A metaphorical reality

The drum of heartbeats

Chapter 11 A metaphorical reality

The study of psychology grew as a science under the guide of the pioneer in the field, the Austrian doctor, Sigmund Freud. Today it forms a basic guide to the study of the eros and psyche impulses of the human condition.

Charles had always been a pro-Freud advocate while Bob was a pro-Jung supporter. However, both researchers provided good support for each other's theories and is today applied in a mix of content regarding the human psyche.

In general, Freud's theories are considered the study of the male psyche while Jung's contributions bring great understanding to the behavior of women. Freud focused on archetypes while Jung contributed to the understanding of the social self. Curiously it was Jung who refined the studies by Freud on the archetypes, a view that is not supported by Freud's definitions of his work.

Today, an average human experience is expected to comprise a combination of the metaphorical and physical experiences. When separated, these can produce experiences that comprise the sensations of ecstasy in the individual, identified as Eros impulses or birth impulses and the opposite sensations of suffering that is identified as Anteros that is tragic and is identified with the death impulse.

They were discussing the data collected from the survey, two weeks later, when Bob suddenly threw the survey results on the table and walked out of the tent. Charles followed him outside.

In the month following the bear attack, Bob was displaying an uncharacteristic attitude of lethargy and loss of focus in the work. This placed some unusual pressures on Susan who tried to substitute for his loss of meaning and purpose by cultivating him into a cuddle. That wasn't too hard to do with Bob. His appeal, where it was an archetype of a Roman god, had given way to a young Jason who seemed to be in self doubts.

Charles had thought it was a new style but there was something deeper. When asked about Charles's future plans, he had replied that he may not pursue a commercial interest in the project but may take a job with an Asian university to search his roots. Susan had joked then that the Charles's tenure at the university may pass on to Bob, to which Bob had glowed in rage.

“You okay?” asked Charles.

“I'm looking at it plain as day,” Bob answered. “ I had a fright with the bear, but what the heck, I'm looking at every shadow, every movement in the trees......this isn't what I am,” he said emphatically.

“Its could be delayed response syndrome, the kind that Vietnam vets dealt with when they returned,” Charles suggested.

“What's the remedy?” he asked.

“It depends on whether there are other destabilizing factors in the individual. The simplest is to take up hunting and face up to a recurrence of the event and overcome it.”

“The worst?”

“The shock of birth encounter. That could be undertaken in many forms, from a re-baptizing experience, to engaging in a war, dropping out, drugs or enter a new faith.” Charles spoke thoughtfully. “The variations of the experience depend on the external stimulus.”

Bob was pacing beside the fire, stopping to stare into it and then pacing again.

“When the research is finished, you ought to be able to reorganize your interests a little. There's good money in branding and government programs.”

“Why are you giving up the branding?” he asked.

“I have a previous engagement.” Charles replied. “I've always known that my demons were waiting for an opportunity to express themselves. So I made an early discovery of the issues and we came to an understanding regarding matters. When I was convinced that the project would bring in big money, I lost my defenses. I can't go on postponing the inevitable. I figure I'll take on a two year contract in India or some place and sweat it out.”

“Just like that?” Bob exclaimed.

“If I fight it, which is usually in the form of a denial, it'll drag me through the mud and find a way to humiliate me. Its karma, the result of our past actions. You've got to pay the piper sometime.”

They sat there and pulled on their cigarettes. After a while, he said,

“Its too much to give away. I'll have to fight it.”

Charles listened to him, betraying no emotion other than biting on his jaw.

“Arthur Conan Doyle,” he began,” he said, when you have examined all the possibilities and found them to be false, then the one remaining option, no matter how incredulous, must be the only true course of action.”

“It refers to madness,” Bob said.

“It cuts the bonds that bind you,” Charles answered.

Bob stared at the ground in front of him.

“My father and mother divorced when I was 12. I didn't realize what the concept was. He's married someone half his age. I feel like the guy who rolled a rock up a hill, let it fall and roll it up again, incessantly. Its always been the chase, not quite getting anywhere. Now I have to learn something new.”

They heard a car and looked up as Susan slowed down to stop. She alighted and waved a piece of paper at them.

“We got it,” she exclaimed.

It was the Unmarked Graves Act of the state of Delaware. They had been digging around the community housing area when they discovered another grave site. They figured it was an older practice to bury them above the housing area. It was an act of veneration. They had applied and received approval for another pit at the new site.

“Work beckons,” called Charles getting up.

“And so it does,” replied Bob, and stopped the pacing.

Reviews

[patricia]

I am a Jung more than a Freud fan myself, and found it surprising to read the gender observations here.
I liked all the self analysis that went on in this chapter, and the way you switched back to the project so expertly.
Another very interesting chapter. It triggered thought of Post traumatic shock syndrome for me, which I have been meaning for a while to research. Thankyou.