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Dr. Seuss\u2019 case history of the Grinch presents him as \u201cuncheerful, unhealthy, unclean.\u201d We hope that adding an analytic perspective will be helpful in understanding this clinical condition. Alfred Adler would note the inferiority complex underlying the Grinch\u2019s defensive attempt at superiority and power, and Melanie Klein would detect infantile rage and envy. Freud might diagnose the Grinch with Thanatos, the death drive, evidenced in his sadistic attack on Who-ville. Additional obsessive-compulsive traits impelled him to steal every toy, treat, and tree. Dr. Jung\u2019s archetypal perspective notes the absence of eros, affirming Dr. Seuss\u2019 summation of the Grinch\u2019s disorder: \u201chis heart was two sizes too small.\u201d Fortunately, the community of Who-ville provided treatment: demonstrating that \u201cChristmas came just the same\u201d grew the Grinch\u2019s pinched heart three sizes that day. No matter how you celebrate this holiday season, we\u2014and the Grinch--wish you irresistible moments of joy.

\xa0Here\u2019s the dream we analyze:

\u201cMy male housemate and I were on a train, being taunted by two teenage boys. The train stopped in the middle of a grassy clearing in the forest, near a cliff-face. As we were leaving the train, the two boys rudely brushed past us, and then I lost my temper and, in a heavily-worded outburst, told them to get lost. They then ran away toward a corner in the cliff-face. At that moment, an old man appeared from behind the train, with a hunting rifle, who I felt was on my side. The old man was dressed as a hunter with a European hunting hat and had a dog following him. He chased after the boys and disappeared around the corner. When I caught up with them, the boys had run up to the top of a hill and were standing there with an old woman and a dog of their own while we watched with the old man from the bottom of the hill. I somehow knew that the woman was the old hunter\u2019s wife of many years and that the two loved each other deeply. There was a brief standoff. Then suddenly, one of the boys took out a handgun and executed the wife, taunting the old man. He then shot the old man\u2019s dog. The old man broke into tears of heartbreak, then retaliated by shooting the boys\u2019 own dog before vowing to get revenge on the boys themselves. My housemate and I were standing on the sidelines watching the conflict. I woke up, feeling uneasy before either side won the coming battle.\u201d

REFERENCES:

Dr. Seuss. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394800796/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_3DKX1HK491XGEA6A314E

\xa0RESOURCES:

Learn to Analyze your own Dreams: https://thisjungianlife.com/enroll/