Narcissus & Echo: The Modern Tragedy of Narcissism

Introduction: People Trapped in Mirror Prisons

Modern society is called the 'Age of Narcissism'. Selfie culture of SNS, craving for validation, and increasing Narcissists. Narcissus in mythology is a beautiful boy who died falling in love with his reflection in the water. But psychologically, he didn't die because he loved himself too much, but because he didn't know how to love himself.

Act 1: Echo, The Tragedy of Miming Others

Echo, the nymph who loved Narcissus, was cursed by Hera to "only repeat the last words of others". She has no Voice (Ontology).

• Psychological Meaning: Codependency. This characterizes partners of narcissists. They erase their own needs and only React to the other. "If you are happy, I am happy" is not love but loss of Self.

Act 2: Narcissus, The Unreachable Illusion

Narcissus rejects all courtship. He is haughty and cold. One day he falls in love with his reflection in a spring. If he tries to kiss it, it scatters in ripples; if he retreats, it reappears.

• Fixation at Mirror Stage: Lacan and Kohut viewed narcissism as a fixation on infantile omnipotence.
• Real Tragedy: He doesn't know the image in the water is 'Me'. He thinks he fell in love with Someone Else (Image), not knowing it is himself. This is the extreme of Self-Alienation.

Deep Dive: Healthy vs Pathological Narcissism

Pathological Narcissism (The False Self)

• Inner core Self-esteem is empty.
• Thus constantly craves external praise (Mirroring). (Bottomless pit)
• Views others only as tools (Self-objects).

Healthy Narcissism (Self-Love)

• Knows one's own value.
• Makes one resilient to others' criticism.
• Respects others as independent personalities.

Narcissus's death means losing vitality by clinging to a vain image (False Self). A daffodil (Narcissus) bloomed where he died. A flower bowing its head. This implies true resurrection is possible only through Death (Ego Death).

Practical Application: Exit from Narcissism

1. For Echoes: Find your voice. Don't repeat the other's tail words. Practice using 'I' as the subject: "I hate this", "I want this". If you disappear, the other cannot love you either. No one loves an empty shell.
2. For Narcissuses: Break the mirror (Image). 'Likes' on Instagram or praise from others cannot fill your soul. When you embrace your shabby and ugly sides (Shadow), you won't drown in water but stand on the ground.

Conclusion: Others are Not Hell but Mirrors

Sartre said "Hell is other people," but psychologically Others are Mirrors. Narcissus died in isolation because he only looked at the mirror and not others. Echo disappeared in emptiness because she only looked at others and not the mirror.

We must love ourselves and simultaneously connect with others. Meet as Substance, not as Image.

References:

• Ovid, Metamorphoses
• Heinz Kohut, The Analysis of the Self
• Alexander Lowen, Narcissism: Denial of the True Self