Sixth Session

Richard's mother had brought him to the house1 because he was too frightened of children to come by himself. He told Mrs K. this, and then there was a long silence.

Mrs K. referred to her interpretation of yesterday's material (Note I), when the robin had stood for his genital which he wished to put into her genital; but he had been very frightened of this wish, particularly because he had become afraid of being attacked by the tramp-father. His fear of being alone with Mrs K. in what he felt to be a dangerous situation was the reason why his fear of hostile children on the way to Mrs K. had so much increased; having his mother bring him to the playroom was also a reassurance that nothing wrong would happen between him and Mrs K. Since he was going home for the weekend after this session, he felt that his wishes towards his mother might lead to his father attacking him. He needed a good mother all the more to protect him against the hostile children and the hostile Daddy. But in so far as she (now represented by Mrs K.) roused his desires, she was also dangerous.

Richard had been looking at the map. He spoke of ‘lonely Rumania’ and enlarged on the disruption in other countries.

Mrs K. interpreted Richard's concern about the disruption in his family if his desires to have Mummy all to himself were to be satisfied. This would make him afraid of both Daddy and Paul, which was shown by his increased fear of the children on the road. Also, if Mummy loved him best and he displaced Daddy, Daddy would be lonely and unhappy.

Richard, looking pained and worried, said he did not wish to hear such unpleasant things. After a silence he asked about John: he was not all right yet, was he? When would he be all right?

Mrs K. interpreted Richard's doubts in her and in analysis; could it be helpful since it brought up such unpleasant and frightening thoughts? He also feared that if he had sexual desires he must be very bad indeed and could not be helped. This also s