Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 3-4.djvu/5

 flying-dreams. He was flying alone in the open, or in a room full of onlookers, and in this way took a narcissistic delight in his body, determined by regression of feeling. In connection with these dreams too, only scarce memories could be collected; they were not related to his real environment, but served purely as an expression of the tension current within him. Neither this nor the first type of dream occurred again during the many months of analysis; I must therefore regard them as a means of compensation or adaptation to the treatment.

After such diverse interludes, l was at last able to induce a thoroughgoing discussion of the circumstances which formed the occasion of his falling ill. Nevertheless the results of this must be postponed in favour of the characterology of the patient as hitherto established. Taken together, both thereafter constituted the actual programme of work of the analysis.

The patient gave one the impression of a self-confident and methodical man, working with a view to consolidation of his circumstances. Several changes of occupation, which I shall describe more closely below, had enabled him steadily to improve his standard of living; and taking an energetic part in aims common to his rank for the time being, he was yet able to further his own interests. He was now the leader of his group of workers in social and political questions, and his words carried weight. At the same time, he showed great moderation in his views, and was good at propagating them among his fellows. In such wise he had found it possible to sublimate a great part of his homosexual libido and hold it in equilibrium. Herein moreover his marked conceit was rooted. He appeared to be gifted as a speaker; his style tended towards expletives and pithy expression, and he could turn a phrase with most amusing effect. However, he thought thoroughly sensibly, and every action evidently followed mature consideration. Men of his sort have no true sense of style, they are deficient in the observational factor of the process of thought, and may be said to think by action. He showed moreover an insatiable desire for education, but in the absence of suitable authoritative guidance he had become self-taught, and so combined some originality with considerable oddity. Thus for years he had kept copies of everything that interested him, and so had collected a manuscript library. From time to time he would transfer these notes—poems, newspaper articles on various