Careful scrutiny of this legendary case causes the writer to postulate that this woman's psychosis (now seen as a schizophrenic rather than a hysteric) was released by the loss of the symbiotic relationship with her father. The power of this attachment is equated with the disillusionment that the child feels in a mother. To transcend the lack of feminine identity, fusion with a man, a father substitute, was necessary. In order to live through a man, she had first to captivate him, so Anna gave the only gift she was able to give—her marvelously creative mind. She did this by giving Breuer the opportunity to fathom the fascinating concepts of the unconscious. An explanation is offered for Anna's pseudocyesis and Breuer's sudden discontinuation of treatment. Breuer's reluctance to publish his findings is also discussed.