The Ego Is The Component Of Personality That Deals With Reality

The epic poem, “The Iliad,” written by the Greek poet Homer, contains many occurrences of the psychologist Freud’s approach of the three systems of Superego, Id, and Ego. Superego, the little angel on one’s shoulder, is considered to be the voice of our moral compass (conscience) that speaks from the unconscious mind on the difference between real and ideal situations. It strives for perfection with tracking what we ought to behave like. Id, opposite to Superego, is the little devil on the other side of one’s shoulder. Its unconscious energy strives to satisfy the basic drives to survive, reproduce, and aggress. To balance these two systems, the Ego becomes the mediator and compromiser to keep both content. One’s Ego focuses on responses to the real world, stemming from the reality principle. It contains our partly conscious perceptions, thoughts, judgements, and memories.

The desire for power and not getting the desired power will often cause major conflicts. In the case of Jack, he will do anything to have the power he wants, even if that means lie about the current leader, Ralph. As Jack talks about Ralph he says, “He is not a proper chief… He is a coward himself. (page 176).” He goes on to say, “Who thinks Ralph oughtn’t to be chief ? (page

Ralph’s character embodies the ego. The ego is the rational aspect of the mind. Ralph’s rationality is exhibited in his role as leader. He focuses on the idea of being rescued and organizes the fires as a mode of getting the attention of a rescue ship. He works on building shelters for the members of the tribe. He attempts to keep meetings organized and establishes the role of the conch to keep order. Ralph makes the decisions for the good of the group. He holds debates and always aims to have the group stick together, despite Jack’s constant attempts to break

Throughout chapter 6, Ralph becomes a more forceful leader as a result of his people become less civilized. Ralph seems desperate for his people to listen to him and as if he can’t get everyone together. For example, when everyone is saying they want to stay near the rock fort, Golding writes, “I say we’ll go on!’ shouted Ralph furiously,” (108). By Ralph “shouting furiously”, we see the weight of authority taking a toll on Ralph through the desperation in his tone. In this chapter, it becomes clear Ralph is getting tired of his responsibility as chief. When walking in a line, he let’s Jack lead the way. Golding says, “Ralph walked in the rear, thankful to have escaped responsibility for a time,” (103). Allegorically, if Ralph symbolizes civility and Jack symbolizes savagery, Ralph surrendering temporary leadership

The ego is the mediator between the id and the circumstances of the external world to aid their interaction. The ego represents reason in contrast to the id. Freud called the ego ich, which translates to English as “I”. The ego follows the reality principal. The ego does not exist independently of the id. The ego exists to help the id, and is constantly striving to bring about satisfaction of the id’s instincts. If the ego fails to keep a balance with the id and superego, a person may have difficulty

Ralph and Jack begin the novel with similar beliefs, both wanting to implement rules. “I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them.” But then the wanting of power from Jack comes to- Ralph

The ego is the part of the mind that represents consciousness. It employs reason, common sense, and the power to delay immediate responses to external stimuli (Storr). When making a decision, the ego balances out both needs of the id and the superego. In Freud’s own words, “It performs that task by gaining control over the demands of the instincts, by deciding whether they are to be allowed satisfaction, by postponing that satisfaction or suppressing their excitations entirely,” (Freud). Being a stereotypical earnest

“ “Shut up,” said Ralph absently. He lifted the couch. “Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things around here.” (Chapter 1, Page 22) Ralph immediately notices the boys need some leadership his natural choice is to help guide these boys. He, however, lacks this responsibility. He doesn't continue to command respect from the boys. Ralph grows up faster in the book due to Jack. Later Jack breaks the tribe apart with his appealingly savage ways. Jack ended up establishing a hunting tribe. Once the tribe breaks Ralph tries to bring it back together, but since he didn’t have solid leadership skills even though he might have developed some compassion. He tries to convince Jack that he is still in charge and has power over the boys. The changes Ralph undergoes, from self-centered to group centered, doesn't reflect the island as a whole. They are all too elated to abandon the trappings of society.

In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, author Golding uses Ralph the main protagonist in the story as a symbol to represent Freud's concept of ego to show its effects one oneself and its surroundings. In Lord of the Flies William Golding uses Ralph as a symbol for ego to show how it can be a very helpful trait in regular day life and for survival if used in the proper sense. An example of Ralph’s ego is when he takes control of the haphazard situation on the island and takes the conch and says “We've got to have rules and obey them. After all,

However “ ‘ I ought to be chief,’ said Jack with simple arrogance, because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.” (Pg18) Jack will hardly adopt others’ suggestions and he wants everything in controlled. Jack is like a dictator but Ralph is more civilized from he always thinking about the others and the rescue.

Ralph is the character that represents the ego and he is in control of the boys in the beginning of the book. He is elected chief of the island: "Him with the shell. Ralph! Ralph! Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing. Ralph raised his hand for silence" (22) and already has power over the boys even right after he is chosen. He also is influenced by Simon, Piggy, and Jack. He listens to the superego when Piggy tells him to blow the conch in the beginning and listens to the id when he Ralph feasts with Jack and takes part in killing Simon. The reader is able to see that Ralph relied on the superego when, at the end of the book, both Simon and Piggy are dead and he is being chased, he asks himself "What was the sensible thing to do? There was no Piggy to talk sense" (196). Ralph relies on others to help him make decisions and is influenced by what other people say and do. He is also the one in control of the boys for most of the book. These are both traits of the ego. These characters in the book all help represent the human

A central tenet of classical psychoanalytic or psychodynamic theory is that three mental statues—id, ego, and superego play a major role in normal and pathological personality development. Traditionally, the id has been conceptualized as the source of drives and impulses, whereas the superego represents both the idealized self and conscience or moral code, and the ego is responsible of rational, reality-orientated thought. Early experiences help determine the developing child’s ego strength—the degree to which the ego carries our reality testing functions and deals effectively with impulses. Consequently, adequate parenting and minimal trauma or disruption enables the child to devote considerable psychic energy to developing good reality testing skills and acquiring effective self control strategies (Bronstein, 2005).

Secondly, Ralph is not only a rational leader but also a moral person, who cleverly keeps the fairness in his group. “Ralph, looking more understanding at Piggy, saw that he was hurt and crushed. He hovered between the two courses of apology or further insult ‘Better Piggy than Fatty” (25). Ralph is sincere and considerate for other people. He apparently understand their feeling and particularly shows his sympathy for Piggy. Ralph is sensible enough to realize that everyone deserves to be respected. He believes no one should have to put up with being tormented. Ralph gently gains others’ support by treating them equally, showing his compassion and ability to empathize with them. Opposite to Ralph, Jack is immoral, violent and condescending. “He’s going to beat Wilfred” (159). He does not care or understand the natural equality of

Freud’s structural and topographical model of personality, revolves around the id, ego and superego (McLeod, 2008). As a newborn, I was born with my id which allowed me to get my basic needs met. As an infant, I would cry if I was hungry or tired or just wanted to be held, I did not think of anyone else. The second part of my personality started around when I was three years old, and according to Freud this is when I began to develop my ego. An example of this would be if I was hungry I would want to satisfy my id, but at the

Freud defines one’s ego as a part of the mind which constrains the id to reality, and is the “referee” between the superego and id. People with borderline personality disorder externally scatter and internally contradict their concept of themselves. Kernberg states, "borderlines can describe themselves for five hours without your getting a realistic picture of what they're like."