Page:Jung - The psychology of dementia praecox.djvu/157

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PARANOID DEMENTIA AS A PARADIGM.
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demanded that they should have always the same linen and clothing and never the smallest coin he was always for war, for battle—all cruelties, which these battles legalize—to cause, I suffer under Gessler, he is a tyrant, there are people who are quite inadmissible, of unnatural lack of reason and bloody cruelty. For three fourths of a year I should have had trimmings on my coat—it was only not given to me, that is Gessler, yes, Gessler—bloody cruelty.

Patient uses the word "Gessler" just as she used "Hufeland" as a technical term, with which she distinguishes the petty disturbances of everyday asylum life, under which she imagines she suffers. The tertium comparationis, which this metaphor has taken from "William Tell" is the humility which Gessler exacted from the people. It is interesting to see how this thought immediately blends with the personal vexations of the patient. Gessler does not demand of the people to greet the set up hat, but "to have always the same linen and the same dresses." Patient then assimilated completely the scene from William Tell to her own complex.

9. Schiller's bell (stereotype: "I am Schiller's bell and the monopoly"): That is then—as Schiller's bell I am also the monopoly—Schiller's bell is in need of immediate help—he who achieved this is in need of immediate help—belong to the highest title of the world—includes the greatest conclusion in itself—is in need of immediate help. All who affirm this are at the end of life and have worked themselves to death—immediate help is necessary. Schiller is the most celebrated poet—for example William Tell is the greatest tragedy—I suffer under Gessler—that is really famous—the poem, the bell—this really affirms the whole creation—creation of the world—this is the greatest conclusion. Schiller's bell is the creation—the highest conclusion—that is a state's groundpostament—the world should now be in the best of conditions—we have examined everything so practically and so thoroughly. Schiller's bell is the creation—the work of powerful masters—the world was helped out of misery—it should be in the best conditions.

As can be readily seen the tertium comparationis is the greatness of the accomplishment. Schiller's masterpiece is the Bell; the patient too has created something exceedingly great, hence