Chapter 28. São Paulo 1978. Clinical Seminars

Presenter: The patient has been in analysis with me for almost five years. This session took place four months ago. He started by asking if I had read a certain psychoanalytic book. He said, “It's a very good book and I noted several interesting things. It's very good indeed, but I haven't read it all because there are parts I'm not interested in. There is a part which described a duel – this is very interesting indeed because last Saturday I almost didn't go out – I was so tired I had to rest. Do you understand? I had to rest.” I said, “You started on one idea, interrupted it, and then went on telling me about something else.” He said, “Well, all right. Because I only read the part that interested me – because I noticed that – and because I rested on Saturday, I felt it was important.” I said, “I think we are having a duel here too.” He said, “Yes, but it's very difficult because what is happening is as if there were several situations which are superimposed.” I replied, “You feel that if you don't try to tell me what is happening inside you, you will become confused.” After a short silence he said, “When you speak I feel as if you had left a mark, like Z does.” (Z is a character who wears a black mask, rides a horse and leaves his mark, Z.) I said, “He is a man who fights injustice.” The patient laughed. “He cuts the braces of the sergeant's trousers and leaves the enemy with no clothes. That is why you make me feel irritated.” I reminded him, “But the person he attacks is also a friend of his.” The patient laughed again and said, “Oh yes, I quite agree – the sergeant is a fool.” I said, “For you a friend is a fool – perhaps that is why you don't show friendly feelings towards me here.” Then he fell silent.

Bion: If the patient says, in effect, that he is going to pick and choose what to listen to, one could say, “Well, I hope you will be able to choose the right things. I can see that I may be telling you some

things that you don't want to learn or to hear or t