“Now is the winter of our discontentAll is well in the kingdom. Too well. Richard doesn’t have much to distract him, so he decides to while away the days with a little ‘game of villainy’ designed to ease his brother off and himself on, to the throne. Why not? At the very least, the game will be amusing.
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that lowered upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths,
Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front…
He capers nimbly in a lady’s chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.
But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass…
Why, I in this weak piping time of peace
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun
And descant on mine own deformity.
And therefore since I cannot prove a lover
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.”
Friday, September 7, 2012
Sociopaths in Shakespeare: Richard III
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The only thing about Dick's speech is the black and white thinking of: if it ain't good...then it's bad. That shows an acceptance of society's version of balance that I'm not sure is compatible with sociopaths. But mostly, one of the best first ways to tell the difference between a sociopath, (anti-social or what-have-you) and personality disorders such as borderline and narcissism is that black and white thinking that is so prominent in the personality disorders doesn't usually exist or isn't as strong in sociopaths. It's a grey world, too grey for some.
ReplyDeleteI guess you could have a black and white thinking sociopath, depending on what other pathologies are present. I have a personal theory that you live up to your name, and with a name like Dick, what else are you going to do? Sarah's my middle name, my first name is Awesome...so point made there.
Hmm . . . this is interesting, I'll have to revisit Richard III.
ReplyDeleteSurprised M.E. didn't quote one of Iago's soliloquies, he's prolly Shakespeare's purest sociopath.
And Edmund, from King Lear.
DeleteHow does the sociopath cure his existential boredom? She plays ‘the villain’ of course. lol
ReplyDeleteSo Sarah, would you say that 'Dick' is more of a villain as opposed to simply amoral?
ReplyDeleteDaniel,
ReplyDeleteIsn't part of moral relativism or being amoral, not really being able to recognize yourself as a villain? It's a little like the antidote "If you think you might be crazy, then you're not. Only crazy people never doubt their sanity". Would someone who is amoral see the difference between lover and villain? Or I guess, probably more on point, would they see a choice between the two?
I suppose not believing in the choice is for all practical purposes the same thing as not seeing the choice. I for instance, can see that other people see certain things as immoral or even villainous, and I could use those adjectives to describe myself when doing those things. But I’d be doing so with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. I don’t actually believe the terms immoral and villainous are the most accurate descriptors of thought, action and emotion, so in that sense I wouldn’t see, no? Is that what you’re referring to Sarah?
ReplyDeleteSarah, I think it depends on the nature of your "villain."
ReplyDeleteI think a sociopathic evil-doer may happily recognize themselves as a villain, though without placing any emotional significance on the word. They might even be proud.
An individual who is merely disturbed would probably not see himself as a villain. In that case, I think he would see his victims, or the world at large, as the villains.
I think Shakespeare's version of Richard III was a slapstick satire of a certain type of public figure who existed in profusion circa 1591 when the play was written, though certainly not exclusively then, since we see these kind of grotesque, Faustian nerds erupting up from obscurity to the halls of power all the time - Ahmadinejad and Sarkozi spring to mind.
ReplyDelete-Dr Whom
WOW... no 2012?
ReplyDeleteYOU are 2012.
DeleteCongratulations Tom *bells and whistles*
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Zhawq August 30, 2012 2:02 AM
HA! Bull's eye! ;)
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ReplyDeleteTEEHEE, MEE NO KNO IF HEES DAD CAN MAEK IT SO WEE WOOLD
LIKE SOMEONE TOO GIVE HEEM AWAY TOO MEE TEEHEE IT'S
TRADITIONAL TEEHEE
TEEHEEEE ZHAWQ, WILL YUU GIVE DA BRIED (UKAN) AWAY TOO MEE? TEEHEE, MEE NO KNO IF HEES DAD CAN MAEK IT SO WEE WOOLD LIKE SOMEONE TOO GIVE HEEM AWAY TOO MEE TEEHEE IT'S TRADITIONAL TEEHEE
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Zhawq August 30, 2012 2:02 AM
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Wow I leave for a little while and the trolls get nuttier than fucking ever. Yeesh. Can't say as I missed that.
ReplyDeleteHello Haven. :)
DeleteHow you doing beautiful?
Hi there. I'm doing as well as can be expected I suppose. How are you, doll?
DeleteYeah, I'm feeling alright. What have you been doing? I haven't seen you in a while, I think.
DeleteThe first and most important, perhaps, thing to remember is that you cannot think your way out of a PD. You may try with all your might. You may go to shrinks galore. You may wish with all your heart( and I suspect you do) However, one cannot think oneself free of a PD.
ReplyDeleteA PD is an edifice, such as one would find in a building. It is built up by bricks or stone such as one would find on a house. One cannot simply dismember the stones and expect to have one's house.
It will be a pile of rubble and one will be worse off, than before.
How do we heal a PD? By experiencing all the emotions we pushed away. There is no other way. There is no easier way. It can be done, as I am doing it, but the path is one few would be willing to take.
The first and most important, perhaps, thing to remember is that you cannot think your way out of a PD
DeleteI think you're right with this part, Heals. It's all well and good to reflect and come to see the neurotic defences going on but pd's are on a different level. The defenses have become the structure itself. Because this occurred during the formative years the development of various parts of the brain, such as empathy and emotion, may be affected. One cannot revert to a biological state of physical immaturity and redevelop those areas. PD's are ultimately doomed to remain disordered.
Thank you Anon
DeleteI think you understand me but I beg to differ with the doomed part. Right Brain Trauma Theory says that one CAN break down these old constructs. However, the key is that they must break down in the realm of the emotions, not the thoughts i.e right brain versus left.
In a practical way, one must cry one's way to a dissolution of a PD. However, it will not be mere crying. It will be sobbing such that you think your guts will fall out~
Then are you truly ever healed? An addict becomes aware of the addiction and can resist the urges, but they will always be an addict. You may be aware of your PD, but if part of what makes you you is your PD, and your PD effects your ability to care... you will know that you don't care, you may make a decision based on your knowledge that you don't care... but in the end you still don't care. Relationships will always be an issue. Are you ever truly healed?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think I can define healed. It is an acceptance of oneself ROOTED IN REALITY. This is the key and the hardest part. It is a paradox, too. One cannot see who one is when one has a PD. However, one must see oneself, in order to heal.
DeleteHow does one bridge the dilemma?
Right brain trauma theory!
To put it in a word, one must re-experience all the pain. Then, one will go backward in time, emotionally, to before one was hurt. Then, one was "normal". One was normal before one put up the defenses, which Western Medicine calls a PD.
One must take the journey back in time to one's pristine self. The price is pain with the fire of hell.
I'm just not buying this... and I know you'll say the PD keeps me from being able to even see the sale going on so how could I buy it. Defense Mechanisms are rooted into our survival instincts, why would I want to weaken my chances of survival by getting rid of my defenses? Without the mechanisms needed to defend how will I survive?
DeleteThat is a brilliant question, Tom. It shows me that you have been following what I have been saying. Yes, that question is the crux of what I am saying.
DeleteWhy would you want to get rid of/reduce the defense mechanisms? Because they have become a prison in which you are stifled. Because, you may be a flower who is closed off from the dirt and who is dying on the pavement.
If these conditions do not exist, you would not want to try. Agreed <3
Academy Award Series
ReplyDelete"Mid Life Crisis Award" Goes to.............
The Midlife Crisis Award Goes to Tim Hill who allowed SW into his life, his family and his soul because he wants to find out who he is. Kudos
DeleteThank you... Thank you... I would first and foremost like to thank the people who have mattered the most in my life, the people ho have assisted in making me ME! So, with out further ado as I accept this very prestigious award, I would love to thank:
DeleteMe, me, ME,mE, Myself, Moi, Numero Uno, and of course "I".
Your Welcome...
Themes resigns. Themes has other things going on with his life. Good luck to you all.
DeleteThemes
One last one.
DeleteFor being the worst judge of character and most insignificant, passive-aggressive sufferer of small penis syndrome, the Asshole of SW Award goes to...
Themes!!!
Delete:( you're hurting my feelings!!! Glad I'm quitting this job.
DeletePromises, promises
DeleteCan dish it out, but can't take it Themes?
Themes has his official blog symbol. If you don't see that, it is not the real and authentic Themes. Know it, feel it, LOVE it.
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^Watch this quickly before it gets pulled.
DeleteGood job Anon 7:44
Delete