r
o f h i s o w n s e n s e o f t h e p o e m a s h e e x p e r i e n c e s i t ( a n d
h a s b e e n c h a n g e d b y i t ) , a n d ( s o m e t i m e s ) a t t e m p t s t o
find w o r d s w i t h w h i c h t o d e s c r i b e h i s e x p e r i e n c e o f i t.
T h e r e a d e r / l i s t e n e r m u s t s o m e h o w m a k e t h e w r i t i n g /
s p e a k i n g h is o w n , o r i n B r o w e r ' s t e r m s , t h e r e a d e r m u s t
" s e e w h a t h e c a n d o w i t h i t . " I n t h e p r o c e s s o f w r i t i n g ,
t h e p o e t m u s t s e e w h a t h e c a n d o w i t h l a n g u a g e i n m a k
i n g s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a p t u r e s , a n d i n a s e n s e c r e a t e s i n
t h e m o m e n t o f i t s " e x p r e s s i o n , " s o m e t h i n g o f w h a t i t
f e e l s l ik e t o b e h u m a n " u n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s "
(H.
J a m e s ,
The Portrait of a Lady,
1 8 8 1 ,
p.17) .
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2 8
Reverie
and Interpretation
T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f w r i t i n g a n d r e a d i n g is n o t t h e
s a m e a s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g e n g a g e d i n a n a l ys i s .
A n e f f o r t t o d r a w o n e - t o - o n e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s b e t w e e n
t h e t w o w o u l d c o n s t i t u t e a t y p e o f r e d u c t i o n i s m t h a t
o b s c u r e s t h e e s s e n c e o f e a c h o f t h e s e f o r m s o f h u m a n
a c t iv i t y . S u c h a r e d u c t i o n o f a n a l y s i s t o a t y p e o f " s p o
k e n l i t e r a t u r e " a n d a n a l y t i c l i s t e n i n g t o a f o r m o f l i t e r
a r y c r i t i c i s m is n o t a t a l l w h a t I h a v e i n m i n d w h e n I
a t t e m p t t o m a k e a n a l y t i c u s e o f t h e i d e a s o f t e a c h e r s o f
l i t e r a t u r e a n d l i t e r a r y c r i t ic s . I a m i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e w a y
s u c h p e o p l e t h i n k a b o u t a n d s p e a k a b o u t e n c o u n t e r s
w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e ' s s y m b o l i c e x p r e s s i o n s / c r e a t i o n s o f
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g h u m a n . *
B r o w e r d i r e c t s u s t o m e t a p h o r : " W h a t i s i t JiJce t o
r e a d t h i s p o e m ? " ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . I n p o s i n g t h i s
q u e s t i o n , B r o w e r a s ks u s t o b r i n g t o b e a r o n t h e p o e m
s o m e t h i n g n e w , s o m e t h i n g n o t a l r e a d y i n t h e p o e m ,
b u t p e r h a p s s u g g e s t e d b y t h e p o e m ' s e f fe c t o n u s . I n
t h i s w a y , t h e p o e m i s a c t i v e ly e n g a g e d ; w e d o s o m e
t h i n g w i t h i t a s o p p o s e d t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g
it.
1
T h e a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e r e q u i r e s o f t h e a n a l y t i c p a i r
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f m e t a p h o r i c a l l a n g u a g e a d e q u a t e
t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f s o u n d s a n d m e a n i n g s t h a t r e f l e c t
1 . I am rem ind ed of Bion ' s co m m en t to h is ana lysand, Jam es
Gro ts te in, after G rots te in resp on de d to on e of Bio n 's inter pre ta
t ions by saying, "I un de rs tan d. " Bion pau sed an d th en calmly said,
"Please t ry not to understand. If you must ,
superstand, circum-
stand, para stand , bu t please t ry no t to un de rsta nd " (Gro ts te in
1990, pe rson a l co m m un ica t ion ) .
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w h a t i t f e e l s l i k e t o t h i n k , f e e l , a n d p h y s i c a l l y e x p e r i
e n c e ( i n s h o r t t o b e a li ve a s a h u m a n b e i n g t o t h e
e x t e n t t h a t o n e is c a p a b l e ) a t a g i v e n m o m e n t .
2
S u c h
u s e o f l a n g u a g e is n o t a n i n b o r n c a p a c i ty ; i t r e q u i r e s
" e a r t r a i n i n g "
3
( P r i t c h a r d 1 9 9 1 ) w h i c h t h e a n a l y s t p r o
v i d e s f r o m t h e v e r y first m e e t i n g . T h e a n a l y s t , w h i l e
a t t e m p t i n g t o a v o i d h e a v y - h a n d e d d i d a c t i c i s m is , i n
i m p o r t a n t w a ys , v e r y m u c h l ik e a n E n g l i s h t e a c h e r i n
h i s e f fo r ts t o e n h a n c e t h e p a t i e n t ' s c a p a c i t y f o r a t u n e -
m e n t t o t h e s u b t l e t y o f l a n g u a g e as w e l l a s t h e e n h a n c e
m e n t o f h i s c a p a c i t y t o u s e l a n g u a g e i n a w a y t h a t m o r e
f u l l y c a p t u r e s / c r e a t e s h i s t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , p e r c e p
tions, a n d s o o n i n t h e a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e .
I n a n in i t i a l m e e t i n g w i t h a n a n a l y s a n d , I s a i d , " I
a m s t r u c k b y t h e f a c t t h a t y o u d e s c r i b e d o u r first
2. T he analyst 's creat ion of "m etapho rica l s ta temen ts" const itut
ing interpre ta t ions must not be an obtrusive event designed to
demonstrate the analyst 's cleverness with words. F. R. Leavis
(1947), in his discussion of Milton, usefully dist inguishes between
a display of a feeling
for words"
an d th e capacity to create "feeling
through
words" (p. 50).
3. Pri tc ha rd 's term "ear t ra ining" is derived from langu age used
by Robert Frost in a 1914 letter: "The ear does it. The ear is the
only t rue wri ter and the only t rue reader. I have known people
who could read without hearing the sounds and they were the fas t
est readers. Eye readers we call them. They can get the meaning by
glances. But they are bad readers because they miss the best part
of what a good writer puts into his words" (Frost 1914a, p. 677;
qu ote d a nd discussed by Pri tch ard 1991, p.5).
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210
Reverie and Interpretation
p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n a s if y o u w e r e n ' t p a r t o f i t . " I
w a s s p e a k i n g t o h e r a b o u t t h e s p e c i f ic s o f t h e w a y
i n w h i c h h e r u s e o f l a n g u a g e h a d c o n v e y e d t o m e a
s e n s e o f w h a t I
i m a g i n e d
s h e h a d f e l t d u r i n g o u r
p h o n e ca ll ( a n d w a s s p e a k i n g t o h e r i m p l i c i d y
a b o u t w h a t I s e n s e d s h e w a s c u r r e n d y f e e l i n g ) . T h e
a n a l y s a n d r e s p o n d e d b y a s k i n g m e , " W h a t d o y o u
m e a n ? " I s a i d t h a t i t s e e m e d t h a t s h e m u s t s ti ll f e e l
v e r y a n x i o u s a b o u t w h e t h e r i t w o u l d b e p o s s i b l e f o r
h e r t o b e p a r t o f a n e x c h a n g e w i t h m e . T h e p a t i e n t
d i d n o t r e s p o n d d i r e c t l y , b u t w e n t o n t o s p e a k i n a
w a y t h a t I g r a d u a l l y c a m e t o r e a l i z e w a s i m i t a t i v e o f
t h e w a y I s p e a k , f o r e x a m p l e , i n t h e h a l t i n g
c a d e n c e o f v o i c e . I h a d t h e s t r a n g e f e e l i n g o f l o o k
i n g i n a m i r r o r a n d s e e i n g m y s e l f w h i l e b e i n g
k e e n l y a w a r e o f t h e i n s u b s t a n t i a l n a t u r e o f t h e
r e f l e c t i o n . I c h o s e n o t t o d i r e c t t h e p a t i e n t ' s a t t e n
tion t o h e r u n c o n s c i o u s i m i t a t i o n o f m e b e c a u s e I
f e lt t h a t t o d o s o w o u l d h a v e c a u s e d h e r t o f e e l
p a i n f u l l y e x p o s e d . I n s t e a d , I l i s t e n e d t o t h e
p a t i e n t ' s " s t o r i e s " ( h e r
p r e s e n t a t i o n
o f h e r h i s t o r y ) .
I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s r a t h e r b l a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n o f
h e r s e l f , I f o u n d m y m i n d w a n d e r i n g . I w e n t o v e r
m y s c h e d u l e f o r t h e d a y i n m y m i n d a n d s t r u g g l e d
t o r e m e m b e r w h o I w a s t o s e e i n o n e o f m y a f te r
n o o n h o u r s . I e v e n t u a l l y t o l d t h e p a t i e n t t h a t I w a s
h a v i n g d i ff ic u l t y g e t t i n g
a
s e n s e o f w h a t i t f e l t l i k e
t o b e h e r i n t h e s t o r i e s t h a t s h e w a s t e l l i n g m e . T h e
p a t i e n t s a id t h a t s h e r e c o g n i z e d h e r h a b i t o f " t ak
i n g c o v e r , " b u t t h i s a c k n o w l e d g m e n t h a d t h e e f f ec t
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On the Use of Language in Psychoanalysis
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o f s l i d i n g o v e r w h a t I s u s p e c t e d t o b e a f a r m o r e
t r o u b l i n g
f e e l i n g — t h e
f e e l i n g t h a t w h a t w a s b e i n g
h i d d e n w a s n o t h e r p r e s e n c e , b u t h e r a b s e n c e .
T o w a r d t h e e n d o f t h is h o u r a n d i n s u c c e e d i n g
h o u r s , I b e g a n t o b r o a c h w i t h t h e p a t i e n t t h e i d e a
o f h e r h i d d e n a b s e n c e a n d t o l i n k i t w i t h h e r q u e s
t i o n , " W h a t d o y o u m e a n ? " I s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h i s
q u e s t i o n m a y h a v e r e f l e c t e d a n a n x i o u s ( u n c o n
s c i o u s ) e f f o r t t o d i s g u i s e f r o m h e r s e l f a n d f r o m m e
a p a i n f u l f e e l i n g o f n o t b e i n g p r e s e n t .
I b e l i e v e t h a t a n a l y s is , a l t h o u g h u s u a l l y n o t o v e r t l y
d i d a c t i c , p r o v i d e s o n e o f t h e m o s t i n t e n s e a n d r i g o r o u s
e x p e r i e n c e s i n " e a r t r a i n i n g " t h a t h u m a n b e i n g s h a v e
c r e a t e d . ( T h e a n a l y s t m u s t p e r e n i a l l y b e a w a r e o f t h e
d a n g e r t h a t " t e a c h i n g " o f t h i s t y p e m a y s l ip i n t o a f o r m
o f i n d o c t r i n a t i o n . T o s o m e d e g r e e t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s
l e a r n i n g t o s p e a k t h e a n a l y s t ' s " t o n g u e " [ B a l i n t 1 9 6 8 ]
i n a n i n e v i t a b l e f e a t u r e o f e v e r y a n a l y s i s a n d m u s t b e
a d d r e s s e d a s a n a s p e c t o f t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e e x p e r i e n c e . )
I n a t t e m p t i n g t o d e s c r i b e w h a t I h a v e i n m i n d
w h e n I u s e t h e t e r m " e a r t r a i n i n g , " I s h a l l b r i e f l y d i s c u s s
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f l i s t e n i n g t o t h e u s e o f l a n g u a g e i n a
p i e c e o f w r i t i n g , t h e o p e n i n g s e n t e n c e o f H e n r y J a m e s '
( 1 8 8 1 ) The Portrait
of
a Lady.
U n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e r e a r e a f e w h o u r s
i n l i fe m o r e a g r e e a b l e t h a n t h e h o u r d e d i c a t e d t o
t h e c e r e m o n y k n o w n a s a f t e r n o o n t e a . [ p . 1 7 ]
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212
Reverie
and Interpretation
T h i s i s a n e x q u i s i t e s e n t e n c e ( p e r h a p s t o o e x q u i s
i t e ) , i n w h i c h e a c h w o r d is c h o s e n w i t h a l l t h e c a r e o f
a m a s t e r c h e f a t a n e a r l y m o r n i n g m a r k e t s e l e c t i n g
o n l y t h o s e h e r b s a n d v e g e t a b l e s o f t h e p e r f e c t s i z e ,
s h a p e , c o l o r , t e x t u r e , a n d f r a g r a n c e . T h e w o r d s ,
" U n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s " c o n s t i t u t e a
r e m a r k
a b l e p h r a s e w i t h w h i c h t o o p e n a n o v e l : t h i s i s p r e
c i s e l y w h a t a n o v e l i s c o n c e r n e d
w i t h — c r e a t i n g
a v o i c e
t h a t w i ll u s e l a n g u a g e t o d e s c r i b e w h a t l i f e is l i k e
" u n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s . " B u t w e a r e a l r e a d y
a l e r t e d t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s is n o t j u s t a n y v o i c e o r j u s t
a n y l if e w h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d ; i t is a
l i f e l i v e d b y s o m e o n e w h o b e g i n s a n a c c o u n t w i t h t h i s
e l e g a n t , k n o w i n g p h r a s e t h a t t e e t e r s o n t h e e d g e o f
p r e t e n t i o u s n e s s . P e r h a p s i t m o r e t h a n t e e t e r s — i t m a y
a l r e a d y h a v e b e g u n i ts s l i d e i n t o s e l f - s a ti s f a c t i o n . T h e
e f f e c t is p o w e r f u l a n d i n t r i g u i n g .
W e r e a d o n : " U n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e r e
a r e f e w h o u r s i n l if e m o r e a g r e e a b l e . . ." T h e v o i c e ,
t o n e , a n d l a n g u i d p a c e a r e s u s t a i n e d : " . . . t h e r e a r e f e w
h o u r s i n l i f e m o r e a g r e e a b l e . . . " T h e w o r d s r o l l o f f t h e
t o n g u e o f a p e r s o n w h o is f ul ly a t e a s e w i t h l a n g u a g e
a n d r e l i s h e s t h e s o u n d s t h a t c a n b e m a d e w i t h i t:
i n d e e d t h e y a r e b e a u t i f u l s o u n d s . T h e w o r d " a g r e e
a b l e " i s
pe r fec t—i t
c o u l d n o t b e " e n j o y a b l e , " " p l e a s u r
a b l e , " o r r e l a x i ng — t he w o r d " a g r e e a b l e " is m o r e
m e a s u r e d , m o r e m a t u r e , m o r e c iv i l i z ed .
T h e s e n t e n c e ( it is a ll o n e h i g h l y c r a f t e d s e n t e n c e )
c o n c l u d e s : ". . . m o r e a g r e e a b l e t h a n t h e h o u r d e d i
c a t e d t o t h e c e r e m o n y k n o w n a s a f t e r n o o n t e a . " T h e
h o u r b e i n g d e s c r i b e d is n o t s i m p l y t h e h o u r w h e n o n e
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On the
Use
of Lan guage in
Psychoanalysis
213
t a k e s a f t e r n o o n t e a , i t is " t h e h o u r d e d i c a t e d t o t h e c e r
e m o n y k n o w n a s a f t e r n o o n t e a . " T h i s " h o u r " ( p e r h a p s
a p l a y o n t h e w o r d " o u r " ) is n o l o n g e r a m e a s u r e o f
tim e; i t i s a m e a s u r e o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f W e s t e r n c iv
i l i z a t i o n ( w h i c h h a s b e e n b r o u g h t t o i t s p i n n a c l e i n
E n g l i s h c u l t u r e ) . T h e h o u r is n o t s i m p l y " s p e n t " o r
" p a s s e d " i n a c e r t a i n w a y , i t is b y t h i s p o i n t i n h i s t o r y
" d e d i c a t e d " n o t " t o a f t e r n o o n t e a , " b u t " t o t h e c e r e
m o n y k n o w n a s a f t e r n o o n t e a . " O n e d o e s n o t a s k t h e
b o o r i s h q u e s t i o n , " K n o w n b y w h o m ? " I t is k n o w n , a n d
i f o n e d o e s n o t k n o w , o n e n e e d n o t r e a d o n . " W e " a r e
i n v i t e d t o s m i l e w i t h t h e s p e a k e r a s w e p a r t i c i p a t e i n
t h e b o n d t h a t j o i n s u s i n o u r s h a r e d k n o w l e d g e o f t h e
rich s y m b o l i s m o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e , a n e x p e r i e n c e t h a t
h a s n o e q u i v a l e n t .
T h e r e is a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s e l f - m o c k e r y a n d a g e n -
tie t e a s i n g o f t h e r e a d e r as t h e s p e a k e r d e s c r i b e s t h e
" a g r e e a b l e " c e r e m o n y w i t h w o r d s c h o s e n a s a r t f u l l y as
o n e k n o w s t h e s p e a k e r w o u l d m a k e h i s s e l e c t i o n f r o m
t h e t r a y o f c a k e s w e v i s u a l iz e b e f o r e h i m . T h e v o i c e is
u n d e n i a b l y a v o i c e o f c u l t u r e a n d t a s te , a v o i c e s o k n o w
i n g , s o c i v i l i z e d , s o p o i s e d , t h a t i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o l o c a t e
t h e p e r s o n i n i t . T h e s p e a k e r is w e l c o m i n g t o t h e
r e a d e r a s a g r a c i o u s h o s t w o u l d w e l c o m e a g u e s t w h o
w i ll s h a r e i n t h e a f f e c t i o n a t e ( v e r y E n g l i s h ) s e l f - c h i d i n g
w e h e a r i n t h e t o n e o f t h i s v o i c e . B u t t h e r e is a l s o a n
i n t e l l i g e n c e h e r e s o f i e rc e t h a t t h e r e a d e r c a n s e n s e t h e
c h a l l e n g e ( e v e n d a n g e r ) o f b e i n g
p i e r c e d
( f r o m w h o
k n o w s w h e r e ) b y t h e g a z e t h a t is f o r t h e m o m e n t s o
s e e m i n g l y c o r d i a l .
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a s a n " a n a l y t i c a e s t h e t i c " ) m a y b e u s e f u l i n c o n c l u d i n g
t h is s e c t i o n . T h e r e a r e i m p o r t a n t a r e a s o f o v e r l a p a n d
i m p o r t a n t d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n a l i t e r a r y a e s t h e t i c a n d
a n a n a l y t i c a e s t h e t i c . I b e l i e v e t h a t w h a t is e s s e n t i a l t o
l i t e r a t u r e is t h e a t t e m p t t o
c a p t u r e / c r e a t e
s o m e t h i n g
in
l a n g u a g e t h a t is s i g n i f ic a n t a b o u t t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f
b e i n g a li v e a s a h u m a n b e i n g a n d t h e e n j o y m e n t o f t h e
p l a y o f w o r d s a n d s e n t e n c e s t h r o u g h w h i c h th i s i s m a d e
t o h a p p e n . T h e
c a p t u r i n g / c r e a t i n g
o f h u m a n e x p e r i
e n c e i n l a n g u a g e is a l s o o f c e n t r a l i m p o r t a n c e t o p sy
c h o a n a l y s i s . A n a n a l y t i c a e s t h e t i c , h o w e v e r , is a l s o
p o w e r f u l l y d e f i n e d b y t h e t h e r a p e u t i c f u n c t i o n o f p sy
c h o a n a l y s i s . T h e r o l e s o f a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d ( a n d
c o n s e q u e n d y
t h e w a y e a c h u s e s
l a n g u a g e
t o s p e a k t o
t h e o t h e r ) a r e s t r u c t u r e d b y t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e i r b e i n g
t o g e t h e r : t h e a t t e m p t t o h e l p t h e a n a l y s a n d ef f ec t l a s t
i n g p s y c h o l o g i c a l c h a n g e t h a t w il l e n a b l e h i m t o
b e c o m e m o r e fu l ly h u m a n .
T h e a n a l y s a n d ' s i n a b i l i t y t o l ead a f u l l e r ( m o r e
h u m a n ) l i f e t h a n h e is c u r r e n t l y c a p a b l e o f d o i n g is
o f t e n a n o u t c o m e o f h i s r e l i a n c e o n t h e ( u n c o n s c i o u s )
m e t h o d s b y w h i c h h e p r o t e c t s h i m s e l f a g a i n s t r e a l a n d
i m a g i n e d d a n g e r s . M o r e s p e c i f i c a l ly , t h e a n a l y t i c t a s k
o f h e l p i n g t h e a n a l y s a n d b e c o m e m o r e f u lly h u m a n
i n v o l v e s f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e p a t i e n t ' s e f f o r t s ( a l b e i t a m b i v a
l e n t o n e s ) t o e x p e r i e n c e a g r e a t e r r a n g e ( a n d p l a y ) o f
t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , a n d s e n s a t i o n s t h a t a r e f e l t t o b e h i s
o wn a n d t h a t a r e f e l t t o h a v e b e e n g e n e r a t e d i n t h e
c o n t e x t o f h i s o w n p r e s e n t a n d p a s t r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r
h u m a n b e i n g s ( i n c l u d i n g t h e a n a l y s t ) .
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G i v e n th i s c o n c e p t i o n o f w h a t i t is t h a t t h e a n a l y s t
a n d a n a l y s a n d a r e a b o u t i n t h e i r a n a l y t ic w o r k , t h e a n a
l y ti c d i s c o u r s e is n o t s i m p l y a d i s c o u r s e i n w h i c h t h e r e
is a n a t t e m p t t o
c a p t u r e / c r e a t e
i n w o r d s s o m e t h i n g o f
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g h u m a n ; r a t h e r , i t i s , i n a d d i
t i o n , a d i s c o u r s e c e n t r a l l y c o n c e r n e d w i th c r e a t i n g l a n
g u a g e a d e q u a t e t o i d e n t i f y i n g a n d d e s c r i b i n g t h e
nature ofthe anxiety a t i t s " p o i n t o f u r g e n c y " ( S t r a c h e y
1 9 3 4 , p . 1 5 4 ) i n t h e t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e
t h a t is p r e v e n t i n g t h e a n a l y s a n d f r o m e x p e r i e n c i n g a
f u l l e r r a n g e a n d g r e a t e r p l a y o f t h o u g h t s , f e e l in g s , a n d
s e n s a t i o n s i n t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t . I t is a n x i e t y ( p s y c h i c
p a i n ) t h a t d r i v e s a n d d i r e c t s t h e m o v e m e n t o f t h e a n a
l y t i c
d i a l ogue .
A n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e is
g u i d e d
b y t h e
e f f o r t t o s p e a k w i t h t h e a n a l y s a n d a b o u t w h a t i t f e e ls
l i k e f o r a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d t o b e w i t h o n e a n o t h e r a t
t h a t m o m e n t , i t e m p h a s i z e s t h e a t t e m p t t o d e s c r i b e t h e
m o s t u r g e n t f e a r s t h a t a r e s h a p i n g / c o n s t r i c t i n g t h e
a n a l y s a n d ' s c a p a c i t y t o e x p e r i e n c e t h a t m o m e n t i n a
m o r e f ul ly h u m a n w a y.
The Analyst's Languag e
I n a d d r e s s i n g t h e a n a l y s t ' s u s e o f l a n g u a g e i n t h e a n a
l y ti c d i a l o g u e , I b r i n g t o t h i s t o p i c a p e r s p e c t i v e t h a t is
s o m e w h a t a t o d d s w i t h t h e i d e a t h a t t h e g o a l o f t h e a n a
l y st i n h i s u s e o f l a n g u a g e is t o b e a s c r i s p , c l e a r a n d
c l a r i f y i n g a s h e c a n p o s s i b l y b e . A l t h o u g h I v i e w t h i s
c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e a n a l y s t ' s t a s k a s a p a r t i a l t r u t h , I f e e l
t h a t i t m u s t b e h e l d i n t e n s i o n w i t h a n o t h e r p a r t i a l
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t r u t h : i t i s e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e a n a l y s t t o u s e l a n g u a g e t h a t
a s p i r e s t o a p a r t i c u l a r f o r m o f e v o c a t iv e , s o m e t i m e s
m a d d e n i n g , a l m o s t a lw a y s d i s t u r b i n g , v a g u e n e s s . I n
a n a l y s i s , a s i n p o e t r y , " S p e e c h i s n o t d i r t y
s i l e nc e / C l a r i
fied. I t i s s i l e n c e m a d e s ti ll d i r t i e r " ( S t e v e n s 1 9 4 7 , p .
3 1 1 ) . T h e a n a l y s t ' s l a n g u a g e m u s t e m b o d y i n i ts e l f t h a t
t h e r e is n o s ti l l p o i n t o f m e a n i n g . M e a n i n g is c o n t i n u
o u s l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g s o m e t h i n g n e w a n d i n
s o d o i n g , is c o n t i n u a l l y u n d o i n g i ts e lf ( u n d e r c u t t i n g i ts
o w n c l a i m s t o c e r t a i n t y ) . I t is e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e a n a l y s t ' s
l a n g u a g e
e m b o d y t h e t e n s i o n o f f o r e v e r b e i n g i n t h e
p r o c e s s o f s t r u g g l i n g to g e n e r a t e m e a n i n g w h i l e a t
e v e r y s t e p c a s t i n g d o u b t o n t h e m e a n i n g s " a r r i v e d a t "
o r " c l a r i f i e d . "
A p a t i e n t a b o u t s ix m o n t h s i n t o an a ly s is r e c e ndy
t o l d m e s o m e t h i n g t h a t I t a k e a s h i g h p r a i s e ,
a l t h o u g h t h e p a t i e n t d i d n o t c o n s c i o u s l y o f fe r i t a s
s u c h : ' Y o u d o n ' t t a l k E n g l i s h . W h a t y o u s a y i s c l e a r
e n o u g h u n t i l I t r y t o t h i n k a b o u t i t . I t ' s l i k e n o
E n g l i s h I ' v e e v e r h e a r d . Y o u c h o o s e y o u r w o r d s
v e r y c a r e f u l l y , a n d i n a w a y , t h e y a r e u n u s u a l l y p r e
c i s e , b u t f o r s o m e r e a s o n t h e y a r e c o n f u s i n g . I
a l m o s t a lw a y s h a v e t h e f e e l i n g t h a t y o u ' v e s a i d
m o r e t h a n w h a t y o u s e e m t o h a v e s a i d .
T h e a n a l y s t r e l i e s o n
l a n g u a g e
t o u p s e t ( u n s e t t i e ,
d e c e n t e r , d i s t u r b , p e r t u r b ) t h e
g i v e n — t h e
g i v e n o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s c o n s c i o u s b e l ie f s a n d n a r r a t i v e s b y w h i c h h e
c r e a t e s i l l u s i o n s o f p e r m a n e n c e , c e r t a i n t y , a n d f ix ity o f
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On the
Use
of
Language
in
Psychoanalysis
219
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f s e l f a n d
o f t h e
p e o p l e w h o o c c u p y h i s
i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l w o r l d s . A c e n t r a l p a r t o f " t h e
g i v e n " t h a t is d i s t u r b e d b y l a n g u a g e is t h e g i v e n o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s a n d t h e a n a ly s t ' s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t is
" g o i n g o n " i n t h e a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p .
L a n g u a g e is a t i t s m o s t p o w e r f u l w h e n i t d i s t u r b s ,
n o t b y a r r i v i n g a t
i n s i g h t s / u n d e r s t a n d i n g s ,
b u t b y
cre
a t i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s : " b i l l o w s o r ripples o f t h e s t r e a m o f
t e n d e n c y " ( E m e r s o n 1 8 4 1 , p . 3 1 2 ) . T h e a n a l y s t ' s l a n
g u a g e m a k e s ripples i n " t h e s t r e a m o f t e n d e n c y " i n a n
e f f o r t t o h e l p a n a l y s t a n d a n a l y s a n d t o b r e a k o u t o f t h e
c i r c l e o f t h e e d d y i n w h i c h t h e y a r e c a u g h t . T h e a n a
l yt ic p a i r n e v e r f u ll y s u c c e e d s i n t h i s e n d e a v o r , b u t
s t r u g g l e s i n a n d t h r o u g h l a n g u a g e t o o v e r c o m e i t se l f
( it s o w n c i r c l i n g t e n d e n c i e s ) .
i f e l e s s n e s s o f analytic l a n g u a g e
T h e v a r i e t y o f f o r m s o f l i f e l e ss n e s s o f a n a l y t i c l a n g u a g e
i s v i r tu a l ly e n d l e s s . A m o n g t h e m o s t c o m m o n t h a t I
h a v e e n c o u n t e r e d is
l a n g u a g e
t h a t d e r i v e s f r o m d o g
m a t i s m a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l oy a lt i es . W h e n i d e o l o g i c a l
b o n d s a r e d o m i n a n t f o r t h e a n a l y s t , t h e a n a l y s t o f t e n
a d o p t s ( o r is a d o p t e d by ) t h e l a n g u a g e o f h i s a n a l y t i c
" s c h o o l . " A n a l y t i c l a n g u a g e t h a t is i d e o l o g i c a l i s n o
l o n g e r a l i ve b e c a u s e t h e a n s w e r s t o t h e q u e s t i o n s
b e i n g r a i s e d a r e k n o w n b y t h e a n a l y s t f r o m t h e o u t s e t
a n d t h e f u n c t i o n o f l a n g u a g e h a s b e e n r e d u c e d t o t h e
c o n v e y i n g o f t h a t k n o w l e d g e t o t h e a n a l y s a n d . U n d e r
s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e r e i s a p a u c i t y o f a r t f u l n e s s o f
l a n g u a g e t h a t " liv es . . . u p o n e x p e r i m e n t , u p o n u n c e r -
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Reverie and Interpretation
t a in t y , u p o n v a r i e t y o f a t t e m p t " ( J a m e s 1 8 8 4 , p p . 4 4 -
4 5 ) . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e f o l l o w i n g t w o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s
m a d e b y a n a l y s t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t " s c h o o l s " o f
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s w e r e p r e s e n t e d t o m e i n t h e c o u r s e o f
c o n s u l t a t i o n . I n t h e f a c e o f a p a t i e n t ' s c o n s i s t e n t l y d i s
m i s s i n g , p a y i n g l i p s e r v i c e t o , o r i g n o r i n g v i r t u a l l y a l l
t h e a n a l y s t ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s , t h e a n a l y s t t o l d t h e
p a t i e n t , ' Y o u e n v y m e m y c a p a c i t y t o m a k e l i n k a g e s i n
m y m i n d , a n d y o u a n g r i l y a t t a c k e a c h i n t e r p r e t a t i o n I
m a k e b e c a u s e i t r e f l e c t s t h e f a c t t h a t a d i a l o g u e , a n
i n t e r c o u r s e , h a s b e e n g o i n g o n i n a p l a c e w i t h i n m e
o v e r w h i c h y o u h a v e n o c o n t r o l a n d f e e l p o w e r l e s s . "
A n o t h e r a n a ly s t , i n r e s p o n s e t o h i s p a t i e n t ' s c o n s i s t e n t
l a t e n e s s t o h i s s e s s io n s , o b s e r v e d , ' Y o u [ t h e a n a l y s a n d ]
h a v e m a d e n o m e n t i o n o f t h e f ac t t h a t y o u w e r e a g a i n
l a t e t o d a y t o o u r m e e t i n g . Y o u s e e m n o t t o v i e w t h i s a s
a w a y o f d e f e a t i n g m e a n d t h e a n a ly s i s . " W h e t h e r o r
n o t s u c h i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a r e a c c u r a t e , w e l l - t i m e d ,
a d d r e s s e d t o t h e l e a d i n g t r a n s f e r e n c e a n x i e t y , a n d s o
o n , is a c a d e m i c . T h e l a n g u a g e
*being
u s e d is s o s t a l e
t h a t i t c e a s e s t o a d d r e s s t h e e x p e r i e n c e t h a t i t p u r p o r t s
t o a d d r e s s , - that is , t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s c o n f l i c t s
a n d a n x i e t i e s a s e x t e r n a l i z e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e
t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e .
T h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s is f u n d a
m e n t a l l y a r e f l e c t i o n o f ( a n d t h e r e f o r e a s t a t e m e n t o f )
a f a i l u r e o f i m a g i n a t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f t h e a n a l y s t . T h e
a n a l y s t s p e a k i n g in s u c h w ay s h a s lost h i s c a p a c i t y f o r
o r i g i n a l t h o u g h t a n d t h e a b i l i t y t o s p e a k w i t h h i s o w n
v o i c e ; h e h a s g i v e n h i s m i n d a n d h i s u s e o f l a n g u a g e
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On the
Use
of La nguage in
Psychoanalysis
221
o v e r t o s o m e o n e e l se ( r e a l o r i m a g i n e d ) a n d is o f t e n
c o m p l e t e l y u n a w a r e t h a t h e h a s d o n e s o .
T h e a n a ly s t s ' l a n g u a g e i n t h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s
r e f l e c t s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y a r e s p e a k i n g w i t h a b o r r o w e d
v o i c e a n d a r e t h e m s e l v e s m u t e . S u c h c o m m u n i c a t i o n s
a r e i n d e e d f r i g h t e n i n g o n e s t h a t m a y l e a d t h e
a n a l y s a n d t o a t t e m p t t o s h i e l d t h e a n a l y s t f r o m a w a r e
n e s s t h a t t h e a n a l y s t h a s i n a s e n s e " l o s t h i s m i n d . " T h e
a n a l y s a n d m a y u n c o n s c i o u s l y e n d e a v o r t o p r o t e c t t h e
a n a l y s t f r o m a w a r e n e s s o f t h i s s t a t e o f a f fa i r s b y l e a r n
i n g t o s p e a k t h e s a m e c l i c h e - r i d d e n , s t e r e o t y p i c l a n
g u a g e . U n d e r s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s l o s e
a i r vitality
a n d i n s t e a d s o u n d l i k e p r e - p a c k a g e d a n a l y t i c
t h e o r i e s b e i n g d e l i v e r e d b y n o b o d y i n p a r t i c u l a r t o
n o b o d y i n p a r t i c u l a r .
O n e o f m y o w n f a i lu r e s o f i m a g i n a t i o n w a s m a n i
f e s t e d b y a p e r i o d o f c o n s i s t e n t l y h a c k n e y e d t h i n k i n g
a n d f o r m u l a i c u s e o f l a n g u a g e o n m y p a r t . T h e
a n a l y s a n d r e s p o n d e d b y t e l l i n g m e t h a t t h e a n a ly s i s h a d
b e e n g o i n g n o w h e r e f o r s e v e r a l w e e k s , b u t t h a t w a s n o t
w h a t w o r r i e d h i m . H e k n e w f r o m h i s o w n e x p e r i e n c e i n
o u r w o r k t o g e t h e r a n d f r o m h i s p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e s
i n a n a l y s i s t h a t n o t e v e r y s e s s i o n o r e v e n e v e r y w e e k o f
a n a l y s i s w a s g o i n g t o f e e l i m p o r t a n t o r i n t e r e s t i n g .
" W h a t w o r r i e s m e , h o w e v e r , i s m y s e n s e t h a t y o u a r e n ' t
w o r r i e d b y i t. " I n t h i s i n s t a n c e , t h e p a t i e n t ' s i n t e r p r e t a
t i o n n o t o n l y w a s a c c u r a t e , b u t i t c o n v e y e d
in his use of
language
a ll t h a t h a d b e e n a b s e n t . H e w a s n o t o n l y te l l
i n g m e , h e w a s
showing me
w i t h h i s w o r d s w h a t i t
m e a n t t o u s e l a n g u a g e i n a l iv ely w a y. T h e c o n t e m p t
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Reverie and Interpretation
a n d c o n d e s c e n s i o n t h a t o o z e d f r o m h i s " g e n e r o u s f o r
g i v e n e s s " o f t h e i n e v i t a b l e p e r i o d s o f s t a g n a t i o n i n a n
a n a l y s i s b o t h s t a r d e d a n d e m b a r r a s s e d m e .
T h i s p a t i e n t w a s o r d i n a r i l y a m a n o f f ew w o r d s ,
a n d s o t h e a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l i n h i s w o r d i n g o f t h i s r e l a
tively l o n g s t a t e m e n t w a s i n i ts e lf a s t r i k i n g e v e n t t h a t
p u n c t u a t e d t h e u s u a l r h y t h m o f o u r d i s c o u r s e . T h e r e
w a s d r a m a t i c t e n s i o n i n t h e s t r u c t u r i n g o f h i s s t a t e
m e n t . H e m a d e m e w a i t a s h i s s e n t e n c e s g a t h e r e d
m o m e n t u m : t h i s d o e s n o t w o r r y m e , b u t w h a t I a m
a b o u t t o p o i n t o u t
about you
d o e s .
A l t h o u g h
s u c h d e r i
s iv e u s e o f l a n g u a g e c a n o f t e n s e e m s t r i d e n t , t h i s
p a t i e n t ' s c o m m e n t s d i d n o t f e e l s h r i l l t o m e . I n t h i s
i n s t a n c e , I f e l t t h a t t h e p a t i e n t w a s a t t e m p t i n g t o t a l k t o
m e a b o u t s o m e t h i n g t h a t w a s g e n u i n e l y f r i g h t e n i n g t o
h i m a n d s e c o n d a r i l y m a d d e n i n g t o h i m .
I f e l t e m b a r r a s s e d a n d h u m b l e d by h i s c o m m e n t s ,
b u t m o s t o f a ll , a w a k e n e d by t h e m . T h e p h r a s e " c a u g h t
w i t h m y p a n t s d o w n " w e n t t h r o u g h m y m i n d s e v e ra l
tim es. I w a s r e m i n d e d o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a n a l y s a n d ' s
f am i ly h a d h e l d r e g u l a r " m e e t i n g s " i n w h i c h h i s p a r e n t s
( as h e h a d e x p e r i e n c e d i t ) h a d c o r r u p t e d t h e v e r y a c t o f
t a l k i n g b y u s i n g
words
to " p l a y m i n d g a m e s . " T h e p u r
p o s e o f t a l k w a s t o e x p o s e t h e p a t i e n t ' s l a c k o f i n te l l i
g e n c e ( t h r o u g h h i s f a t h e r ' s p o i n t i n g o u t h i s m i s u s e o f
w o r d s ) a n d t o u n c o v e r t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s m o t i v e s
( fo r e x a m p l e , t h r o u g h h is m o t h e r ' s " i n t e r p r e t i n g " h i s
w i s h t o t a k e t h e f a t h e r ' s p l a c e a s t h e h e a d o f t h e f a m i l y ) .
I u n d e r s t o o d t h e p a t i e n t ' s c o m m e n t t o m e as , i n
p a r t , a r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h h i s
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p a r e n t s ' s a d i s t i c u s e o f " i n s i g h t " a n d a s a p r o j e c t i v e
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i n w h i c h t h e s e n s e o f e m b a r r a s s m e n t ,
e x p o s u r e , a n d e m a s c u l a t i o n w e r e e n g e n d e r e d i n m e .
A s i m p o r t a n t , t h e p a t i e n t ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s e e m e d t o
m e t o b e a n a t t e m p t t o b r i n g t h e a n a l y s i s t o l if e a g a i n
b y a l e r t i n g m e t o ( c r e a t i n g i n m e ) a s e n s e o f t h e w a y in
w h i c h t a l k i n g c o u l d b e c o r r u p t e d a n d c o u l d b e c o m e
n o t o n l y u s e l e s s , b u t d e s t r u c t i v e . I n t h i s i n s t a n c e , m y
o w n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s d i d n o t a t f ir s t s e e m t o m e t o b e
s a d i s t ic . I n s t e a d , t h e y s e e m e d t o h a v e b e e n a n i m i t a t i o n
o f a n a l y s i s i n t h a t t h e y r e f l e c t e d t h e fa c t t h a t I w a s n o t
e m o t i o n a l l y p r e s e n t , b u t w a s p r e t e n d i n g t o b e s o i n m y
u s e o f f o r m u l a i c l a n g u a g e . L a t e r i n t h e a n a ly s i s , I c a m e
t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e w a y i n w h i c h m y w i t h d r a w a l i n t o
" p l a y i n g a t a n a l y s i s " ( a s r e f l e c t e d i n m y f o r m u l a i c u s e o f
l a n g u a g e ) a l s o r e p r e s e n t e d a n u n c o n s c i o u s i d e n t i f i c a
t i o n w i t h a s a d i s t i c / s e l f - p r o t e c t i v e w a y i n w h i c h t h e
p a t i e n t h a d t o r m e n t e d h i s p a r e n t s i n c h i l d h o o d a n d
c o n t i n u e d t o t o r m e n t ( a n d s h i e l d h i m s e l f f r o m ) h i s
u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r n a l o b j e c t p a r e n t s . B y i m i t a t i n g a c o n
n e c t i o n w i t h t h e m , h e c o u l d ( in u n c o n s c i o u s f a n t a sy )
b e c o m e i nv i s ib l e a n d u n r e a c h a b l e a n d c o u l d i n d u c e i n
t h e m i m p o t e n t r a g e . I n t h e a n a l ys is , I h a d u n w i t t i n g l y
p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a n u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o n
s t r u c t i o n ( t h e " a n a l y t i c t h i r d " [ O g d e n 1 9 9 4 a , b ] ) i n
w h i c h I h a d c o m e t o e x p e r i e n c e m y s e l f a n d b e h a v e ( fo r
e x a m p l e , i n m y u s e o f f o r m u l a i c l a n g u a g e ) i n a w a y
t h a t w a s c o n g r u e n t w i t h t h e u n r e a c h a b l e / t o r m e n t i n g /
s e l f - p r o t e c t iv e a s p e c t o f t h e p a t i e n t ' s i n t e r n a l o b j e c t
r e l a t i o n s h i p .
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Reverie and
Interpretation
D e a d l a n g u a g e ( fo r e x a m p l e , s t e r e o t y p i c , cliche*-
r i d d e n , o v e r - i n f la t e d , a u t h o r i t a r i a n l a n g u a g e ) r e g u l a r l y
r e f l e c t s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a n a l y s t a t t h a t m o m e n t h a s
n o t h i n g t o s ay t o t h e a n a l y s a n d i n h i s o w n v o i c e , f r o m
h i s o w n m i n d , i n h i s o w n w o r d s . W h e t h e r t h e s o u r c e o f
t h e p r o b l e m is d o g m a t i c a t t a c h m e n t t o a n a n a l y t i c
s c h o o l o f t h o u g h t o r a r e f l e c t i o n o f u n w i t t i n g p a r t i c i p a
t i o n i n a t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e d r a m a a s in
t h e c l in i c a l e x a m p l e j u s t p r e s e n t e d , t h e a n a l y s t o f t e n
h a s v e r y l i t t l e m i n d o f h i s o w n w i t h w h i c h t o g e n e r a t e a
t h o u g h t o r t o c r e a t e l a n g u a g e i n w h i c h a m u l t i p l i c i t y o f
p o s s i b l e m e a n i n g s e x i s ts . C r e a t i n g l a n g u a g e w i t h o n e ' s
o w n v o i c e is i t se l f a n a c t o f f r e e d o m t h a t is a n e c e s s a r y
c o n d i t i o n f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g i n
w h i c h p s y c h o l o g i c a l c h a n g e m a y o c c u r : " T h i s s t r u g g l e
f o r v e r b a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s s h o u l d n o t b e l ef t o u t i n a r t . I t
i s a v e r y g r e a t p a r t o f l i f e . I t i s n o t s u p e r i m p o s i t i o n of a
t h e o r y . I t is t h e p a s s i o n a t e s t r u g g l e i n t o c o n s c i o u s
b e i n g " ( L a w r e n c e 1 9 1 9 , p . x ) . I a m s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e
a n a l y s t m u s t a c t i v e l y s t r u g g l e w i t h l a n g u a g e i n a n e f f o r t
t o c r e a t e i d e a s a n d s e n t e n c e s a n d a v o i c e o f h i s o w n
w i t h w h i c h t o s p e a k t h e m . T h i s s t r u g g l e t o c o n v e y o n e ' s
e x p e r i e n c e w i t h o n e ' s o w n w o r d s , i n o n e ' s o w n v o i c e is
a v e r y l a r g e p a r t o f w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e a li v e i n a n ana
L
lytic r e l a t i o n s h i p .
Creating Effects in Langua ge
I n t h e final s e c t i o n o f t h i s c h a p t e r , I w i ll f o c u s o n s o m e
o f t h e w a y s i n w h i c h e f fe c ts c r e a t e d i n t h e u s e o f lan-
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g u a g e s e rv e a s a c e n t r a l m e d i u m o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n o f
u n c o n s c i o u s e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e a n a l y t i c s e t t i n g . E f fe cts
c r e a t e d
in language
o f c o u r s e c o e x i s t w i t h t h e u s e o f
l a n g u a g e t o n a m e , d e s c r i b e , a n d i n o t h e r w a ys s p e a k
a b o u t o n e ' s e x p e r i e n c e . W h e n I r e f e r t o e ff ec ts c r e a t e d
i n l a n g u a g e , I a m p l a c i n g e m p h a s i s o n a d i m e n s i o n o f
l a n g u a g e usa ge i n w h i c h t h e c r e a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a
t i o n o f m e a n i n g s / f e e l i n g s is i n d i r e c t , t h a t is , re l a t iv e l y
i n d e p e n d e n t o f w h a t is b e i n g s a i d ( a t t h e l ev e l o f t h e
s e m a n t i c c o n t e n t o f l a n g u a g e ) . S u c h e ff ec ts i n l a n g u a g e
a r e a lw a y s i n m o v e m e n t , a lw a y s i n t h e p r o c e s s o f o c c u r
ring, " a l w a y s o n t h e w i n g , s o t o s p e a k a n d n o t t o b e
g l i m p s e d e x c e p t i n flight"
(Wm.
J a m e s 1 8 9 0 , p . 2 5 3 ) .
F e w h a v e d e s c r i b e d a s e l o q u e n t l y a s W i l l i a m J a m e s
( 1 8 9 0 ) i n Principles of Psychology, t h e w a y i n w h i c h l a n
g u a g e f ails t o c o n v e y m e a n i n g ( e s p e c i a l l y a ff ec ti ve m e a n
i n g ) w h e n i t is u s e d i n a f a s h i o n t h a t is f o c u s e d o n w h a t it
is s a y i n g a s o p p o s e d t o w h a t it is d o i n g . J a m e s d i s c u s s e s
w h a t h e f e l t t o b e a p u l l i n o u r u s e o f l a n g u a g e t o w a r d
t h e " s u b s ta n t iv e s " o f l a n g u a g e ( t h e n o u n s a r o u n d w h i c h
t h e m e a n i n g s o f s e n t e n c e s t e n d t o b e o r g a n i z e d ) . F ee l
ings, e s p e c ia l l y t h o s e w i t h o u t n a m e s ( "a ll dumb o r a n o n
y m o u s p s y c h i c s t a t es " ) t e n d t o g e t l o s t " i n t h o u g h t s
' a b o u t ' th i s o b j e c t o r ' a b o u t ' t h a t , t h e s t o l i d w o r d about
engul f i ng
a l l t h e i r d e l i c a t e i d i o s y n c r a s i e s i n i t s m o n o t o
n o u s s o u n d " ( J a m e s 1 8 9 0 , p . 2 4 6 ) . J a m e s b e l i e v e d t h a t
h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e is
c a p t u r e d / e x p r e s s e d
i n l a n g u a g e
n o t s o m u c h t h r o u g h t h e p o w e r o f i ts " s u b s t a n t iv e s " t o
n a m e o r d e s c r i b e ( t o s p e a k " a b o u t " ) , b u t m o r e i n d i -
recdy, t h r o u g h t h e e l e m e n t s o f l a n g u a g e ( m o r e a c cu -
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r a t e l y ,
in
l a n g u a g e ) t h a t c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f a
s e n s e o f m o v e m e n t a n d t r a n s i t i o n , " a f e e l i n g o f r e l a t i o n
m o v i n g t o i t s t e r m " ( p . 2 4 4 ) . It is t h e " t r a n s i t i v e p a r t s " ( p .
2 4 3 ) o f l a n g u a g e , " t h e p l a c e s o f flight" ( p . 2 4 3 ) , t h a t
c o m e c lo s e s t t o c a p t u r i n g s o m e t h i n g o f t h e t e x t u r e a n d
t h e a l iv e n e s s o f f e l t f e e l in g s a n d t h e m o v e m e n t o f " t h e
s t r e a m o f t h o u g h t " ( p . 2 4 3 ) :
T h e r e is n o t a c o n j u n c t i o n o r a p r e p o s i t i o n , a n d
h a r d l y a n a d v e r b i a l p h r a s e , s y n t a c t ic f o r m , o r i n f le c
tion o f v o i c e i n h u m a n s p e e c h , t h a t d o e s n o t e x p r e s s
s o m e s h a d i n g o r o t h e r w h i c h w e a t s o m e m o m e n t
a c t u a l l y f e e l t o e x i s t b e t w e e n t h e l a r g e r o b j e c t s [ t h e
s u b s t a n t i v e s ] o f o u r t h o u g h t . . . [ p . 2 4 6 ]
S t r u g g l i n g t o b r e a k o u t o f t h e c o n f i n e s o f c o n t e n t -
c e n t e r e d u s e o f l a n g u a g e , J a m e s s u g g e s ts ,
W e o u g h t t o s ay a f e e l i n g o f and, a f e e l i n g o f if , a
f e e l i n g o f
but,
a n d a f e e l i n g o f
by,
q u i t e a s r e a d i l y
a s w e s ay . . . a f e e l i n g o f cold. Y e t w e d o n o t : s o
i n v e t e r a t e h a s o u r h a b i t b e c o m e o f r e c o g n i z i n g
t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e s u b s t a n t i v e p a r t s a l o n e , t h a t
l anguage , a l m o s t r e f u s e s t o l e n d i t s e l f t o a n y o t h e r
u s e . [ p p . 2 4 5 - 2 4 6 ]
T h u s , J a m e s a t t e m p t s t o e x p l o r e t h e w a ys i n w h i c h
l a n g u a g e c a n b e u s e d
to do
w h a t i t c a n n o t s ay . S i m i
l ar ly , i t i s t h r o u g h e ff e ct s c r e a t e d i n l a n g u a g e i n a n a n a
ly ti c s e t t i n g t h a t m e a n i n g s / f e e l i n g s a r e c r e a t e d a n d
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227
c o n v e y e d t h a t li e b e y o n d w h a t is b e i n g s a i d . I t is p r e
c i se ly t h i s a s p e c t o f a n a l y t i c c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h a t i s a t
t h e h e a r t o f t h e c u r r e n t e l a b o r a t i o n a n d e x t e n s i o n b y
J o s e p h ( 1 9 7 5 , 1 9 8 2 , 1 9 8 5 ) a n d o t h e r s o f K l e i n ' s ( 1 9 5 2 )
c o n c e p t o f t r a n s f e r e n c e a s " t o t a l s i t u a t i o n . " I t is i n c r e a s
i n g l y w i d e l y r e c o g n i z e d t h a t i n o r d e r t o " c a t c h t h e
d r i f t " ( F r e u d 1 9 2 3 a )
o f t h e
u n c o n s c i o u s i n t e r n a l o b j e c t
w o r l d o f t h e a n a l y s a n d , w e m u s t " t h i n k i n t e r m s o f total
situations t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m t h e p a s t t o t h e p r e s e n t " i n
a d d i t i o n t o t h e t r a n s f e r r i n g o f s p e c i f i c " e m o t i o n a l
d e f e n s e s a n d o b j e c t r e l a t i o n s " ( K l e i n 1 9 5 2 , p . 5 5 ) . I n
t h i s w a y , K l e i n b e g a n t o s h if t t h e f o c u s o f o u r t h e o r e t i
c a l a n d t e c h n i c a l t r e a t m e n t o f t r a n s f e r e n c e f r o m t h e
c o n t e n t o f w h a t is b e i n g t r a n s f e r r e d
( the
J a m e s i a n
sub
s t a n t i v e s " ) t o t h e
totality of the effect
o f t r a n s f e r e n c e
e x p e r i e n c e i n / o n t h e a n a l y t ic r e l a t i o n s h i p . T o a l a r g e
e x t e n t , t h e s e e f f e ct s a r e c r e a t e d i n t h e p a t i e n t ' s u s e o f
l a n g u a g e " a l o n g s i d e a n d b e y o n d w h a t h e is s a y in g "
( J o s e p h 1 9 8 5 , p .
447) .
4
I n t h e f o l l o w i n g b r i e f c l i n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n , I s h a l l
a t t e m p t t o p r o v i d e a s e n s e o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h ef f ec t s i n
l a n g u a g e a r e g e n e r a t e d i n a n a n a ly t i c s e t t i n g .
T h e a n a l y s a n d , a n a c a d e m i c i n h e r l a t e 3 0 ' s , h a d
b e e n " t e r m i n a t e d " f r o m t w o p r e v i o u s a n a l y s e s
w h e n ( i n b o t h i n s t a n c e s ) t h e a n a l y s t b e c a m e
4. I bel ieve that t ransf eren ce as total s i tuat ion is pe rh ap s m or e
accurately conceived of as " t ransferenc e-coun ter t ransference as
total s i tuat ion."
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228
Reverie and Interpretation
e n r a g e d w i t h h e r a n d i n f o r m e d h e r t h a t s h e w a s
u n a n a l y z a b l e . A l t h o u g h t h e p a t i e n t w a s h i g h l y
r e s p e c t e d b y h e r c o l l e a g u e s f o r t h e q u a l i t y o f h e r
w o r k , s h e d e r i v e d l i tde p l e a s u r e f r o m i t. M u s i c a n d
p a i n t i n g w e r e t h e p a s s i o n s o f h e r l i fe a n d o c c u p i e d
a l m o s t a l l o f h e r tim e o u t s i d e o f w o r k .
T h e p a t i e n t filled s e s s i o n a f t e r s e s s i o n w i t h
s t o r i e s a b o u t e v e n t s i n h e r l i f e a n d d i d n o t s e e m t o
m i n d t h a t I s a i d v e r y l i t d e . I n t e r p r e t a t i o n s t h a t I
d i d o f fe r w e r e p o l i t e l y t o l e r a t e d . T h e a n a l y s a n d
s e e m e d r e l i e v e d , h o w e v e r , w h e n I h a d finished s ay
i n g w h a t I h a d t o s ay s o t h a t s h e c o u l d r e t u r n t o
" f il l i n g m e i n " o n w h a t s h e h a d b e e n t a l k i n g a b o u t .
S h e w o u l d r e p e a t a l m o s t v e r b a t i m s to r i e s t h a t s h e
h a d t o l d m e o n m a n y p r e v i o u s o c c a s i o n s . I n a s es
s i o n o c c u r r i n g a b o u t s ix m o n t h s i n t o t h e a n a ly s i s , I
s a i d t o t h e p a t i e n t t h a t i t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t s h e
m u s t f e e l t h a t I w a s n o t l i s t e n i n g t o h e r a n d t h a t I
r e m e m b e r e d v e r y
l i tde
o f w h a t s h e t o l d m e . T h e
p a t i e n t , a s u s u a l , i g n o r e d w h a t I s a id a n d r e t u r n e d
t o t h e a c c o u n t t h a t I h a d " i n t e r r u p t e d . "
I t t o o k m e a l m o s t a y e a r t o u n d e r s t a n d s o m e
t h i n g o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e p a t i e n t w a s u n c o n
s c io u s l y u s i n g l a n g u a g e , n o t f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f
t a l k i n g t o m e a b o u t w h a t s h e w a s t h i n k i n g , f e e l i n g ,
p e r c e i v i n g , e x p e r i e n c i n g i n h e r b o d y , a n d s o o n ,
b u t t o c r e a t e a n e f f ec t in language: t h e e x p e r i e n c e
o f w r a p p i n g h e r s e l f i n t h e p u r e s e n s a t i o n s o u n d o f
w o r d s . A t the s a m e tim e, t h e e f f e c t c r e a t e d i n m e
b y t h i s u s e o f l a n g u a g e ( t h e c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e
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On the Use o f Language in Psychoanalysis
229
a s p e c t o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s t r a n s f e r e n c e - c o u n t e r -
t r a n s f e r e n c e c o n s t r u c t i o n ) w a s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f
b e i n g u t t e r l y u s e l e s s a n d w i t h o u t c u r r e n c y f o r t h e
p a t i e n t . A s I c a m e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h is d i m e n s i o n o f
t h e
t r a ns f e r e nc e - c oun t e r t r a ns f e r e nc e
( b y t r e a t i n g
t h e e f f e c t s c r e a t e d i n l a n g u a g e a s v e h i c l e s f o r
u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e p a t i e n t ' s u n c o n s c i o u s e x p e r i
e n c e ) , I w a s a b l e t o r e s t r i c t m y s e l f t o s e r v i n g a s a
( p o t e n t i a l l y ) h u m a n m e d i u m i n w h o s e ( a l m o s t
e n t i r e l y u n f e l t ) p r e s e n c e t h e p a t i e n t c o u l d e n g a g e
i n r e l a t e d n e s s t o a n " au t i s t ic s h a p e " ( t h e s e n s a t i o n
o f t h e
s o u n d o f h e r o w n w o r d s ) ( T u s t i n 1 9 8 4 ; s e e
a l s o O g d e n 1 9 8 9 a , b ) . A l l
o f t h e
p a t i e n t ' s
previous
e x p e r i e n c e o f r e l a t e d n e s s t o a u t i s t i c s h a p e s ( f o r
e x a m p l e , p a i n t i n g a n d l i s t e n i n g t o m u s i c ) h a d
b e e n d o n e i n i s o l a t io n .
S o m e t h r e e y e a r s i n t o t h e a n a ly s i s , t h e r e w e r e
f l e e t i n g i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t t h e p a t i e n t h a d b e g u n t o
d e v e l o p a d i m a w a r e n e s s o f m y p r e s e n c e . F o r
e x a m p l e , d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d , s h e " c o m p l i m e n t e d "
m e i n a d o u b l e e d g e d w a y f o r m y r e m a r k a b l e l is
t e n i n g a b i l i t ie s . I e x p e r i e n c e d t h i s c o m m e n t a s t h e
p a t i e n t ' s i n d i r e c t l y t e l l i n g m e t h a t s h e f e l t t h a t I
h a d s a i d v e r y l i t t l e t o t h i s p o i n t t h a t h a d b e e n o f
a n y v a l u e t o h e r . I t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t t h e
a n a l y s a n d w a s u n c o n s c i o u s l y a s k i n g m e t o c h a l
l e n g e m o r e v i g o r o u s l y h e r s e l f - im p o s e d i s o l a t i o n
i n h e r s e n s a t i o n - d o m i n a t e d w o r l d ( e v e n t h o u g h
s h e f e l t g r a t e f u l t o m e f o r t h u s f a r n o t h a v i n g i n t e r
f e r e d w i t h h e r
sel f -soothing
a c t i v i t i e s ) . O v e r tim e I
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23
Reverie
and Interpretation
w a s a b l e t o d e s c r i b e f o r h e r m y e x p e r i e n c e o f h e r
u s i n g w o r d s
not to talk to me
a n d i n f a c t n o t t o b e
a l i ve w i t h m e . I a d d e d t h a t h e r w r a p p i n g h e r s e l f i n
t h e s e n s a t i o n o f t h e s o u n d o f h e r o w n v o i c e
s e e m e d t o h e l p h e r t o r e d u c e h e r s e l f t o a s e r i e s o f
p u r e p h y s i c a l s e n s a t i o n s . S h e s e e m e d i n t h e c o u r s e
o f h e r l i fe t o h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h e c a p a c i t y t o t u r n
h e r s e l f i n t o a s t r u c t u r e s o d e n s e t h a t p r a c t i c a l l y a ll
m o v e m e n t , a ll l i f e , s e e m e d t o b e e x t i n g u i s h e d .
I n t h i s p a t i e n t ' s a n a l y s i s , i t w a s c r i t i c a l t h a t I
b e a b l e t o l e a r n t h a t t r ans fe rence -coun te r t r ans fe r -
e n c e m e a n i n g l a y m o s t i m p o r t a n t i y i n t h e e f f ec ts
c r e a t e d b y t h e p a t i e n t ' s u s e o f w o r d s n o t t o c o m
m u n i c a t e , n o t t o t h i n k , n o t t o c r e a t e / c o n v e y f ee l
i n g , b u t t o g e n e r a t e a n e c e s s a r y , b u t v i r t u a l l y
l i f ele ss , i n s u l a t i n g s e n s o r y m e d i u m .
Concluding Comments
A c e n t r a l t a s k o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s t o d a y i n v o l v e s c o n t i n u
i n g t o d e v e l o p a u s e o f l a n g u a g e t h a t is a d e q u a t e t o t h e
t a s k o f c a p t u r i n g / c r e a t i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f " w h a t it
f e e l s l i k e " f o r t h e a n a l y s t t o b e w i t h t h e p a t i e n t a n d f o r
t h e p a t i e n t t o b e w i t h t h e a n a l y s t a t a p a r t i c u l a r j u n c
t u r e . I t h a s b e e n m y e x p e r i e n c e t h a t t h e l a n g u a g e o f
b o t h p a t i e n t a n d a n a ly s t is d e a d ( a n d t h i n k i n g a n d
c o m m u n i c a t i n g c e a s e ) w h e n t h e i r u s e o f l a n g u a g e c o n
v ey s c e r t a i n t y a s o p p o s e d t o t e n d e n c y , k n o w l e d g e a s
o p p o s e d t o a t e n t a t i v e , e v e r - s l i d i n g s e n s e o f t h i n g s , fix
i ty a s o p p o s e d t o m o v e m e n t a n d t r a n s i t i o n .
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On the
Use
of
Language
in
Psychoanalysis
231
A s i g n i f i c a n t s t r a n d
o f t h e
r e c e n t h i s t o r y o f
psycho
a n a l y s i s i s t h e s t o r y o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e a n a l y s t ' s
a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e w a y i n w h i c h
effects created in language
( w h a t t h e p a t i e n t ' s l a n g u a g e
does
" a l o n g s i d e a n d b e y o n d " w h a t i t s a ys ) r e p r e s e n t a n
i m p o r t a n t m e d i u m in w h i c h t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n o f
u n c o n s c i o u s e x p e r i e n c e o c c u r s .
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8
L i s t e n i n g : T h r e e F r o s t P o e m s
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J o s e p h B r o d s k y ( 1 9 9 5 a ) h a s r e f e r r e d t o p o e t r y a s " a
g r e a t d i s c i p l i n a r i a n " ( p . 1 0 0 ) t o p r o s e . I w o u l d a d d t h a t
p o e t r y i s a g r e a t d i s c i p l i n a r i a n t o a n a l y t i c l i s t e n i n g . I n
t h i s c h a p t e r I w i ll l o o k a t t h e w a y l a n g u a g e is u s e d i n
t h e m a k i n g o f p o e t r y i n t h r e e F r o s t p o e m s . M y i n t e r e s t
is n o t s o m u c h i n w h a t a p o e m i s " a b o u t , " b u t r a t h e r i n
w h a t a p o e m i s . I w i ll b e d i s c u s s i n g t h e w a y s e f f e c ts a r e
c r e a t e d i n l a n g u a g e a n d h o w t h e s e e ff ec ts t a k e n
t o g e t h e r c r e a t e t h e u n i q u e e x p e r i e n c e t h e r e a d e r g e n
e r a t e s (w i t h t h e p o e t ) i n l i s t e n i n g t o t h e p o e m .
I h a v e w r i t t e n t h i s c h a p t e r f o r t h e s h e e r p l e a s u r e
o f r e a d i n g a n d w r i t i n g a b o u t p o e t r y a n d I o f f e r i t t o t h e
r e a d e r i n t h a t s p i r i t . I t is a c h a p t e r t h a t h a s b e e n w r i t
t e n w i t h o u t c o n c e r n t h a t i t b e " u s e f u l" t o t h e a n a l y t i c
r e a d e r . ( I
will
l e a v e i t e n t i r e l y t o t h e r e a d e r t o m a k e
w h a t c o n n e c t i o n , if a n y , h e o r s h e is i n c l i n e d t o m a k e
b e t w e e n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f l i s t e n i n g t o p o e t r y a n d t h e
235
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236
Reverie and Interpretation
e x p e r i e n c e o f l i s t e n i n g t o t h e l a n g u a g e c r e a t e d i n a n
a n a l y t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p . ) P e r h a p s if t h i s c h a p t e r d o e s n o t
a s p i r e t o b e i n g " u s e f u l , " t h e r e a d e r a n d I m i g h t b e su ff i -
cient iy
f r e e t o m a k e a n y t h i n g a n d n o t h i n g o f i t . T h e
p o e t A . R . A m n i o n s ( 1 9 6 8 ) h a s p u t i t f a r b e t t e r t h a n I
a m a b l e t o i n h i s c o m p a r i s o n o f p o e t r y t o a w a l k :
Y o u c o u l d a s k w h a t w a l k s a r e g o o d f o r . . . . W a l k s
a r e u s e l e s s . S o a r e p o e m s . . . . A w a l k d o e s n ' t m e a n
a n y t h i n g , w h i c h i s a w a y o f s a y i n g t h a t t o s o m e
e x t e n t i t m e a n s a n y t h i n g y o u c a n m a k e i t m e a n —
a n d a lw a y s m o r e t h a n y o u c a n m a k e i t m e a n . . . .
O n l y u s e l e s s n e s s is e m p t y e n o u g h f o r t h e p r e s e n c e
o f s o m a n y u s e s . . . . O n l y u s e l e s s n e s s c a n a l l o w t h e
w a l k t o b e t o t a l l y itself, [ p p . 118-119]
I w i l l n o t a t t e m p t t o g e t " b e h i n d " t h e l a n g u a g e
b e i n g d i s c u s s e d ; b u t w il l a t t e m p t t o g e t i n t o t h e l a n
g u a g e as d e e p l y a s I a m a b l e a n d t o a l l o w it t o g e t
d e e p l y i n t o m e . I w i l l e x p e r i m e n t w i t h a v a r i e t y o f w ay s
o f t h i n k i n g a n d s p e a k i n g a b o u t t h r e e F r o s t p o e m s . O f
p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o m e a r e t h e e f fe c ts c r e a t e d b y t h e
s o u n d a n d m e a n i n g s o f t h e s e w o r d s a n d s e n t e n c e s a n d
t h e w a y l a n g u a g e is u s e d t o c r e a t e t h e s e e f fe c ts . P u t
a n o t h e r w a y , I w i l l b e d i s c u s s i n g w h a t i t i s " l i k e t o r e a d
this
p o e m " ( B r o w e r , q u o t e d b y P o i r i e r 1 9 9 2 , p . 1 8 4 )
a n d h o w t h e p o e m e n l i s t s m e a n d h o w I e n l i s t t h e
p o e m a s I " s a y t h e l i n e s " ( F r o s t 1 9 6 2 , p . 9 1 1 ) .
B e f o r e t u r n i n g t o t h e p o e m s t h e m s e l v e s , I w o u l d
l i k e t o b r ie f ly c o m m e n t o n tw o i n t e r r e l a t e d t o p i c s : t h e
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c h a n g e s i n t h e w a y F r o s t ' s p o e t r y h a s b e e n v i e w e d s i n c e
h i s d e a t h i n 1 9 6 3 a n d t h e d i ff ic u l t y p o s e d b y t h e s p e a k
i n g v o i c e i n F r o s t ' s p o e t r y . A l t h o u g h F r o s t a c h i e v e d
w i d e r e c o g n i t i o n as a p o e t , i n c l u d i n g b e i n g a w a r d e d
f o u r P u l i t z e r p r i z e s , t h e r e w a s a g e n e r a l f e e l i n g a m o n g
l i t e r a r y c r i t i c s t h a t h e w a s a " p e o p l e ' s p o e t , " a c u l t u r a l
f igure c o m p a r a b l e t o C a r l Sa r idbe rg o r E d g a r L e e M a s
t e r s . H i s p o p u l a r i t y , it w a s f e lt , w a s d u e t o h i s f o l k s i n e s s
a n d t o c a t c h y l i n e s ( f o r e x a m p l e , " G o o d f e n c e s m a k e
g o o d n e i g h b o r s " ) t h a t m a d e h i s p o e t r y e as il y g r a s p e d
b y t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c . T h e q u a l i t y o f F r o s t ' s p o e t r y d i d
i n d e e d d e c l i n e a s h i s p o p u l a r i t y g r e w ( J a r r e l l 1 9 5 3 ,
P o i r i e r 1 9 7 7 ) . H e s e e m e d i n t h e l a s t t w o d e c a d e s o f h i s
l i f e t o h a v e d e v e l o p e d a f o r m u l a t h a t - h e u s e d r e p e a t
e d l y t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f h i s p o e t r y . T h i s c o n t r i b u t e d t o
h i s re l ega t i on-by l i t e r a r y c r i t i c s t o
the
r a n k s o f t h e less
t h a n g r e a t " p o e t s .
I t h a s b e e n
only
g r a d u a l l y o v e r t h e p a s t f o r t y o r
fifty y e a r s t h a t F r o s t h a s i n c r e a s i n g l y c o m e t o b e v i e w e d
d i f f e r e n d y b y c r i t i c s , a c a d e m i c s , a n d p o e t s ( i n c l u d i n g
A u d e n , B r o d s k y , H e a n e y , J a r r e l l , L o w e l l , a n d W i l b u r ) .
R a n d a l l J a r r e l l ( 1 9 5 3 ) w a s a m o n g t h e f ir s t p o e t s a n d l i t
e r a r y c r i t i c s t o i d e n t i f y a n d w r i t e c o m p e l l i n g l y a b o u t
" t h e o t h e r F r o s t " ( p . 2 6 ) . I n o n e o f h i s p i t h y ( a n d m o r e
t h a n a l i t d e c o n d e s c e n d i n g ) o n e - l i n e r s , J a r r e l l
r e m a r k e d , " O r d i n a r y r e a d e r s t h i n k F r o s t is t h e g r e a t e s t
p o e t a l i v e , a n d
love
s o m e o f h i s b e s t p o e m s a l m o s t a s
m u c h a s t h e y l o v e s o m e o f h i s w o r s t o n e s " ( p . 2 6 ) . J a r -
r e l l ' s r e f e r e n c e t o " o r d i n a r y r e a d e r " w a s d i r e c t e d a s
m u c h t o " o r d i n a r y " l i t e r a r y c r i t ic s a n d a c a d e m i c s a s t o
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t h e " o r d i n a r y " m e m b e r s o f t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c . A l m o s t
b e s e e c h i n g l y , J a r r e l l a sk s t h e r e a d e r t o a c t u a l l y r e a d t h e
p o e m s b e f o r e d i s m i s s i n g t h e m : " N o t h i n g I s a y a b o u t
t h e s e p o e m s c a n m a k e y o u s e e w h a t t h e y a r e l ik e , o r
w h a t t h e F r o s t t h a t m a t t e r s m o s t is l ik e ; if y o u r e a d
t h e m y o u w i l l s e e " ( p . 2 7 ) . J a r r e l l c o n c l u d e s h i s t w o
r e m a r k a b l e es sa y s o n
F r o s t b y
s a y i n g ,
T o h a v e t h e d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e m o s t a w fu l a n d t h e
m o s t n e a r l y u n b e a r a b l e p a r t s o f t h e p o e m s , t o t h e
m o s t t e n d e r , s u b t i e , a n d l o v i n g p a r t s , a d i s t a n c e s o
g r e a t ; t o h a v e t h i s w h o l e r a n g e o f b e i n g t r e a t e d w i t h
s o m u c h h u m o r a n d s a d n e s s a n d
c o m p o s u r e ' .
. . to
s e e t h a t a m a n c a n s ti l l i n c l u d e , c o n n e c t , a n d m a k e
h u m a n l y u n d e r s t a n d a b l e o r h u m a n l y u n u n d e r -
s t a n d a b l e s o much—this is o n e o f t h e f r e s h e s t a n d
o l d e s t o f j o y s . . . . [ p . 6 2 ]
B u t t h e i m p a c t o f t h e " d i s c o v e r y " o f t h e " o t h e r
F r o s t " b y J a r r e l l ( w h o w a s h i m s e l f p e r i p h e r a l t o a c a -
d e m i a ) ,
w a s n o t n e a r l y as s i g n i f i c a n t a n e v e n t i n l i t e r a r y
c i r c le s a s L i o n e l T r i l l i n g ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f F r o s t i n 1 9 5 9
a s " a t e r r i f y i n g p o e t " ( q u o t e d b y B r o d s k y 1 9 9 5 b , p p .
2 2 4 - 2 2 5 ) . P o i r i e r ' s ( 1 9 7 7 ) c r i t i c a l s t u d y o f F r o s t ' s
p o e t r y a n d P r i t c h a r d ' s ( 1 9 8 4 ) r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f
F r o s t ' s l i t e r a r y l if e w e r e p i v o t a l t o t h e s h i f t t h a t h a s
o c c u r r e d
i n t h e w a y F r o s t ' s p o e t r y is r e a d a n d t h e
e s t e e m i n w h i c h h e is h e l d a s a p o e t .
M y o w n r e s p o n s e t o F r o s t ' s p o e t r y h a s r o u g h l y
p a r a l l e l e d t h e m o v e m e n t j u s t d e s c r i b e d ( a l t h o u g h
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o c c u r r i n g m u c h l a t e r ) . I r e a d a g o o d d e a l o f F r o s t i n
c o l l e g e a n d d u r i n g t h e y e a r s a f t e r w a r d s , b u t w a s n o t
t a k e n b y w h a t I r e a d . T h e s p e a k i n g v o i c e i n t h e p o e m s
( a s I l o o k b a c k o n i t) s e e m e d t o p r e s e n t a n a r r a t i v e
t h a t w a s s o c l e a r t h a t i t s e e m e d t o l e a v e m e l i t t le t o d o
a s a r e a d e r . I w a s m o r e d r a w n t o " d i ff i c u l t" m o d e r n
p o e t s s u c h a s E l i o t , P o u n d , S t e v e n s , M a r i a n n e M o o r e ,
a n d W i l l i a m C a r l o s W i l l i a m s . F r o s t is n o t a " d i f f ic u l t "
p o e t i n E l i o t ' s s e n s e o f t h e w o r d
1
; h i s p o e t r y d o e s n o t
d i s l o c a t e b y m e a n s o f d i s j o i n t e d o r a b s e n t n a r r a t i v e ,
f r a g m e n t e d i m a g e s , o b s c u r e l i t e r a r y a l l u s i o n s , a n d s o
o n . H o w e v e r , F r o s t ' s p o e t r y i s i n d e e d d i f f i c u l t , b u t d i f
f i c u l t i n w a y s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t f r o m E l i o t , P o u n d , a n d
t h e o t h e r s . H i s p o e m s a r e d i f f i c u l t i n l a r g e p a r t
b e c a u s e t h e y " s u g g e s t f o r m u l a e t h a t w o n ' t f o r m u
l a t e — t h a t
a l m o s t b u t d o n ' t q u i t e f o r m u l a t e . I s h o u l d
l i k e t o b e s o s u b t l e . . . a s t o s e e m t o t h e c a s u a l r e a d e r
a l t o g e t h e r o b v i o u s " ( F r o s t
1917).
I n F r o s t ' s ( 1 9 4 2 b ) p o e m , " T h e M o s t o f I t " ( w h i c h
i n a n e a r l i e r d r a f t w a s t i t l e d " M a k i n g t h e M o s t o f I t " ) , a
1. Eliot 's views on po etr y he ld en o rm o u s sway in literary circles
and in academia dur ing the
period
of Frost 's maturi ty as a poet
and for a decade or so afterwards. The fol lowing passage from
Eliot 's (1921) essay, "The Metaphysical Poets ," had a great deal to
d o with wh at was in fashion for man y de c a d e s: " . . . it app ears likely
that poets in our civilization, as it exists at present, must be
diffi
cult.
. . . Th e poe t mus t bec om e m ore an d m ore com prehens ive ,
more al lusive, more indirect , in order to force, to dislocate if nec
essary, language into his meaning" (p. 248).
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Reverie and Interpretation
m a n c a ll s a c r o s s a l a k e a n d b e m o a n s t h e f a c t t h a t
n a t u r e m e r e l y o f f e r s u p a " m o c k i n g e c h o " a n d r e f u s e s
t o r e s p o n d w i t h a " c o u n t e r - l o v e " o f i t s o w n . T h e m a n
c o n t i n u e s t o l o o k a c r o s s t h e l a k e ,
A s a g r e a t b u c k i t p o w e r f u l ly a p p e a r e d ,
P u s h i n g t h e c r u m p l e d w a t e r u p a h e a d ,
A n d l a n d e d p o u r i n g l i k e a w a t e r f a l l ,
A n d s t u m b l e d t h r o u g h t h e r o c k s w i t h h o r n y t r e a d ,
A n d f o r c e d t h e u n d e r b r u s h — a n d t h a t w a s a ll .
[ p . 3 0 7 ]
A l a r g e p a r t o f t h e " d i f fi c u l ty " e n c o u n t e r e d i n r e a d
i n g F r o s t is r e f l e c t e d i n t h e f i n a l f o u r w o r d s o f t h i s
p o e m , " a n d t h a t w a s a ll ." F r o s t ' s p o e t r y l iv e s i n t h e
r e a l m o f " a n d t h a t w a s a l l ," a n d r e s i s t s a s i f w i l lf u l ly o u r
e f fo r t s t o m a k e i t ( t h e p o e m , t h e w o r l d , o u r l i ve s) m e a n
s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n " t h a t . " B u t w h a t is " t h a t " ? A t fi rs t
" a n d t h a t w a s a l l " s e e m s l ik e t h e p o e t ' s w i s e , u n s e n t i
m e n t a l , p r a gm a t i c i n s i g h t i n t o m a n ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h
n a t u r e : a n e c h o is a n e c h o , a b u c k is a b u c k , n o m o r e
a n d n o l e ss . B u t o n c l o s e r i n s p e c t i o n , w h a t a p p e a r e d t o
b e w i s d o m , f ee ls m o r e a n d m o r e l ik e a r a t h e r c o m m o n
p l a c e , s e l f- e v i d e n t s t a t e m e n t ( a h o r s e is a h o r s e ) t h a t
m o c k s u s a s t h e e c h o w a s f e l t t o m o c k t h e m a n i n t h e
p o e m . W h a t is i n t e r e s t i n g a b o u t t h e e n d i n g o f t h e
p o e m is t h e u n e x p e c t e d a p p e a r a n c e a t t h e v e ry e n d o f
t h i s t w e n t y - l i n e p o e m o f a n e w v o i c e a p p e a r i n g o u t o f
t h e s i l e n c e ( f o l lo w i n g t h e d a s h ) m u c h a s t h e b u c k u n e x
p e c t e d l y e m e r g e d f r o m t h e l a k e . T h e r e a d e r , l ik e t h e
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m a n in t h e p o e m , c a n n o t r e s is t w i s h i n g t h e p o e m w o u l d
" s p e a k t o h i m " a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y a t t e m p t s t o m a k e t h e
w o r d s " a n d t h a t w a s a ll " a m e m o r a b l e , s i m p l e t r u t h t h a t
h e c a n w r a p u p a n d t a k e h o m e w i t h h i m . B u t t h e b u c k
i n t h e p o e m i s m o r e t h a n a b u c k a n d le ss ; i t is a b u c k
t h a t is t h e c r e a t i o n
o f t h e
p o e m . I t is a b u c k t h a t p u s h e s
" t h e c r u m p l e d w a t e r u p a h e a d " a n d l a n d s " p o u r i n g l i k e
a w a t e r f a l l ." I t is n o t a b u c k " o u t t h e r e " i n n a t u r e , b u t a
b u c k c r e a t e d i n t h e p o e m t h r o u g h t h e s o u n d s o f " n e w l y
m a d e " w o r d s a n d i m a g i n a t i v e m e t a p h o r .
T h e v o i c e i n t h e f i n a l p h r a s e o f t h e p o e m is i r o n i c ,
w i tty , a n d r a t h e r d e t a c h e d a n d , l ik e t h e b u c k , a p p e a r s
f o r o n l y a m o m e n t b e f o r e d i s a p p e a r i n g i n t o t h e
u n d e r
b r u s h . I t is a v o i c e t h a t w i ll n o t b e p i n n e d d o w n ; i t is
o n l y f l e e t in g l y g l i m p s e d , a n d n e v e r t o b e o w n e d
( k n o w n ) . I t is t h e e l u s i v e n e s s a n d s u b t l e t y o f t h i s v o i c e
t h a t is a l a r g e p a r t o f w h a t m a k e s F r o s t ' s p o e t r y s o d iff i
c u l t , s o i n t e r e s t i n g , s o a l i v e a n d p r e s e n t a n d y e t a l w a y s
s o m e h o w j u s t o u t o f r e a c h .
I w i l l n o w t u r n t o t h r e e F r o s t p o e m s , " T h e S i l k e n
T e n t , " " H o m e B u r i a l " a n d " I C o u l d G i ve A l l t o T i m e . " I
h a v e c h o s e n t h e s e p o e m s b e c a u s e I a m v e r y f o n d o f
t h e m , e a c h f o r d i f f e r e n t r e a s o n s , b u t n o n e i n i t s
e n t i r e t y . E a c h h a s i ts m o m e n t s o f a l i v e n e s s a n d
m o m e n t s o f f l a tn e s s ; t h e p a r t s t h a t a r e m o s t a l i v e f o r
m e c h a n g e o v e r time. ( I t is i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e r e a d e r
r e a d t h e s e p o e m s a l o u d s e v e r a l tim es b e f o r e g o i n g o n
t o m y d i s c u s s i o n f o r t h e p o e m s l iv e i n t h e s o u n d s o f t h e
w o r d s a n d i n w h a t t h e w o r d s feel like i n o u r m o u t h s a s
w e s ay t h e m . )
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L
T h e " S i l k e n T e n t " ( 1 9 4 2 c ) w a s first p u b l i s h e d i n a v o l
u m e o f F r o s t ' s p o e m s titled, A W itness Tree. T h e title o f
t h e v o l u m e is t a ke n from t h e n a m e g i v e n t o a t r e e t h a t
m a r k s ( s t a n d s w i t n e s s t o ) a p r o p e r t y l i n e a n d is " M y
p r o o f o f b e i n g n o t u n b o u n d e d " ( F r os t , 1 9 4 2 d , p . 3 0 1 ) .
T h e S i l k e n T e n t
S h e i s a s i n a field a s i l k e n t e n t
A t m i d d a y w h e n a s u m m e r b r e e z e
H a s d r i e d t h e d e w a n d a ll i t s r o p e s r e l e n t ,
S o t h a t in g u y s i t g e n t i y s w a y s a t e a s e ,
A n d i t s s u p p o r t i n g c e n t r a l c e d a r p o l e ,
T h a t is i t s p i n n a c l e t o h e a v e n w a r d
A n d s i g n if i e s t h e s u r e n e s s o f t h e s o u l ,
S e e m s t o o w e n a u g h t t o a n y s i n g l e c o r d ,
B u t s t r i c d y h e l d b y n o n e , is l o o s e l y b o u n d
B y
c o u n d e s s
s i l k e n ties o f l o v e a n d t h o u g h t
T o e v e r y t h i n g o n e a r t h t h e c o m p a s s r o u n d ,
A n d o n l y b y o n e ' s g o i n g s l ig h t l y t a u t
I n t h e capr i c iousness o f s u m m e r a i r
Is o f t h e s l i g h t e s t b o n d a g e m a d e a w a r e .
F r o s t ( 1 9 2 3 ) s p o k e o f p o e t r y a s " w o r d s t h a t h a v e
b e c o m e d e e d s " ( p . 7 0 1 ) . " T h e S i l k e n T e n t " o f t e n s u c
c e e d s in b e c o m i n g a " d e e d " i n t h e s e n s e o f b e c o m i n g
a n e x p e r i e n c e i ts e l f a s o p p o s e d t o a d e s c r i p t i o n o f a
f e e l i n g o r o f a n e x p e r i e n c e . I n t h e o p e n i n g l i n e , " S h e i s
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a s i n a field a s i l k e n t e n t , " w h a t is b e i n g c o m p a r e d t o
t h e s i l k e n t e n t is n o t " S h e , " b u t " S h e is " ( a n a c t i v e q u a l
i t y o f b e i n g , m o r e v e r b t h a n p r o n o u n ) . H o w d i f f e r e n t
t h e p o e m w o u l d h a v e b e e n h a d F r o s t b e g u n t h e p o e m
w i t h t h e w o r d s , " S h e is l i k e , " i n s t e a d o f " S h e is a s . " T h e
w o r d " a s " is i t se l f a l i g h t e r , l e ss a n g u l a r w o r d t h a n " l i k e "
a n d i n v i t e s a m u c h s o f t e r c o m p a r i s o n . A f t e r t h e o p e n
i n g w o r d , " S h e " i s n e v e r a g a i n m e n t i o n e d a n d i n s t e a d
r e m a i n s a s i f s u s p e n d e d o v e r t h e l i n e a n d t h e n o v e r t h e
e n t i r e t y o f t h e p o e m .
T h e g r a c e f u l u n i t y a n d i n t e g r i t y o f t h e t e n t is c a p
t u r e d f a r
less
i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e t e n t t h a n i n t h e
r e a d e r ' s s e n s o r y e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e p o e m b e i n g w o v e n
f r o m t h e s l e n d e r t h r e a d o f a s i n g l e u n i n t e r r u p t e d s e n
t e n c e . T h e p o e m n e v e r r e s ts : t h e r e is c o n t i n u a l m o v e
m e n t g e n e r a t e d i n t h e p l a y o f h a r d n e s s a n d s o f t n e ss , o f
e x p a n s i v e n e s s a n d b o u n d e d n e s s . I n t h e o p e n i n g f o u r
l i n e s , w e f e e l t h e w a y t h e s o f t " s " s o u n d s o f t h e w o r d s
( f o r e x a m p l e , " S o t h a t i n g u y s i t g e n t i y s w ay s a t e a s e " )
a r e g e n t l y , b u t firm ly, h e l d i n p l a c e b y t h e t a u t s t r u c
t u r e o f t h e m e t e r , r h y t h m a n d r h y m i n g p a t t e r n o f t h e
s o n n e t f o r m . E v e n i n t h e s p a c e o f t w o w o r d s i n l i n e
t h r e e " r o p e s r e l e n t " t h e r e a d e r c a n e x p e r i e n c e t h e
h a r d n e s s a n d d e n s i t y o f t h e w o r d " r o p e s " g i v i n g w a y a
b i t , b u t j u s t a b i t , t o t h e l o o s e r f e e l o f t h e b r o a d e r
two-
s y l l a b l e d w o r d " r e l e n t " w i t h it s s o ft "1" a n d slightiy
r o u n d e d " t " s o u n d s .
T h e r e is a s h if t i n t h e s o u n d a n d r h y t h m o f t h e
w o r d s ( a n d w i t h i t a s l i g h t s h i f t i n m o o d ) a s t h e p o e m
m o v e s f r o m t h e o p e n i n g f o u r l i n e s t o
d i e
t h r e e t h a t
fol-
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l o w . T h e f if th l i n e ( " A n d i t s s u p p o r t i n g c e n t r a l c e d a r
p o l e " ) r e q u i r e s t h a t w e s t o p a f t e r e a c h w o r d i n a w a y
t h a t s e e m s t o " l i n e u p " t h e w o r d s a n d s o u n d s . I t is n o t
p o s s i b l e t o s ay t h e w o r d s , " A n d i t s s u p p o r t i n g c e n t r a l
c e d a r p o l e , " w i t h o u t p a u s i n g a f te r t h e w o r d s " s u p p o r t
i n g , " " c e n t r a l , " a n d " c e d a r . " ( A t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e a l l it
e r a t i o n o f t h e s e t h r e e w o r d s g e n t i y ties t h e m t o g e t h e r . )
A s e n s e o f " v e r t i c a l i t y " is c r e a t e d t h a t s t a n d s i n c o n t r a s t
t o t h e s m o o t h " h o r i z o n t a l " s w a y i n g m o v e m e n t o f t h e
p r e v i o u s l i n e .
T h e p o e m i n l i n e s s ix a n d s e v e n t a k e s o h a n a l m o s t
r e v e r e n t i a l t o n e . T h e c e d a r p o l e is impl ic idy c o m p a r e d
t o a c h u r c h s p i r e ( a p i n n a c l e ) r e a c h i n g u p w a r d . T h e
p o e m s e e m s t o s w e l l h e r e ( i n a w a y t h a t I find a b i t
h u m o r l e s s ) a s i t r e a c h e s b e y o n d t h e p e r s o n a l t o t h e
u n i v e r s a l . B u t e v e n a s t h e p o e m t a k e s o n t h i s q u a s i - r e l i
g i o u s e x p a n s i v e n e s s , t h e i m a g e o f t h e c e n t r a l c e d a r
p o l e i n s i d e o f a n d p r o t r u d i n g t h r o u g h t h e s i l k e n f a b r i c
h a s a d e l i c a t e , b u t u n m i s t a k a b l y s e x u a l q u a l i t y .
B y t h e m i d d l e o f t h e p o e m , t h e s i l k e n t e n t h a s
t a k e n o n a l i f e o f i t s o w n a n d w e h a r d l y r e m e m b e r t h a t
t h e t e n t is " j u s t a s i m i l e " f o r w h o " S h e i s. " I n t h e p h r a s e ,
" s i l k e n ties o f l o v e a n d t h o u g h t , " t h e p o e m p l a y f u l l y
c o m e s a r o u n d o n i t s e l f a s h u m a n f e e l i n g s a n d c a p a c i
t ie s a r e u s e d a s m e t a p h o r s f o r t h e m o v e m e n t a n d s t r u c
t u r e o f a n o b j e c t ( t h e t e n t ) w h i c h i n t u r n is a s i m i l e f o r
t h e e s s e n c e o f a h u m a n b e i n g . I n t h i s w a y , t h e t e n t
i m a g e r y is " d r a w n b a c k i n " as i f b y c o r d s t h a t l o o s e l y
b i n d . T h e e f f e c t c r e a t e d b y t h e c l a u s e " l o o s e ly b o u n d /
B y c o u n t l e s s s i l k e n ties o f l o v e a n d t h o u g h t " is f o r m e
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t he , m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a n d v it a l m o m e n t i n t h e p o e m .
T h e w o r d " t h o u g h t " is u n e x p e c t e d a n d r e s c u e s t h e l i n e
a n d t h e n e x t o n e f r o m f e e l i n g l ik e s t a n d a r d p o e t i c a l
f o r m . T h e w o r d " t h o u g h t " r e - h u m a n i z e s t h e t e n t s i m i le
e v e n m o r e t h a n t h e m o r e " p o e t i c a l " w o r d " lo v e . " T h e r e
i s a f u l l n e s s t o t h e w o r d " t h o u g h t " i n t h a t i t e v o k e s a
s e n s e o f t h o u g h t f u l c o n s i d e r a t e n e s s a s w e l l a s a q u a l i t y
o f l i v e l i n e s s o f m i n d . T h e l i v e li n e s s o f m i n d is n o t s i m
p l y n a m e d , b u t is a f e l t p r e s e n c e i n t h e l i v e l i n e s s o f t h e
p l a y o f w o r d s , i n t h e v i ta l i ty o f i m a g e s a n d m e t a p h o r s
graceful ly
a n d s e n s u o u s l y b e n d i n g a n d c i r c l i n g w i t h i n
o n e a n o t h e r , i n t h e i m m e n s e p l e a s u r e t a k e n i n p e r
f o r m i n g , w i t n e s s i n g , a n d e x p e r i e n c i n g a f e a t o f l a n
g u a g e f l a w l e s s l y c a r r i e d o f f .
T h e p o e m c o n c l u d e s ,
A n d o n l y b y o n e ' s g o i n g s l ighdy t a u t
I n t h e capr i c iousness o f s u m m e r a i r
I s o f t h e s l i g h te s t b o n d a g e m a d e a w a r e .
T h e tie t o w h o " S h e i s " is m a i n t a i n e d h e r e b y t h e
a m b i g u i t y o f t h e w o r d " o n e ' s " w h i c h r e f e r s t o b o t h o n e
c o r d a n d t o t h e f e e l i n g o f o n e p e r s o n . W e c a n e x p e r i
e n c e i n o u r b o d i e s t h e l i g h t n e s s o f a i r a s w e f e e l o u r
b r e a t h c a r r y i n g t h e f i n a l s y l la b l e o f t h e p o e m , t h a t i s
i t s e l f a i r ( " - a r e " ) t e n d e r l y h e l d i n s i d e t h e s o f t n e s s
o f t h e
w o r d " a w a r e . "
" T h e S i l k e n T e n t " is a n e x q u i s i t e l y b e a u t i f u l l o v e
p o e m . B u t i t is a n o d d l o v e p o e m i n t h a t " S h e , " t h e
b e l o v e d , is s o q u i c k l y a n d t h o r o u g h l y d i s p l a c e d b y t h e
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s i l k e n t e n t t h a t w e a t tim es f o r g e t h e r , a n d y e t i t d o e s n ' t
s e e m t o m a t t e r t h a t w e h a v e f o r g o t t e n h e r . I t h i n k t h a t
t h i s is s o b e c a u s e in a n i m p o r t a n t s e n s e " S h e " is t h e
p o e m , o r p e r h a p s m o r e a c c u r a te l y , " S h e is" ( h e r b e i n g is )
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f m a k i n g p o e t r y . W h e n I h a v e a s k e d
m y s e l f w h a t i t m i g h t f e e l l i k e t o r e c e i v e t h i s l o v e p o e m , m y
i m m e d i a t e r e s p o n s e h a s r e g u l a r ly b e e n t h a t I w o u l d
m u c h p r e f e r t o b e i ts w r i t e r t h a n it s r e c i p i e n t . F o r m e , t h e
p o e m b e t t e r s u c c e e d s i n c a p t u r i n g a n e s s e n c e ( " t h e
s o u l " ) o f t h e l o v e o f p o e t r y t h a n it s u c c e e d s i n c a p t u r i n g
t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e l o v e o f a p e r s o n o r o f t h e l o v e o f a
p e r c e p t i o n o f
beauty
i n n a t u r e . T h e d e l i c a t e t e n s i o n s t h a t
a r e b o t h t h e s u b j e c t o f a n d t h e lif e o f t h i s p o e m a r e t h e
t e n s i o n s a t t h e h e a r t o f p o e t r y
itself—the
f o r e v e r u n r e
s o l v e d " p u l ls " b e t w e e n p a s s i o n a n d r e s t r a i n t , b e t w e e n
e x p a n s i v e n e s s a n d b o u n d e d n e s s , t h e r e v e a l e d a n d t h e
h i d d e n , s im p l i c i ty a n d c o m p l e x i t y , s u r f a c e a n d d e p t h , t h e
s p o k e n , t h e u n s a i d , a n d t h e m e r e l y s u g g e s t e d .
T h i s p o e m , t h a t m a k e s w o r d s a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e
o f t h e l o v e o f p o e t r y a s l i g h t a s a i r , is a lw a y s d o i n g m o r e
t h a n t h a t . F r o m t h e o u t s e t , t h e l a n g u a g e a n d i m a g e r y
s of tly , b u t i n s i s t e n t l y s u g g e s t a n a w a r e n e s s o f t h e t e m
p o r a l i t y o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e b e i n g c r e a t e d i n t h e p o e m .
T h e t e n t is a s i l k e n t e n t , a d e l i c a t e f a b r i c , " a t m i d d a y , "
s u b j e c t t o " t h e c a p r i c i o u s n e s s o f s u m m e r a i r " ( p e r h a p s
a m e t a p h o r f o r t h e c a p r i c i o u s n e s s o f h u m a n e m o t i o n ) .
A n e x p e r i e n c e ( o f a p e r s o n , o f a p e r c e p t i o n o f b e a u t y ,
o f a p o e m ) c a n n o t b e m a d e t o s t a n d s ti l l a n d w il l n e v e r
a g a i n b e w h a t i t is i n th i s m o m e n t . A p o e t ( o r a r e a d e r
o f p o e t r y ) c a n n o t k n o w if h e w il l e v e r a g a i n b e a b l e t o
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Poems 247
m a k e a g o o d p o e m o r a l lo w a p o e m t o g e t d e e p l y i n t o
h i m . T h i s a w a r e n e s s is a n i n e x t r i c a b l e p a r t o f t h e l a n
g u a g e o f t h e p o e m a n d o f t h e f a b r i c o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e
o f l o v e . I n t h e f i n a l w o r d s o f t h e final l i n e , t h e w o r d
" b o n d a g e " s e e m s t o i n s i s t o n b e i n g h e a r d a s a d a r k e r ,
h e a v i e r w o r d t h a n t h o s e u s e d e a r l i e r t o r e f e r t o t h e e l e
m e n t o f r e s t r a i n t : " g u y s ," " h e l d , " " b o u n d , " " t ie s ," " t a u t . "
T h e w o r d " b o n d a g e , " e v e n as i t is b e i n g u s e d i n a
p h r a s e c r e a t i n g a s e n s e o f d e l i c a t e l i g h t n e s s , h a s a n
o m i n o u s s o u n d t h a t is a r e m i n d e r t h a t p a s s i o n is a s
e n s l a v i n g a s i t is f r e e i n g . A s F r o s t w e l l k n e w , t h e p o e t ' s
p a s s i o n f o r m a k i n g p o e m s is h i s p r i s o n ( in a v e r y u n r o -
m a n t i c
s e n s e ) a s w e l l a s h i s v i t a l c o r e .
JT.
F r o s t ' s ( 1 9 1 4 b ) " H o m e B u r i a l " m a y b e o n e
o f t h e
m o s t
s u c c e s s f u l e f fo r ts i n A m e r i c a n p o e t r y t o c a p t u r e i n
v e r s e t h e s o u n d a n d f e e l i n g o f p e o p l e t a l k i n g t o o n e
a n o t h e r . A t r a n s c r i p t o f a n a c t u a l
d i a l o g u e
c a p t u r e s
o n l y w h a t w a s s a i d a n d a s a r e s u l t c o n v e y s o n l y a s m a l l
p a r t o f w h a t i t f e e ls l i k e b e i n g t h e r e l i s t e n i n g a n d
w a t c h i n g . A m a j o r p a r t o f t h e p o e t ' s a t t e m p t t o w r i t e
d i a l o g u e i n p o e t r y i n v o lv e s t h e e f f o r t t o c a p t u r e i n t h e
a c t i o n o f t h e l a n g u a g e i ts e lf t h e l iv i ng s o u n d a n d e x p e
rience o f s p e e c h . F r o s t ( 1 9 1 3 ) b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e v i t a li ty
o f s p e e c h is i n i ts s o u n d , " t h e s o u n d o f s e n s e " : " T h e
b e s t p l a c e t o g e t t h e a b s t r a c t [ p u r e ] s o u n d o f s e n s e is
from v o i c e s b e h i n d a d o o r t h a t c u t s o f f t h e w o r d s " ( p .
8 0 ) . I n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h i s , t h e s e n t e n c e s m u s t " t a l k
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t o e a c h o t h e r a s t w o o r m o r e p e o p l e d o i n a d r a m a "
( F r o s t 1 9 3 6 , p . 4 2 7 ) s o t h a t t h e p o e m is n o t s i m p l y a
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a d i a l o g u e b u t is i ts e lf a d i a l o g u e .
" H o m e B u r i a l " is o n e o f F r o s t ' s l o n g e r p o e m s a n d
s o I w i l l f o c u s o n l y o n t h e w a y t h e p o e m b e g i n s . T h i s i s
a p o e m i n w h i c h a c o u p l e
wrest ies
w i t h t h e d e a t h o f
t h e i r first c h i l d w h o is b u r i e d i n a s m a l l f a m i l y g r a v e s i t e
a t t h e s i d e o f t h e i r h o m e .
H o m e B u r i a l
H e s a w h e r f r o m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e s t a i r s
B e f o r e s h e s a w h i m . S h e w a s s t a r t i n g d o w n , *
L o o k i n g b a c k o v e r h e r s h o u l d e r a t s o m e f e a r .
S h e t o o k a d o u b t f u l s t e p a n d t h e n u n d i d i t
T o r a i s e h e r s e l f a n d l o o k a g a i n . H e s p o k e
A d v a n c i n g t o w a r d h e r : ' W h a t i s i t y o u s e e
F r o m u p t h e r e
always—for
I w a n t t o k n o w . '
S h e t u r n e d a n d s a n k u p o n h e r s k i r t s a t t h a t ,
A n d h e r f a ce c h a n g e d f r o m t e r r i f i e d t o d u l l .
H e s a i d t o g a i n tim e: ' W h a t i s i t y o u s e e , '
M o u n t i n g u n t i l s h e c o w e r e d u n d e r h i m .
' I w i ll f i n d o u t n o w — y o u m u s t t e ll m e , d e a r . '
S h e , i n h e r p l a c e , r e f u s e d h i m a n y h e l p
W i t h t h e l e a s t s t i f f e n i n g o f h e r n e c k a n d s i l e n c e .
S h e l e t h i m l o o k , s u r e t h a t h e w o u l d n ' t s e e ,
B l i n d c r e a t u r e ; a n d a w h i l e h e d i d n ' t s e e .
B u t a t l as t h e m u r m u r e d , ' O h , ' a n d a g a i n , ' O h . '
' W h a t is it—what?* s h e s a i d .
' J u s t t h a t I s e e . '
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T h e p o e m o p e n s p l a i n l y a n d y e t c o n v u l s iv e l y a s a n
e s s e n c e o f a c o m p l e x r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t w o p e o p l e
is i n a n i n s t a n t c r e a t e d i n t h e s o u n d s a n d m o v e m e n t o f
t h e w o r d s :
H e s a w h e r f r o m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e s ta i r s
B e f o r e s h e sa w h i m . S h e w a s s t a r t i n g d o w n ,
L o o k i n g b a c k o v e r h e r s h o u l d e r a t s o m e f e a r .
T h e f irst l i n e is c o n f u s i n g a n d d e e p l y d i s t u r b i n g t o
m e e a c h time I r e a d t h e p o e m . I n r e a d i n g t h e w o r d s
" H e s a w h e r f r o m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e s t a i r s / B e f o r e s h e
s a w h i m , " m y d i s o r i e n t a t i o n is s o g r e a t t h a t as o f t e n a s
n o t , I s t o p a n d b e g i n a g a i n i n a n a t t e m p t t o g e t t h e l a n
g u a g e a n d i m a g e t o s t a n d s t i l l . T h e r e a r e t h r e e p e o p l e
i n t h e s c e n e I t e l l m y s e l f : a m a n , a w o m a n , a n d t h e
s p e a k e r . B u t I c a n n o t s e e t h e m in m y m i n d . W h o i s
w h e r e ? S e e i n g is e v e r y t h i n g ( " H e s a w h e r . . . s h e s a w
h i m " ) a n d y e t t h e r e a d e r s t r u g g l e s u n s u c c e s s f u l l y t o
s e e , a s i f p e e r i n g t h r o u g h d i m l i g h t .
T h e p h r a s e " S h e w a s s t a r t i n g d o w n " h a s i n t h e
s e q u e n c e a n d p i t c h o f t h e s o u n d o f t h e w o r d s a m o v e
m e n t f o r w a r d a n d d o w n w a r d f r o m " S h e " w i t h i t s l o n g
" e " s o u n d t o t h e r e s o n a n t l o w e r t o n e s o f t h e w o r d
" d o w n . " B u t t h e f o l l o w i n g l in e , " L o o k i n g b a c k o v e r h e r
s h o u l d e r a t s o m e f e a r , " s u p e r i m p o s e s m o v e m e n t i n t h e
o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n t h u s c r e a t i n g a c o n t o r t e d i m a g e o f
m o v e m e n t f o r w a r d a n d b a c k w a r d , d o w n w a r d a n d
u p w a r d , i n t o t h e f u t u r e a n d i n t o t h e p a s t . T h e w o r d s
" s o m e f e a r " s t a n d o u t i n t h e s e o p e n i n g t h r e e l in e s . T h e
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w o r d " f e a r" is u n e x p e c t e d ( " ' f e t c h e d ' . . . f r o m i ts r e g u
l a r p l a c e " [ F r o s t 1 9 1 8 , p . 6 9 6 ] s i n c e w e r a r e l y t h i n k o f
o u r s e l v e s a s t u r n i n g t o l o o k a t a n a b s t r a c t i o n s u c h a s a
f e a r o r a h o p e o r a j o y . T h e ef f e c t is g r e a t l y e n h a n c e d
b y t h e u s e o f t h e w o r d " s o m e " a s a m o d i f i e r s i n c e t h i s
w o r d , i n s t e a d o f t e l l i n g u s m o r e a b o u t t h e f e a r , s e e m s
t o o b s t r u c t o u r v ie w b y r e f u s i n g t o n a m e i t o r e v e n
d e s c r i b e i t .
T h e p o e m c o n t i n u e s ,
S h e t o o k a d o u b t f u l s t e p a n d t h e n u n d i d i t
T o r a i s e h e r s e l f a n d l o o k a g a i n .
•i
I n t h e first o f t h e s e l i n e s , t h e r e g u l a r i t y o f t h e
c a d e n c e o f i a m b i c p e n t a m e t e r
2
is s u b t l y a l t e r e d . A
" d o u b t f u l s t e p " is c r e a t e d i n t h e s o u n d o f t h e l a n g u a g e
b y a d d i n g a n e x t r a u n s t r e s s e d s y l l a b le t o t h e e n d o f t h e
l i n e . I n t h i s w a y , a s e n s e o f s t u m b l i n g , o f " f a l l i n g o f f t h e
e n d o f t h e l i n e , " is h e a r d a n d f e l t i n o n e ' s v o i c e a s o n e
s a y s t h e l i n e .
3
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e is d a r k i r o n y i n t h e l i n e
" S h e t o o k a d o u b t f u l s t e p a n d t h e n u n d i d i t ." U n s t a t e d ,
2. Iamb ic pe nt am ete r is a po et ic cad enc e consis t ing of five "feet"
(metrical units) per l ine with each foot consist ing of an unstressed
syllable followed by a stres sed syllable. Fr ost (19 39) of ten
remarked that in Engl ish (unl ike in French, Russian, or any other
language) "there are virtually but two [meters], strict iambic and
loose iambic" (p. 776).
3. I am in de bte d to Alice Jon es, a poe t w ho has tau gh t m e som e
thing about meter and a great deal about a passion for poetry.
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b u t i m p l i c i t h e r e is t h e k n o w l e d g e ( s t a r k ly f r a m i n g t h e
e n t i r e p o e m ) t h a t w h i l e s t e p s m i g h t b e r e t r a c e d a n d
a c t i o n s r e c o n s i d e r e d , n o t h i n g is e v e r u n d o n e .
H e s p o k e
A d v a n c i n g t o w a r d h e r : ' W h a t is i t y o u s e e ,
F r o m u p t h e r e always—for I w a n t t o k n o w . '
T h e r e a d e r , t o o , is a d v a n c i n g t o w a r d h e r : o u r
" h e a r i n g " t h e h u s b a n d ' s s p o k e n w o r d s , " W h a t is i t y o u
s e e " i n h i s o w n v o i c e a n d i n h i s o w n w o r d s c r e a t e s t h e
e f fe c t o f a c i n e m a t i c m o v e m e n t f r o m a m o r e d i s t a n t
viewing,
a n g l e t o a c l o s e - u p s h o t . W e c a n h e a r a n d f e e l
i n o u r m o u t h s i n s a y i n g t h e w o r d " alw a y s" t h e e l o n g a
t i o n o f t h e s p e a k i n g v o i c e t h a t s t a n d s i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e
n e r v o u s s t a c c a t o e f fe c t o f t h e e i g h t m o n o s y l l a b i c w o r d s
t h a t p r e c e d e it . T h e w o r d "a lw a y s" c a p t u r e s a s e n s e o f
t h e tim elessness ( n o t s i m p l y r e p e t i t i v e n e s s ) o f w h a t i s
o c c u r r i n g . C o n s i d e r t h e d i f f e r e n c e i t w o u l d m a k e i f t h e
l i n e r e a d , " W h a t is i t y o u a l w a y s s e e f r o m u p t h e r e ? "
T h e p l a c e m e n t o f t h e w o r d " a lw a y s" a t t h e e n d o f t h e
p h r a s e , j u s t b e f o r e t h e l o n g p a u s e c r e a t e d b y t h e d a s h
a l l o w s t h e s o u n d o f t h e w o r d "a lw a y s" t o r e v e r b e r a t e
a n d t h e n t o d i e i n t h e c a e s u r a t h a t f o ll ow s t h e w o r d . I t
i s a s i f t h e s o u n d o f t h e w o r d " a l w a y s" is m a d e t o e c h o
i n t h e s t o n y s i l e n c e o f t h e v a s t e m p t i n e s s o f a h o u s e
t h a t t h i s c o u p l e is n o l o n g e r a b l e t o fill.
T h e u s e o f t h e w o r d " a lw a y s" i s a s u n e x p e c t e d t o
t h e r e a d e r a s w e r e t h e w o r d s " s o m e f e a r . " B u t h e r e
t h e r e i s , i n a d d i t i o n , a s e n s e t h a t t h e h u s b a n d t o o d i d
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n o t e x p e c t t o h e a r h i m s e l f u t t e r t h a t w o r d . H e p a u s e s
a f t e r s a y i n g i t a s i f a t t e m p t i n g t o a b s o r b t h e i m m e n s e
s a d n e s s t h a t h e h e a r s i n t h e s o u n d o f t h e w o r d t h a t
c a m e f r o m h i s m o u t h . T h e s i l e n c e a f t e r t h e w o r d
" a lw a y s " t r a n s f o r m s t h e w o r d s t h a t f o l lo w : " F o r I w a n t
t o k n o w . " T h e r e a d e r ( a n d , w e i m a g i n e , t h e h u s b a n d
t o o ) h a d a n t i c i p a t e d h e a r i n g a n a n x i o u s , i m p a t i e n t
d e m a n d i n t h e s e w o r d s . T h e w o r d s f o l l o w i n g t h e
b r e a k i n t h e l i n e s e e m t o h a v e b e e n u t t e r e d r a t h e r
r e f l e x i v e l y a s i f l e ft o v e r f r o m a s t a t e o f m i n d t h a t n o
l o n g e r e x is t s . T h e h u s b a n d , h a v i n g h e a r d t h e s o u n d o f
t h e w o r d " a l w a y s " e c h o i n g i n t h e e m p t i n e s s o f t h e
s i l e n c e ( t h e e m p t y h o u s e ) is n o w , d e s p i t e h i m s e l f ,
m a k i n g a m u c h m o r e c o m p l e x e x p r e s s i o n o f f e e l i n g
w i t h t h e s e r e f l e x i v e wor ds t h a n a n y t h i n g h e ( o r t h e
r e a d e r ) c o u l d h a v e e x p e c t e d . T h e w o r d s " F o r I w a n t t o
k n o w " n o w s e e m t o r e f l e c t t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e h u s
b a n d h a s b e g u n t o s e n s e , d e s p i t e h i s p e r s i s t e n t q u e s
tioning, t h a t h e d o e s n o t w a n t t o k n o w , a n d y e t i n
s o m e w a y a l r e a d y d o e s " k n o w . " ( T h e w o r d " k n o w , " i n a
h i g h l y c o m p a c t e d w a y , c a p t u r e s i n i t s s o u n d t h e f e a r
f u l o b j e c t i o n , " N o , " t h a t i n t h i s p o e m l iv e s i n t h e v e r y
b o w e l s
o f t h e
w i s h t o k n o w . )
S h e t u r n e d a n d s a n k u p o n h e r s k i r t s a t t h a t ,
A n d h e r f a ce c h a n g e d f r o m t e r r i f i e d t o d u l l .
T h e w i fe 's s i l e n c e a n d b o d y m o v e m e n t s a r e p o w e r
f ul ly e x p r e s s i v e o f h e r w i t h d r a w a l i n t o a b j e c t d e s p a i r .
T h e r e is a f l a t t e n i n g , a d u l l i n g o f t h e l a n g u a g e h e r e . I t
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is d e s c r i p t i v e i n t h a t i t is t e l l i n g u s " a b o u t " w h a t is h a p
p e n i n g a s o p p o s e d t o t h e m o r e i m m e d i a t e , m o r e l iv ely
e x p e r i e n c e o f h e a r i n g w h a t is o c c u r r i n g i n t h e s o u n d o f
t h e h u s b a n d ' s v o i c e .
H e s a i d t o g a i n t i m e : ' W h a t is i t y o u s e e , '
M o u n t i n g u n t i l s h e c o w e r e d u n d e r h i m .
T h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a n d te l l in g w o r d s i n t h e s e
l i n e s a r e i n t h e c o n j u n c t i v e p h r a s e " t o g a i n tim e." T h i s
p h r a s e c r e a t e s a f e e l i n g o f a p e r s o n b e i n g i n tw o , p l a c e s
a t o n c e : t h e h u s b a n d is a h e a d o f a n d b e h i n d h i m s e l f i n
t h a t h e a l r e a d y i n s o m e i n a r t i c u l a t e w a y " k n o w s " t h e
a n s w e r t o t h e q u e s t i o n h e is a b o u t t o a s k a g a i n , b u t
n e e d s tim e t o a t t e m p t t o " k n o w " i n a d i f f e r e n t w a y , t h a t
is , i n a w a y t h a t n a m e s a n d is e n g a g e d i n t h e w o r k o f
w r e s d i n g w i t h w h a t h e a l r e a d y k n o w s . I r o n i c a l l y , tim e is
s o m e t h i n g t h a t h e c a n n o t " g a i n " i n t h e w o r l d o f "a lw a ys "
i n w h i c h h e a n d h i s w i f e a n d t h e i r c h i l d a r e t r a p p e d .
T h e w o r d s " m o u n t i n g " a n d " c o w e r i n g " i n t h e s ec
o n d o f t h e s e t w o l i n e s s u g g e s t a s u b v e r t e d i n t e r c o u r s e
i n w h i c h tw o p e o p l e r e s i s t e x p e r i e n c i n g " s o m e t h i n g
h u m a n " ( t o u s e a p h r a s e f r o m t h e m i d d l e
o f t h e
p o e m )
i n o n e a n o t h e r . T h e t ide
o f t h e
p o e m , " H o m e B u r i a l " is
a c c r u i n g m e a n i n g s a s t h e p o e m u n f o l d s , i n c l u d i n g b y
t h i s p o i n t , a s e n s e n o t o n l y o f a b u r i a l a t h o m e , b u t a l s o
a b u r i a l o f a h o m e , o f a f a m i l y , o f a m a r r i a g e . I t is a " t e r
r i f y i n g " bur i a l i n t h a t t h e h u s b a n d a n d w if e h a v e ( i n a
s e n s e t h a t w e a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g i n t h e l a n g u a g e ) b e e n
b u r i e d a l i ve . ( T h e r e is g r i m h u m o r i n t h e p l a y o n
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w o r d s i n t h e title t h a t r e f le c t s t h e d i s t u r b i n g d e t a c h
m e n t o f t h e e v e n h a n d e d , n e v e r - t a k i n g - s i d e s q u a l i t y o f
t h e n a r r a t i v e v o i c e i n t h i s p o e m . )
T h e h u s b a n d r e p e a t s h i s q u e s t i o n , w h i c h is n o
l o n g e r a q u e s t i o n , b u t a d e m a n d t h a t h i s w i f e n a m e
w h a t h e a l r e a d y " k n o w s , " b u t c a n n o t b e a r t o m a k e
m o r e r e a l f o r h i m s e l f b y n a m i n g i t :
' I w i l l f i n d o u t n o w — y o u m u s t t e ll m e , d e a r . '
T h e w o r d " d e a r " rings s o h o l l o w t h a t i t is c h i l l i n g .
I n t h e e n t i r e b l a n k v e r s e p o e m o f m o r e t h a n a h u n -
d r e d - a n d - t w e n t y l i n e s t h e r e is o n l y o n e i n s t a n c e o f h a r d
r h y m i n g o f l i n e - e n d i n g w o r d s ( o t h e r t h a n a w o r d r h y m
i n g w i t h itself)- T h e s i n g l e i n s t a n c e o c c u r s i n t h e r h y m
i n g o f t h e w o r d " d e a r " i n t h i s l i n e w i t h t h e w o r d " f e a r "
a l m o s t a d o z e n l i n e s e a r l i e r . I n t h i s w a y , t h e p o e m sub-
d y d o e s i n l a n g u a g e w h a t t h e c o u p l e is d o i n g t o o n e
a n o t h e r : i t i n f e c t s ( l i n k s ) t h e l o v e t h a t t h e y a t o n e tim e
f e l t ( " d e a r " ) w i t h t h e f e a r t h a t i s c o n s u m i n g t h e m b o t h .
S h e , i n h e r p l a c e , r e f u s e d h i m a n y h e l p
W i t h t h e l e a s t s t i f f e n i n g o f h e r n e c k a n d s i l e n c e .
T h e p h r a s e " i n h e r p l a c e " is a c u r i o u s o n e i n t h a t
i n t h r e e m o n o s y l l a b i c w o r d s i t s u c c e e d s i n c r e a t i n g a
s e n s e o f t h e w a y t h e h u s b a n d a n d w i f e h a v e e a c h t a k e n
( o r r a t h e r , h a v e b e e n t a k e n b y ) a n i m m o b i l e " p l a c e "
t h a t i s r u l e d b y a f e e l i n g o f " a lw a y s . " I a m r e g u l a r l y
c a u g h t o ff g u a r d b y t h e w o r d " le a s t " i n t h e p h r a s e " t h e
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a m b i g u i t y t o t h e e p i t h e t " B l i n d c r e a t u r e " i n t h a t i t
r e f e r s n o t o n l y t o t h e h u s b a n d ' s ( p e r c e i v e d ) i n h u m a n
i ty r e f l e c t e d i n h i s i n a b i l i t y t o " s e e , " b u t a l s o t o t h e
w i fe 's i n h u m a n e b l i n d n e s s t o h e r h u s b a n d ' s ( a n d h e r
o w n ) t o r t u r e d a t t e m p t s t o m o u r n .
B u t a t l a s t h e m u r m u r e d , ' O h , ' a n d a g a i n , ' O h . '
' W h a t i s it—what?* s h e s a i d .
' J u s t t h a t I s e e . '
T h e r h y t h m o f t h e f i r s t o f t h e s e l i n e s is r e m a r k a b l e
i n t h e w a y t h a t t h e w o r d s ( w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e p a u s e s
a n d s i le n c e s g e n e r a t e d b y t h r e e c o m m a s a n d a p e r i o d
i n t h e s p a c e o f f o u r w o r d s ) m o v e a t a p a i n f u l l y s l o w
p a c e a s t h e h u s b a n d " a t l a s t " m u r m u r s , " ' O h , ' a n d
a g a i n , ' O h . ' " T h e s o u n d s a r e t h o s e o f a n i n v o l u n t a r y
m o a n o f p a i n . T h e w o r d " c r e a t u r e " i n t h e p r e v i o u s l i n e
n o w t a k e s o n a s u r p r i s i n g s o f t n e s s a l m o s t d e s p i t e i ts e l f
a s t h e s o u n d w e h e a r is l ik e t h a t o f a t r a p p e d , w o u n d e d
a n i m a l ( c r e a t u r e ) . T h e p a c e q u i c k e n s i n t h e s e c o n d o f
t h e s e l i n e s a s t h e w o r d s c a r r y t h e b i t t e r , p r i c k l y , h a r d
e n e d v o i c e
o f t h e
w i f e ( " ' W h a t i s
i t—what? '
s h e s a i d " ) .
T h e p o e m t h e n s lo w s a g a i n n e a r l y t o a h a l t a s t h e w o r d s
" ' J u s t t h a t I see ' e m b o d y i n t h e i r c a d e n c e t h e h u s
b a n d ' s p a i n f u l , st i l l v e r y r e t i c e n t r e c o g n i t i o n o f w h a t h e
h a s k n o w n " a lw a y s ," b u t r e f u s e s t o n a m e ( t o a c k n o w l
e d g e o p e n l y ) e i t h e r t o h i m s e l f o r t o h i s w if e .
T h e s e l i n e s a r e m e t r i c a l l y a n d s p a t i a l l y d o i n g
s o m e t h i n g t h a t is l e ft u n s a i d t h r o u g h o u t t h e p o e m .
W h a t is m e t r i c a l l y a s i n g l e l i n e o f ( r o u g h l y ) i a m b i c p e n -
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Reverie and Interpretation
a r o u n d a h u b . T h e s e a r e o r d i n a r y w o r d s c r e a t i n g
e x t r a o r d i n a r y e ff ec ts i n l a n g u a g e . " N o f o r m s [ o f l a n
g u a g e ] a r e m o r e e n g r o s s i n g , c o m f o r t i n g , s t ay i n g t h a n
t h o s e le s s e r o n e s w e t h r o w o ff , l i k e v o r t e x rings o f s m o k e
. . ." ( F r o s t 1 9 3 5 , p . 7 4 0 ) . A b o u t a h u n d r e d l i n e s l a t e r ,
t h e p o e m a s a w h o l e e n d s w i t h a d a s h ( n o t a p e r i o d )
t h u s c r e a t i n g a s e n s e o f t h e p o e m ' s f a l l in g i n t o e n d l e s s
tim e a n d s p a c e i n w h i c h t h e t h r e e v o i c e s ( t h a t o f t h e
h u s b a n d , o f t h e w i f e , a n d o f t h e n a r r a t o r ) e c h o " a l w a y s . "
III.
I
C o u l d G i v e A l l t o T i m e " ( F r o s t 1 9 4 2 e ) , first*pub
l i s h e d w h e n F r o s t w a s 6 8 y e a r s
old ,
is a p o e m t h a t s e e m s
t o t r a n s f o r m i t s e l f f r o m g o o d p o e t r y i n t o g r e a t p o e t r y
i n i t s f inal s ta n z a .
I C o u l d G i v e A l l t o T i m e
T o tim e i t n e v e r s e e m s t h a t h e is^brave
T o s e t h i m s e l f a g a i n s t t h e p e a k s o f s n o w
T o l ay t h e m le v e l w i t h t h e r u n n i n g w a v e ,
N o r is h e o v e r j o y e d w h e n t h e y l i e l o w ,
B u t o n l y g r a v e , c o m t e m p l a t i v e a n d g r a v e .
W h a t n o w is i n l a n d s h a l l b e o c e a n i s l e ,
T h e n e d d i e s p l a y i n g r o u n d a s u n k e n r e e f
L i k e t h e c u r l a t t h e c o r n e r o f a s m i l e ;
A n d I c o u l d s h a r e T i m e ' s l a c k o f j o y o r g r i e f
A t s u c h a p l a n e t a r y c h a n g e o f s ty le .
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259
istening: Three Frost Poems
I c o u l d g i v e
all
t o T i m e
e x c e p t — e x c e p t
W h a t I m y s e l f h a v e h e l d . B u t w h y d e c l a r e
T h e t h i n g s f o r b i d d e n t h a t w h i l e t h e C u s t o m s s l e p t
I h a v e c r o s s e d t o S a f e ty w i t h ? F o r I a m T h e r e ,
A n d w h a t I w o u l d n o t p a r t w i t h I h a v e k e p t .
T h e p o e m o p e n s , o f c o u r s e , w i t h t h e t i d e , i n w h i c h
t h e s p e a k e r i s a p p a r e n d y g i v i n g h i m s e l f o v e r t o T i m e ,
b u t t h e w o r d " c o u l d " is c o n d i t i o n a l in a w a y t h a t l e a v e s
o p e n t h e q u e s t i o n s , " If w h a t ? " " U n d e r w h a t c i r c u m
s t a n c e s ? " I n t h e f i r s t s t a n z a t h e r e is a w r y p e r s o n i f i c a
tion o f t i m e a n d a " t r i b u t e " t o T i m e ' s p o w e r t o lay l o w
" p e a k s o f s n o w . " W h a t is i n t e r e s t i n g h e r e is t h e q u e s
t i o n o f w h o t h e s p e a k e r is , t h a t is , i n w h a t r e l a t i o n d o e s
t h e s p e a k e r s t a n d t o w h a t h e is s a y i n g ? T h e r e is a q u a l
i ty o f i r o n i c d e t a c h m e n t t o t h e v o i c e o f t h e s p e a k e r .
T h e w o r d " b r a v e " e n d i n g t h e first l i n e o f t h e s t a n z a h a s
a h u m o r o u s , a l m o s t c o n d e s c e n d i n g q u a l i t y ; t h e w o r d a s
i t is u s e d h e r e h a s s o m e t h i n g o f t h e s o u n d o f a p a r e n t
c o n g r a t u l a t i n g a c h i l d f o r n o t c r y i n g i n the d e n t i s t ' s
o f f ic e . T h e p u n o n t h e w o r d " g r a v e " i n t h e final l i n e o f
the s t a n z a f ee ls i n t e n t i o n a l l y h e a v y - h a n d e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y
w h e n i t is r e p e a t e d " i n c a s e t h e r e a d e r d i d n o t g e t i t t h e
f i r s t t ime . "
T h e v o i c e i n t h e first t h r e e l i n e s o f t h e s e c o n d
s t a n z a f e e l s a b i t less r e m o v e d . T h e s i m i l e c o m p a r i n g
" e d d i e s p l a y i n g r o u n d a s u n k e n r e e f t o
the
c u r l a t t h e
c o r n e r o f a s m i l e " e v o k e s a f e e l i n g o f b e m u s e d a c c e p
t a n c e o f t h e e r o s i v e p o w e r o f T i m e a n d e v e n c o n t a i n s
a n a c k n o w l e d g m e n t o f t h e b e a u t y t h a t t h e p a s s a g e o f
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26
Reverie and Interpretation
tim e m a y inadve r t en t i y c r e a t e . B u t , i n t h e f i n a l t w o
l i n e s o f t h e s t a n z a , t h e whimsical t o n e s e e m s t o t a k e o n
a s l ighdy s a r d o n i c e d g e a s t h e s p e a k e r r e f e r s t o " T i m e ' s
l a c k o f j o y o r g r i e f i n r e s p o n s e to " p l a n e t a r y c h a n g e o f
s t y le . " A t t h i s p o i n t i n t h e p o e m i t i s n o t a t a l l c l e a r
w h e t h e r t h e p o e m a s p i r e s t o b e a n y t h i n g m o r e t h a n a
c l e v e r , w e l l - c r a f t e d p i e c e i n w h i c h t h e r e is d r y i r o n y i n
t h e f a c t t h a t T i m e w i l l d o w h a t i t w il l w h e t h e r o r n o t
o n e s h a r e s i n it s " l a c k o f j o y o r g r i e f . "
T h e final s t a n z a b e g i n s w i t h t h e w o r d s , " I c o u l d
g i v e a l l t o T i m e " w h i c h r e t u r n s u s ( f o r t h e t h i r d tim e)
t o t h e i n t e r e s t i n g a m b i g u i t y o f t h e w o r d " c o u l d " t h a t
f r o m t h e o u t s e t , h a s b e e n h a n g i n g o v e r t h e p o e m l ik e
a n u n r e s o l v e d m u s i c a l c h o r d . I n t h e s p a c e ( o f time
a n d p l a c e ) b e t w e e n t h e w o r d s e x c e p t — e x c e p t t h e
p o e m s e e m s t o " b r e a k o p e n " w i t h t h e s o u n d a n d f ee l
o f t h e c r a c k i n g o f t h e s p e a k e r ' s ( a n d t h e r e a d e r ' s )
v o i c e o v e r- f i l l ed w i t h e m o t i o n . T h e b r e a k i n g o f t h e
l i n e j u s t b e f o r e i t s final w o r d c r e a t e s a n e f f e c t i n w h i c h
t h e s e c o n d " e x c e p t " s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n r e l e a s e d f r o m
i t s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a ll t h a t p r e c e d e s i t a n d t o f lu i d ly ,
b u t f o r c e f u l l y " p o u r o v e r " t h e e d g e o f t h e l i n e i n t o t h e
s e c o n d l i n e o f t h e s t a n z a . I n t h i s w a y , t h e r e is i n t h e
m o v e m e n t o f t h e l a n g u a g e i t se l f a s e n s e o f t h e o v e r
f l o w i n g o f a b o u n d a r y a f t e r a l o n g p e r i o d o f c o n f i n e
m e n t . ( T h e e n j a m b m e n t
4
o f e a c h o f t h e f i r s t t h r e e
l i n e s o f t h e f inal s t a n z a c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e s e n s e o f
4. "E njam bm ent" is the con t inu at ion of the e n d of a l ine of
poetry into the next without a pause .
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Listening: Three Frost Poems
261
s t r o n g f o r w a r d m o v e m e n t . ) I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e first t w o
s t a n z a s , t h e t o n e i n t h e f i r s t
l ine-and-a-hal f
o f t h e f i n a l
s t a n z a is o n e o f d e t e r m i n e d ( p e r h a p s e v e n
q u i e d y
j o y
f u l ) d e f i a n c e . W h a t is b e i n g w i t h h e l d f r o m tim e is n o t
s i m p l y " w h a t I h a v e h e l d " b u t " w h a t I m y s e l f h a v e
h e l d . " T h e w o r d he ld l o c a t e s t h e s p e a k i n g v o i c e
s q u a r e l y i n t h e p h y s i c a l w o r l d o f f e l t, p a l p a b l e t h i n g s
a n d p e o p l e ( a n d , b y m e t a p h o r i c a l e x t e n s i o n , t h e
w o r l d o f i n t e n s e l y f e l t e m o t i o n s , f e e l i n g s , i d e a s , a n d
b e l i e f s ) . T h e s p e a k i n g v o i c e is t h a t o f a m a n p a s s i o n
a t e l y l a y i n g c l a i m t o w h a t is m o s t
sac red
t o h i m . A t t h i s
p o i n t i n t h e p o e m w e a r e v e r y f a r f r o m t h e r a t h e r a l o o f
c o s m o l o g i c a l i r o n y c o n v e y e d b y s u c h w o r d s as " p l a n e
t a r y c h a n g e o f s t y le . "
A p a s s i o n a t e v o i c e i n t h e first p e r s o n is a r a r e e v e n t
i n F r o s t ' s p o e t r y . H e r e g u l a r l y s h i e s a w a y f r o m s u c h a
d i s p l a y b y m i x i n g p a s s i o n w i t h i r o n y a n d w i t (a s i n t h e
o p e n i n g t w o s t a n z a s o f t h i s p o e m ) . T h e p o e m i ts e l f is a
risk b e i n g t a k e n b y t h e p o e t i n t h e v e r y a c t o f s p e a k i n g
i n a p a s s i o n a t e , first-person v o i c e ( o u t s i d e o f t h e p r o
t e c t i v e c o v e r o f i r o n y , w i t , a m b i g u i t y , a n d t h e l i k e ) ; t h e
p o e m c o u l d e as i l y d e g e n e r a t e i n t o s o p h o m o r i c s e n t i
m e n t a l i t y a n d s e l f - a g g r a n d i z e m e n t . ( F ew p o e t s h a v e
m o r e a s s i d u o u s l y g u a r d e d a g a i n s t s u c h a d e v e l o p m e n t
t h a n d i d F r o s t i n h i s p r i m e . )
T h e p o e m is n o t " a b o u t " t h e t h i n g s h e l d m o s t
s a c r e d o r e v e n " a b o u t " t h e f e e l i n g o f
h o l d i n g
s o m e
t h i n g s a c r e d . T h e p o e m
is
w h a t is h e l d m o s t s a c r e d .
W h a t i t is t h a t m a k e s p o e t r y m o s t s a c r e d is
shown
t o u s
i n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f " s a y i n g " t h e l i n e s . H o w c o u l d i t b e
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Listening: Three
Frost
Poems
263
m u s i c o f t h e w o r d s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e is i n t h e t h i r d
l i n e o f t h e l a s t s t a n z a a n e x t r a u n s t r e s s e d s y l la b l e t h a t
s l o w s t h e p a c e o f t h e l i n e a n d h e l p s t o c r e a t e i n t h e l a n
g u a g e t h e s e n s e o f c a u t i o n a n d d a n g e r a s t h e f i g u r e i n
t h e m e t a p h o r q u i e t l y s li p s p a s t t h e s l e e p i n g C u s t o m s
o f fi ce r . I n t h e f o l l o w i n g l i n e , t h e s e n t e n c e s o m e w h a t
a w k w a r d l y e n d s m i d l i n e w i t h a p r e p o s i t i o n : " I h a v e
c r o s s e d t o s a f e ty w i t h . " T h e s o u n d o f t h e w o r d s , w i t h
t h e i r o w n i m p e r f e c t t e m p o , c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e c r e a t i o n
o f a s e n s e o f p e r s o n a l tim e ( o r d i n a r y a n d y e t
i m m e n s e l y p o w e r f u l ) t h a t r e p l a c e s t h e i m p e r s o n a l
T i m e t h a t o c c u p i e s t h e f ir st t w o s t a n z a s . T i m e , d e e p l y
p e r s o n a l tim e, t h a t is b e i n g c r e a t e d i n t h e l a n g u a g e o f
t h e f i n a l s t a n z a is t h e tim e w i t h w h i c h w e s t r u g g l e i n
o u r e f f o r t s t o r e m a i n g e n u i n e l y a l i v e a n d n o t s i m p l y liv
i n g . A l t h o u g h tim e is b y n o m e a n s d e f e a t e d i n t h i s
p o e m , t h e r h y t h m s a n d c a d e n c e s o f t h e p o e m a r e
t h e m s e l v e s e v i d e n c e t h a t a p o e m , a p o e t , a r e a d e r o f
p o e t r y m i g h t " d o s o m e t h i n g w i t h t im e" w h e n u s i n g i t t o
c r e a t e t h e t e m p o s o f m u s i c o r p o e t r y o r s p e e c h o r t h e
t e m p o
o f t h e
s h a p e o f a li fe .
T o b o r r o w f r o m W i l l i a m J a m e s ( 1 8 9 0 , p p . 2 4 5 -
2 4 6 ) , t h e o p e n i n g p a r t o f t h e f in a l s t a n z a m i g h t b e
t h o u g h t o f a s t h e c r e a t i o n / e x p r e s s i o n o f a " f e e l i n g o f
b u t " ( " B u t w h y d e c l a r e t h e t h i n g s f o r b i d d e n " ) t h a t
b e c o m e s i n t h e c l o s i n g l i n e s o f t h e p o e m a s " f e e l i n g o f
f o r " a n d a " f e e l i n g o f w i t h . "
F o r I a m T h e r e ,
A n d w h a t I w o u l d n o t p a r t w i t h I h a v e k e p t .
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264
Reverie
and Interpretation
T h e f e e l i n g o f " w i t h " t h a t is c r e a t e d i n t h e s e final
l i n e s o f t h e p o e m is m u c h q u i e t e r t h a n w h a t p r e c e d e s
i t . T h e r e
is
a s e n s e t h a t a s t h e s p e a k e r h a s a g e d ( a n d a s
t h e p o e m h a s b e e n r e a d ) , a g r e a t d e a l , b u t n o t ev e ry
t h i n g h a s b e e n lo s t: " A n d w h a t I w o u l d n o t p a r t w i t h I
h a v e k e p t . " T h e " f e e l i n g o f w i t h " c a r r i e s a s e n s e o f a
c a l m , b u t v it al c o n n e c t i o n w i t h , a s o p p o s e d t o a t ri
u m p h o v e r , time. T h e r e c a n b e n o t r i u m p h s w h e n i t
c o m e s t o t i m e .
T h e . three F r o s t p o e m s t h a t I h a v e d i s c u s s e d d i f f e r
g r e a d y
f r o m o n e a n o t h e r i n t h e i r f o r m a n d t h e a s p e c t
o f t h e h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e t h a t e a c h a d d r e s s e s . A n d y e t
t h e r e is a p o w e r f u l u n i t y t h a t u n d e r l i e s t h e i r d i f f e r
e n c e s . E a c h o f t h e s e p o e m s ( o r r a t h e r t h e r e a d e r ' s
e x p e r i e n c e o f e a c h p o e m )
is
t h e l i v in g e v e n t t h a t t h e
p o e m a d d r e s s e s , w h e t h e r t h a t b e a p a r t i c u l a r e x p e r i
e n c e o f t h e l o v e o f m a k i n g a n d l i s t e n i n g t o p o e t r y , o r
t h e s t r u g g l e f o r
a n d
a g a i n s t w o r d s t o b e a r
wi tness
t o
u n s p e a k a b l e e x p e r i e n c e , o r t h e e f f o r t t o k e e p a l i ve i n
o n e s e l f w h a t is h e l d m o s t s a c r e d o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f a
l i f e . I n e a c h i n s t a n c e , t h e p o e m is n o t a b o u t a n e x p e r i
e n c e ; t h e l i f e o f t h e p o e m is t h e e x p e r i e n c e .
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I n d e x
Acting-in,
86
Aliveness
in analysis, 4-6,
8,23,146-147
examples of , 26-63
need to res tore , 103
experience of , 15-19
in language, 12-13, 204,
229-230
lack of , 219-224
pat ient ' s a t tempts a t , 52-53
in poetry, 241
and risk taking, 100-101
Altman, L., 138
on Freud ' s fundamenta l
rule,
129
Amnions,
A.R.
on l iving language, 5
on usefulness of poetry, 236
Analysand. 5ee
also
Intersubjective analytic
third
and ownership of dreams,
140-141
privacy of, 129-131
Analysis, 7-9, 219
analysand's shaping of , 36-
42, 45-49
of dream s, 137-154
essential elements of,
17,
111,116-118
fantasies of ideal, 45-49, 52-
53, 223
fee l ing unheard in , 14-15
language for , 201-231
of pervers ion, 67-104
quality of, 4-7, 23
aliveness vs. dead ness in ,
23, 34-35
rules of, 45, 129
in exam ple of pervers ion,
75-76
fundamenta l , 119-131
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278
Analysis (continued)
use of couch in, 110-119
using reveries in, 76-77,
157-197
Analyst. See also
Intersubjective analytic
third; Reveries
death of, 10-11
feeling of deadn ess, 124 -128
freedom to think, 24-25
and fundamental rule of
analysis, 132-133
language of , 217-224
process notes of, 43-44
realness
of, 1 1-1 2 ,2 5
Analytic objects, 79, 87
as react ion to emotional
deadness , 29 , 31 ,62-
63
reveries as, 161-162
Ange r
toward analyst, 56-59,166-
168
in t ransference-counter-
transference, 184
Anxiety
about connec tedness , 57
analyst 's, 93-94
and emot iona l deadness ,
28-2 9, 31
interpre ta t ion of , 148-151
in reveries, 77-80
transference-counter-
t ransference , 217
and use of couch, 115
Autism, as personali ty
c o m p o n e n t , 5 4 - 6 2
Index
Autist ic shapes, created with
language, 229
Balint,
M.,
211
Baranger, M., on analytic
third, 109
Bio n, W.R.
on analytic objects, 29, 79,
162
on analytic process, 47
on projective
identifications, 24
on reverie, 9, 76, 108, 133,
137, 157
on unders tanding , 208
Blechner, M., on dreams, 141
Bollas, C , 25
Bonime, W., 138
B o r e d o m
of analyst,
46,145-149
and lack of sexuality,
178-
179
Borges, J .L., 23
Boyer, L.B.
on reverie, 158
on tell ing of dreams, 151
Br it ton, R., on lack of
aliveness, 99
BrodskyJ.,
235, 238
Brower, R.,
206-208,
236
Casem ent , P ., 25
Chasseguet-Smirgel.J.
on existing outside laws, 101
on lies, 102
on pervers ion, 70-71
on sexuality, 92
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Index
279
Chinatown, 72, 91
Coltart , N.
on analyst's free do m to
th ink , 24-25
on analytic process,
161
on laughing at pat ient ' s
jokes , 49
on si lence, 130
Consu l ta t ions / superv i s ions
in te rpre ta t ions in ,
50-52
need fo r ,
15
using process notes in , 43-
44
Contempt , 36, 41, 196
C o n t r o l / p o w e r ,
176-177,
186
and impo tence , 90
and isolat ion, 55-59
C o u c h ,
use
of, 110-119
Counter t rans ference , 27 . See
also T r a n s f e r e n c e -
coun t e r t r ans fe rence
analysis of, 78-79
as p ar t of total s i tuat ion , 47
and realness of analyst, 25
Curiosity
about analyst ,
47-48,
57 -59
and emot iona l deadness , 29
Deadness , emot ional , 3-4 . See
also
Aliveness
in analysis,
24,124-128
causes of, 25, 54-62
in dreams of paralysis, 85-86
enac tment o f , 27-29
fear of, 97
perv ersion as defen se against,
6 8 - 7 1 , 8 3 , 9 2 - 9 3
Death, of analyst,
10-11
Defenses
character , 44
agains t connec tedness , 57-
5 8 , 6 2
against deadness, 29, 31,
37-38, 69-71, 83, 87
interference by, 216-217
in narrat ives, 210-211
perverse , 69-71 ,83 , 87
radical psychic discon nec tion
as, 87-9 0
range of , 97-98
ruminat ions as , 177-178
therapist 's , 29, 31,44
De pend ence , on t he rap is t , vs.
wa rm th, 55, 57
Disconnect ion
f rom o ther peop le , 58-59
from own narrat ives, 87,
170, 194
psychic, 87-90
an d psychic absenc e,
210-211
and psych ic numbing , 186-
187
Dreaded even t , 85-86
Dreams ,
80-81,
137-154, 174-
176,179-180
Duncan, R. , 142
Eliot, T.S., 239
Embar ra s s men t
ab ou t voyeurism, 81-86, 94—
95
fear
of,
180,195
Emerson, R.W., on language,
219
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280
Emot iona l deadness .
See
Aliveness; Deadness,
emot iona l
Emotions, lack of, 33-34
E n a c t m e n t
of deadness , 27-29
of fantasies, 100
of transference, 99, 115
Engagement, in analysis, 215
Envy, of par en ta l interco urse ,
99-100
Epstein, G., 129
Etchegoyen, H. , 138
on Freud ' s fundamenta l
rule, 120
Exc i t emen t
an d need to be no t i c ed , 87 -
88
search for , 100-102
and transference-counter-
transference,
37,70-71
and voyeurism, 82, 83-86
vs.
de ad ne ss o f sexuality,
92-93,96
Exper ience
and aliveness, 15-19, 264
fluidity of, 246-247
of intersubjective analytic
third, 110
limitations to, 181-182,
196-197
reduc ing , 216-217
self-imposed,
18-19
and uses of language, 4-6,
205-207, 219, 225-226
Experimenta t ion, in analysis ,
7 - 9
Index
Fantasies
ofanalyst,36,78,186
about pa t ien t , 164-165,
182-183
of ideal analysis, 45-48
involvement in , 91-92
paranoid-schizoid, 59-60
of parenta l intercourse , 83,
99-100,102
in pervers ion, 75-76, 78
Faulkner, W., 19
Faust
(Goe the ) , 15 -18
Feelings, lack of , 33-34
Fenichel , O. , on use of couch
in analysis, 115
Flannery.J., on reverie, 158
Frank, A., on use of couch in
analysis, 115
Frayn, D., on reverie, 158
Free associations.
See also
Reveries
of analyst, 149-150
and dreams, 138-139, 151-
154
as fun dam enta l rule of
analysis, 45-46,132-
133
French, T. , 138
Fre ud , S.
on d reams , 138,151, 153
on elem ents of psychoanalysis,
111-112
fundamental rule of , 108,
1 1 9 - 1 2 0 , 1 2 3 , 1 3 2 - 1 3 3
on l istening, 12, 113
on psychic disconnect ion,
87
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Index
281
on t ransference , 227
on the unconscious, 68,
1 0 9 - 1 1 0 , 1 1 8 , 2 1 5
Fromm, E., 138
Frost, R., 153, 163
on ear t ra ining, 209
on l iving speech, 3, 6, 12-14
poems of , 236-264
Fundamental rule of analysis ,
119-133
Gaddini, E. , 182
Galler, F., 120
Garma, A., 138
Gill, M., on Freud's
fundamenta l ru le ,
129'
Goethe,J.W., on exper ienc e of
aliveness,15-18
Goldberger, M., on use of
couch in analysis, 115
Gray, P. , 138-139
G reen, A , 161
on analytic objects, 29, 79,
162
on analytic third, 109
on emot iona l deadness ,
25
Greenson, R. , 138
on Freud ' s fundamenta l
rule, 122
Grotstein, J. , 117
as analysa nd, 208
on dreams, 141, 188
"Home Buria l" (Frost) , 247-
258
Hope lessness , 87,100, 173-174
H u m a n n e s s .
See also
Inhumanness
and defenses , 216-217
increasing,
15-17,109,
121
and language , 208-209
"I Could Give All to Time"
(Frost) , 258-264
Ideal iza t ion, 52-53
Imagina t ion
of l isteners, 13- 14
need for, 3
Inhumanness , and
disconnec t ion , 58-60 , 90
Intellectualization, as defense,
97-98
Internal object world, 112, 154
analyst 's, 188-190
reproduction of in analysis,
223-224
Internal iza t ion, of depressed
mothe r , 25
Interpretation of Dreams, T he
(Freud) , 119-120
Interpre ta t ions, 71
by analysan d, 175, 221 -22 3
from analyst 's experiences,
158-159
deferr ing, 46, 49-50
in different schools of
analysis, 220-221
of dream s, 138-139,151^152
hidden intents in , 147-150,
165
pseudo, 175, 183-184
respo nses to, 57, 62, 85-86,
191-192
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282
In t e rp re t a t ions (continued)
in t ransference-counter-
t ransference dynamic ,
167-169
using reveries in, 132, 160
Intersubjective analytic third,
9-11,29-31,109-110
creation of, 24, 116-119
dreams as, 139—154
as essential element of
psychoanalysis, 111,
116-119
an d o w nership of reveries ,
159-160
and pervers ion of
t ransference-counter-
t ransference , 68-70,
103-104
purposes of , 63, 223-224
unconscious,
78-80,188-191
Isakower, O., on analyst 's
consciousness, 140
Isolation, 88
benefits of, 55-56,122, 192
created with language, 229-
230
ernpathywith, 172-173,175,
187
Jacobson.J.,
on use of cou ch in
analysis,
115
James, H. , 207-208, 220
on art of fiction, 7, 8
language of ,
211-214
James,
W., 186
on use of language, 6 , 225-
227,263
Index
Jarre l l ,
R,
on Frost ' s poetry, 237-238
on reverie, 158
Jokes, analyst laughing at
analysand's , 49-50
Jones , A, 250
Joseph, B., 214
on pervers ion, 71
on t ransfe rence ,
47,97,130,
227
Khan ,
M.M.R.
on dreams, 153
on lack of aliveness, 99
on pervers ion, 70 *
Klein, M., 227
on lack of aliveness, 99
on transference, 47, 97,
227
Klein, S., o n autistic
componen t s , 54
Language
aliveness of, 3-6
for analysis, 11-15, 201-231
effects created with,
225-
230,235-264
for verbalizing internal
object world, 112
Latent content .
See
Manifest
vs. late nt co nt en t
Lawrence, D.H. , on
consciousness, 224
Leavis, F.R., 20 9
Lebovici, S., 161
Lew in, B., o n analyst 's
consciousness, 140
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Index
283
LichtenbergJ.,
120
on use of couch in analysis,
115
Lis tening
analysis as, 12, 113
to poems , 235-264
Loewald, H. , on counter-
t ransference, 78
Lonel iness
and awareness of isolat ion,
172-173,175,187-188
defenses against , 87-88
sadness about, 40, 42
Love
in analys t /analysand
re lati on sh ip , 59—61
lack of feeling of, 34
recogni t ion of ,
180,195
Lustmann, S. , 138
Malco lm,
R
on analytic relat ionship, 214
on perversion, 67, 71
Manifest vs. l a ten t con ten t , 7 2 -
74, 90-91
of dreams, 138-139
of reveries, 160
M cDougal l , J .
on enactments , 100
on lack of aliveness, 99
on sexuality, 70
Mean ing
creation of, 218
by analyst , 31- 33, 37- 38,
42
out of reveries,
160-161
of dreams, 153
thro ug h usages of languag e,
214-215
Meares, R., 25
Meltzer, D.
on lack of aliveness, 99
on
perversion, 67, 71
M itchell, S., 25
M ortality, inability of pe op le to
experience, 18
"Most of
It,
The" (Fros t ) , 239-
241
Narratives, 170, 228
cleverness of,
74-76,91,
9 5 -
96
defenses in, 210-211
pointless, 28-29, 31-32
as retelli ng a life, 96-97
Numbness , psychic . See
Psychic numbness
Observa t ion /voyeur i sm
embarrassment about , 78 ,
81-85
erot ic ism in , 94-95
and need to be no t iced , 87-
88
Ogden , T .
on analytic objects, 29, 79
on analytic relat ionship, 214
on analytic third, 30,
69-70,
108,
109,137,
141 -
142,159,
223
on austic com pon ents,
54,61
on autist ic shapes, 229
on counter t rans ference ,
78-
79
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284
on desire , 102
on dialectically consti tuted
psychoanalysis, 131
on isolation, 122
on process notes , 43
on reverie, 123
on transference, 47, 76, 97
on t ransference-counter-
transference, 90, 99
O m n i p o t e n c e , 5 5 - 5 9
analyst's, 166
and pervers ion , 70-71
O'Shaughnessy, E., on lack of
aliveness, 99
Peltz, R., on analyst's dream s, 143
Percept ions, dis t inguishing
reality of, 40-41
Perverse individuals
analysis of, 67-104
and deals with selves,
17-18
Phill ips, A , 7
Physical symptoms
as avoidance of thought , 88
as resp on se to pat ients , 182-
183
Poirier, R.
and Brower ,
206-207,
236
on Frost ' s poetry, 237-238
Pontalis.J.B., 153
Portrait of a Lady
(James),
211-214
Power , 176-177,186
and impotence , 90
and i so la t ion , 55-59
Principles of Psychology
(James), 225-227
Index
Pri tchard, W., 238
on ear t ra ining, 209
Privacy, in analytic process,
121-124
importance of , 125W128,
154
for reveries, 158-159
and use of cou ch,
110-115,
117-118
Process notes , contents of , 43-
44, 47-48
Project ion, and impersonal
anger , 57
Projective identification, 24,
42, 223
Psychic disc on nec t ion , radical ,
87 -90 .
See
also
Disconnec t ion
Psychic numbness
analyst's, 186-188
reveries in, 171-172
Psychopathology
as collapse of dialectical
tension, 124
as self-limitation of
aliveness, 18-19
Rangell, L., 138
Reality
dis t inguishing, 40-^11
isolation from, 100-101
uncerta inty about , 192
Realness vs. neutrality, 25
Recogni t ion , moment of , 59-
60, 81 -82 , 98
Rela t ionships
analytic, 59-61, 214
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Index
285
emo t iona l deadness in , 54 -
62
Resignation, to status quo,
165-166
Resistance
as e lement of
psychoanalysis, 111
over saying everything, 129-
131
Retelling a life,
96-97. See also
Narratives
Reveries, 9, 93,107,187. See
also
Free associations
al lowing unconscious, 112-
1 1 5 , 1 3 2 - 1 3 3
dreams in, 153
in example of pervers ion,
76-77
mainta ining, 50, 53, 123-
128, 154
recording in process notes ,
47-48
and use of couch in analysis,
117-119
uses of, 62-63, 157-197
Rilke, R.M.,
107
Sadness , 196-197
identifying, 181
reach ing th rough
deadness , 39-40, 42
Sandler,
J .
on dreams, 141
on use of unconscious,
8 8
Schafer, R., on retelling a life,
96
Searles, H ., o n role of
analysand, 189
Secrets, effect of having, 91-92
Segal, H., 138
Sexuality, 99
adul t vs. im m atu re , 73-74 ,
82,
91-92,95
promiscui ty, 87-88
in reveries, 178-179
in t ransference-counter-
t ransference , 36-38,
70-71,93-94
Shared menta l space , of
analyst and analysand, 9-
11. See also Inter
subjective analytic third
Sharpe, E., 138
Silence
benefits of, 123, 185
and in te rpre ta t ions , 85-86
and lack of, 75
toleration of, 97
t ransfe rence through, 130
"Silken Tent, The" (Frost),
241-247
Sound and the Fury, The
(Faulkner) , 19
Spillius, E.B., on analytic
re la t ionship, 214
Spontane i ty
in interpre ta t ion of dreams,
151-152
lack of, 75-76, 95-96 , 124-
128
loss
of , 1 83-1 84
m ainta in ing , 46, 48,50-53
vs. clev erne ss, 9 3
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286
Index