Dear reader,
In Donald Trump, I see a man obsessed with death but unaware of his obsession with death.
What clinched it was his recent rallies. They were literally invitations to infection. The life-affirming had become death-affirming, and the tragic gulf between Trump’s awareness and his actions was palpable. So I began to think about malignant narcissism and the death wish.
I would love to hear from knowledgeable psychoanalysts or psychiatrists or therapists who have insight into this. I would like to hear your speculations on how the coronavirus pandemic would function in the deranged psyche of a malignant narcissist. (To tell the truth, the term “malignant narcissist” just struck me when I began glancing through the research. I’m not even sure exactly what it is. It just has a kind of resonance …)
Also: About those letters …
[email protected]
As I said, I have no new letters to answer.
Long after I left Salon.com, the letters continued to grow, like the fingernails of a dead man, . (OK, I know the fingernails of a dead man don’t actually continue to grow. Or do they?) The letters are no longer growing so I have created a page to lay out the case for why you should send me letters and also tell your friends to send me letters. I have also added a new item to the site’s menu titled, “Write Me A Letter,” which is intended to serve as a sort of clue to what I would like to you do.
You see!? I’m being clear about what I want and am asking for it! Almost like a grownup! Not beating around the bush or anything!
For, luckily, unlike the president, I am not a malignant narcissist. I am not so mentally deranged that I cannot look at the situation and take reasonable steps. In fact, I’m very nearly sane! I am not a madman! I am not bent on destroying the world and myself in ways that I myself am not even dimly aware of! I’m almost normal!
Meanwhile, this has been a letterless column.
Ciao. Talk to you soon! –ct
Cary, I was taking my mother and father-in-law home from my son’s still on going wedding party. My mom is a horrible person, my father-in-law suffering from Alzheimers. Long story short, no taxi was a available I opted to take them home. I made small talk with my mom all the while knowing I would never see her again. In that state of mind I felt I was in another state of mind ‘dark power’ is a good way to describe it. It’s a kind of state of mind where you feel all powerful – you have someone else life In your hands. I meant her no harm just wanted her out of my life finally. She was a narcissist. I went through many years of therapy to survive my mother.
I really enjoyed reading this, Cary. I first had a counselor who was also a pastor tell me that he always used Trump as the textbook example of malignant narcissism. So I think you are right on about that label. Also, I think malignant narcissists have something in common with people engaging in “dark play”, taking risks with theirs or others lives to show that they are immune to fear or death.
Thanks, that accords with my feeling that he is “taking risks with theirs or others lives to show that they are immune to fear or death.”