Thoughts of the Collective Psychology presents several explanations for instances of indecision and the iconic angelic and fiendish voices inside the mind. The concept of dualism and fragmentation of the mind has existed since Aristotle and Plato, but Robert Louis Stevenson captured the quintessential belief behind dualism in his novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Mr. Jekyll explores the duality of a human mind through theoretical experiments which eventually produce two antagonistic personalities, yet he guesses “that man will be ultimately known for a mere policy of multifarious, incongruous and independent denizens” (Stevenson 43). However, Jekyll’s experiments only provided two aspects of humanity, the kind, earnest appearance
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IM’s society instilled conformity in him through examples such as his grandfather and parents as well as the praise and rewards of powerful, white men, and even blinded him to other possibilities. He willfully ignored his grandfather’s advice and confession that the docility was a front, a treachery against society. IM only considered the fact that “what puzzled [him] was that the old man had defined it as treachery” (Ellison 17) and failed to understand the insinuation of duplicity. Thus, IM exhibits his ignorance of the undercurrents flowing through society while also displaying the immediate desire for conformity he learned from his social surroundings. His lack of understanding critically affects his development as he constantly suppresses internal voices that debate the decency of his treatment. Consequently, IM’s suppression of his natural tendencies inspires a prodigious conflict within his thoughts that isolates the various innate and indoctrinated factions in his mind. After the explosion at Liberty Paints, IM experiences an existential crisis predicated upon the conflict between his internalized thoughts and his external actions as he tries to define himself. However, IM notices that while speaking to the doctor he “could hear [him]self replying fluently, though inside [he] was reeling with swiftly changing emotional images that shrilled and chattered” (Ellison 246). In spite of the shattered mental image provided by the discordant diction of “shrilled and chattered”, IM does not vary or falter in his response to the doctor, accentuating his separation of externality and his internal thoughts evident in the image of IM experiencing his body as from a distance. The immediacy and clarity of IM’s answers signifies his unconscious compliance towards this
IM’s society instilled conformity in him through examples such as his grandfather and parents as well as the praise and rewards of powerful, white men, and even blinded him to other possibilities. He willfully ignored his grandfather’s advice and confession that the docility was a front, a treachery against society. IM only considered the fact that “what puzzled [him] was that the old man had defined it as treachery” (Ellison 17) and failed to understand the insinuation of duplicity. Thus, IM exhibits his ignorance of the undercurrents flowing through society while also displaying the immediate desire for conformity he learned from his social surroundings. His lack of understanding critically affects his development as he constantly suppresses internal voices that debate the decency of his treatment. Consequently, IM’s suppression of his natural tendencies inspires a prodigious conflict within his thoughts that isolates the various innate and indoctrinated factions in his mind. After the explosion at Liberty Paints, IM experiences an existential crisis predicated upon the conflict between his internalized thoughts and his external actions as he tries to define himself. However, IM notices that while speaking to the doctor he “could hear [him]self replying fluently, though inside [he] was reeling with swiftly changing emotional images that shrilled and chattered” (Ellison 246). In spite of the shattered mental image provided by the discordant diction of “shrilled and chattered”, IM does not vary or falter in his response to the doctor, accentuating his separation of externality and his internal thoughts evident in the image of IM experiencing his body as from a distance. The immediacy and clarity of IM’s answers signifies his unconscious compliance towards this