The Magic Cloak—a Critical Review*

This is a collection of various essays, presented from a unified point of view suggested by the title. The magic cloak is like a character role that an individual takes on, the way an actor plays a part. But the individual is not aware of the fact that he is only impersonating; he cannot see through his own camouflage. The magic cloak may appear in the choice of a profession that is particularly suitable because it corresponds to the requirements of one's unconscious phantasies fixed in childhood. The person who feels insecure and needs a sense of security cannot pretend to omnipotence or the power of magic. The world tolerates no such pretenses. He must therefore assume a role where a display of authority is acceptable, as a policeman, a teacher or some position that permits a show of authority over others. The magic cloak represents a retreat to infancy when the necessity to take refuge in a disguise first appears. The purpose of the disguise is to counteract fear and achieve a feeling of security. If the child cannot cope with a dangerous enemy, he identifies himself with the enemy; if he cannot conquer, at least in phantasy, he achieves an illusion of mastery. He can even fuse with the danger; he becomes the danger himself and thereby controls it, for he alone has the power to allow danger to appear. When that happens he is also, in his phantasies, the policeman who imprisons danger. In that way fear is done away with and security is obtained. Whatever one identifies himself with to gain a feeling of security is a magic cloak; it is a symbol of refuge. To feel secure and to avoid anxiety the infant works out a certain behavior toward his mother. A pattern is determined that is followed by the adult long after the originating causes have been forgotten. Thereby energy is fixed and the individual is limited in his freedom to react spontaneously. The personality is narrowed down to a “tight little world,” and the individual is forever re-enacting the dictates of hi