Id, Ego, Super Ego... Of Mice and Men
Id, Ego, and Mice Over Men
The story, “Of Mice and Men” is a greatly appreciated book throughout the perspective of many. But only some truly understand the meaning behind it. In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, two characters, Lennie and George, go through a list of journeys to conquer their one and only dream. This dream is to have a farm all to themselves with no worries, no one to bother them, and to live a peaceful life. Like a dream should be, this is far from what their reality actually is. George and Lennie soon find on their journey that difficult decisions need to be made although there will be consequences.
As some already may know, the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud created the most unique and brilliant theories known to man. One out of his many theories state that the human psyche has more than one aspect. In fact, he believes that there are three main parts that a human generates over time. The first part is called the id, an unsophisticated, impulsive part of one’s life. This certain part supposedly makes decisions without thinking, demands immediate satisfaction, and operates the pleasure principle, which seeks good or bad attention like a newborn child.
Second, is known as the ego. The ego as Freud states, “Is that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world” (Freud 1923). So in other words, the ego is a more mature version of the id. This section of one’s life seeks pleasure just as much as the id, yet the ego is precautious and aware of the consequences and “pain” it may cause. “Often the ego is weak relative to the head-strong id and the best the ego can do is stay on, pointing the id in the right direction and claiming some credit at the end as if the action were its own. It has no concept of right or wrong; so something is good simply if it achieves its end of satisfying without causing harm to itself or to the id” (McLeod).
Lastly, the super ego is superior to
The story, “Of Mice and Men” is a greatly appreciated book throughout the perspective of many. But only some truly understand the meaning behind it. In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, two characters, Lennie and George, go through a list of journeys to conquer their one and only dream. This dream is to have a farm all to themselves with no worries, no one to bother them, and to live a peaceful life. Like a dream should be, this is far from what their reality actually is. George and Lennie soon find on their journey that difficult decisions need to be made although there will be consequences.
As some already may know, the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud created the most unique and brilliant theories known to man. One out of his many theories state that the human psyche has more than one aspect. In fact, he believes that there are three main parts that a human generates over time. The first part is called the id, an unsophisticated, impulsive part of one’s life. This certain part supposedly makes decisions without thinking, demands immediate satisfaction, and operates the pleasure principle, which seeks good or bad attention like a newborn child.
Second, is known as the ego. The ego as Freud states, “Is that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world” (Freud 1923). So in other words, the ego is a more mature version of the id. This section of one’s life seeks pleasure just as much as the id, yet the ego is precautious and aware of the consequences and “pain” it may cause. “Often the ego is weak relative to the head-strong id and the best the ego can do is stay on, pointing the id in the right direction and claiming some credit at the end as if the action were its own. It has no concept of right or wrong; so something is good simply if it achieves its end of satisfying without causing harm to itself or to the id” (McLeod).
Lastly, the super ego is superior to
Cited: Freud, S. (1920). Beyond the Pleasure Principle. SE, 18: 1-64. Freud, S. (1923). The Ego and the Id. SE, 19: 1-66. McLeod, S. A. (2008). Id Ego Superego, Simply Psychology. http://www.simplypsychology.org/psyche.html Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men, New York: Penguin Group, 1993 (book)