“The Moral Science Genie” is applied here to the analysis of a patient’s poem. This patient had difficulty sharing her feelings directly.
The Poem:
The storm clouds are moving ever so swiftly
I wish they wouldn't go, they are my friends.
They cloak me from my fears
Nay, they reinforce my fears
But they are ever so comforting.
They seem to hide me from the world.
I hide behind them as I hide behind my glasses.
It is said the eyes are the mirror of the soul
I must be hiding my innermost self
Is that self so bad it needs to be held in secret?
Do I fear it will erupt like Dorian Gray?
His soul became warped, his body remained pure
His was a life of duplicity and, yes, fear
Alas, mine is so too.
| Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Stress | The storm clouds symbolize both friends and fear, representing the speaker's stress. These clouds cloak the speaker's fears and insecurities, reflecting internal conflict. |
| Response | The speaker wishes for the clouds not to go, signifying an active response to stress. The speaker clings to familiar fears and hides behind glasses, attempting avoidance. |
| Anxiety | The fear of being uncloaked reflects the anxiety of self-exposure. The reference to Dorian Gray highlights the fear of the darker self being revealed, manifesting inner anxiety. |
| Defense | The compulsive need to please, behave perfectly, and remain quiet are defensive mechanisms to cope with judgment and maintain an acceptable social image. |
| Reversal | The speaker reflects on their upbringing, questioning the origins of their defensive behaviors. The term "Uselessity" marks a turning point, signaling self-evaluation. |
| Compromise | The closing lines suggest an acknowledgment of ingrained behaviors. Though unresolved, there is openness to understanding and reconciling the conflict between conformity and self-expression. |
My fears of being uncloaked show up here.
Breaking up of the clouds alarmed me –
the world would then see me as I truly was -- a sum of nothing:
I'm always worried about what others may think.
I am compulsed to be well-behaved and fall in place
I must please, please, please.
All must be perfect, perfect, perfect.
Do not create waves my dear, Be quiet and demure.
I don't, I am. What a waste.
How did I grow to be a pleaser?
I was brought up to be sweet and kind
You must never be rude - it's not nice
Others always come first,
that must be so I don't remember the lessons,
But I did learn very well
Otherwise, why am I so?
| Relational Modality | Characterization |
|---|---|
| Submissive Cooperative | The speaker shows submissive compliance to societal and familial expectations. The internal conflict between the true self and the external persona reflects this modality. |
| Antagonism vs. Cooperation | The internal struggle is between the speaker's true self and the persona they present, torn between self-alienation and the desire for mutual respect and acceptance. |
Uselessity
I must have been born docile and pliable
Indelible impressions were cast on me.
Squished and squashed.
Mother was teacher, Father was god
Force did not exist, words did their job
Why must I be perfect? I'm certainly not.
Memories are so rare, is that repression?
Or a defense mechanism to maintain my sanity?
Again an "ity" - mediocrity, stupidity, on and on
Tonight is me - uselessity.