Narcissus – The Dangers of Self-Obsession

Introduction

Narcissism is not merely a personality disorder, but a profound psychological construct deeply embedded in myth, history, and contemporary politics. The myth of Narcissus and Echo, as told by Ovid, offers a powerful allegory for understanding the dynamics of narcissism, particularly in figures of immense influence. Donald Trump serves as a modern embodiment of Narcissus—obsessed with his image, dependent on admiration, and incapable of true self-reflection. Meanwhile, his followers, political allies, and even adversaries often play the role of Echo, repeating his words, reinforcing his self-perception, and losing their individual voices in the process.

Recent psychological analyses highlight how Trump’s need for admiration outweighs any genuine desire for approval. As cognitive neuroscientist Ian Robertson explains, the narcissist’s ego is like an electric car with a limited range—it must be continually recharged by external validation. Trump’s rallies, social media engagement, and even his foreign policy decisions function as his “charging stations.” His infamous quote—“They all eat, they all love me, they all kiss my ass. And then they all leave and say, ‘Isn’t he horrible.’ But I’m the king”—exemplifies the way he views relationships as transactional, seeking admiration rather than genuine connection. This pathological need for affirmation, coupled with his grandiose self-perception, makes him a textbook case of narcissism, as outlined in the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental disorders (DSM-5):

DSM-5 describes Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) as possessing at least five of the following nine criteria.

1. A grandiose sense of self-importance (exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
2. Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. Believing that they are “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. Requiring excessive admiration
5. A sense of entitlement (unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with their expectations)
6. Being interpersonally exploitative (taking advantage of others to achieve their own ends)
7. Lacking empathy (unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others)
8. Often being envious of others or believing that others are envious of them
9. Showing arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

Trump’s behavior exemplifies many of these traits. He often exhibits a grandiose sense of self-importance, such as claiming that he won the 2020 election by a landslide despite losing, and he regularly expects to be recognized as superior without achieving commensurate accomplishments. His preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success and power is evident in his repeated assertions that he alone can “save” America.

He even claims that God saved him from an assassination attempt that a young man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was harassed at school and depressed, made on him, even though we all realized that the young man had organized a suicide by cop (SbC, yes unfortunately there is a term for it, it happens much too often). It supports Trumps’ belief in being “special”: saved by God. 

Trump requires excessive admiration, often measuring his success by crowd sizes and social media engagement. The Dutch Nato Secretary Mark Rutte, known as the Trump whisperer, was chosen by Joe Biden because he has a minimum of political boundaries and is always ready to give praise and compliments. He was even allowed to sit behind the desk in the oval office. But when Rutte met Trump, Trump acted like he was the one who appointed Rutte.   

Trump’s entitlement manifests in his demands for unwavering loyalty from allies and his outrage when challenged. He has been interpersonally exploitative, leveraging his influence over followers to fund his legal battles.

His lack of empathy is apparent in his dismissive attitude toward COVID-19 victims and veterans like Senator John McCain, whom he mocked for being a prisoner of war.

He often expresses envy, accusing others of being jealous of him, and displays arrogant, haughty behaviors in his interactions, ridiculing opponents with demeaning nicknames. 

Narcissus and Echo

From a Jungian perspective, narcissism is not merely a personality disorder, but a complex psychological condition rooted in a deep imbalance between the ego and the Self. The narcissist constructs a grandiose, false self to protect against feelings of emptiness or inadequacy, creating a mask that hides the deeper vulnerabilities. This inflated self-image serves as a defense mechanism, compensating for an unconscious sense of unworthiness. Jungian psychology sees this as an exaggerated identification with the persona (the mask one presents to the world) at the expense of individuation—the process of integrating the unconscious elements of the psyche. A key part of individuation involves confronting the shadow—the fears, insecurities, and vulnerabilities that the narcissist denies. The narcissist’s refusal to face the shadow is what keeps them trapped in an illusion of superiority, unable to truly integrate the Self.

The myth of Narcissus and Echo provides a vivid illustration of these psychological dynamics. Told in Book III of Metamorphoses by Ovid, the story unfolds the tragic interplay between two characters who embody different aspects of the human psyche, mirroring the complex dynamics at play in narcissism. 

The Myth of Narcissus and Echo 

The myth begins with Echo, a mountain nymph from Mount Cithaeron, who was blessed with a beautiful voice but cursed by the goddess Juno*. Echo had the gift of talking endlessly and distracting Juno by engaging her in long conversations while her husband, Jupiter*, had affairs with other nymphs. However, when Echo tricked Juno into believing that Jupiter was in the city, the goddess cursed her. Echo was condemned to only repeat the last words spoken by others. No longer able to initiate her own speech, Echo was forced to exist as a mere reflection of other people’s words, a perpetual echo of what others said. Narcissus, on the other hand, was a handsome and proud hunter, beloved by many, but indifferent to the affections of those who admired him. Born to Liriope, a Naiad, and Cephissus, a river god, his fate was foretold by the prophet Tiresias, who predicted that Narcissus would live a long life—so long as he never “knew himself.” Echo, upon seeing Narcissus while he was hunting, immediately fell in love with him. Unable to speak her heart, Echo followed him from a distance, longing for a connection that she could not express. One day, Narcissus wandered away from his companions and called out, “Is anyone there?” Echo, unable to initiate her speech, repeated his words. Narcissus, hearing his own voice returned, answered, “Come here!” Echo, believing that her love was reciprocated, rushed to Narcissus, only to be rejected with harsh words: “Hands off! May I die before you enjoy my body.” Heartbroken, Echo withdrew, and her love for Narcissus grew even more intense. The other nymphs, seeing her suffering, prayed to Nemesis, the goddess of retribution, to punish Narcissus. Nemesis caused him to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Narcissus became entranced by the image of his own beauty, unable to recognize that it was merely a reflection of himself. Eventually, he wasted away, dying in the same spot where he gazed at his reflection. In his final moments, he uttered, “Oh marvelous boy, I loved you in vain, farewell,” and Echo echoed his words, “Farewell.” When Narcissus was buried, there was no body—only a six-petalled white flower, now known as the narcissus, left in his place. Echo, too, began to waste away. Though she was immortal, her body faded, her bones turned to stone, and all that remained was the sound of her voice—a mere echo of what once was. This tragic myth encapsulates the core dynamics of narcissism and the consequences of an imbalanced ego. Narcissus, with his self-absorbed fixation on his own reflection, mirrors the grandiose narcissist. Echo, whose voice becomes a mere repetition of others, represents the fragmented self that is unable to find its own voice, dependent on external validation.

*Juno is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Goddess Hera
*Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of the Greek God Zeus

The Symbolism in the Myth

It has always been a captivating story that inspired many artists. Let’s take a closer look at the symbols used in this myth:

• Echo who originally possesses the act of making conversation flow. She’s an extravert. Funny engaging, she’s someone who lights up a party. But she is also a role model for what we now know as an “enabler”: she lets Zeus use her to distract Juno with empty talk. She has not used her gift of words to honor the truth. She gets a karmic punishment: from now on, she is only able to repeat the words she hears, making her a little boring as a companion. Echo is someone who has lost her own voice, just like all the world leaders that come to the White House to visit Trump only repeat what he wants to hear.
• Tiresias, the prophet who foresaw Narcissus’s fate. A famous clairvoyant who was struck blind by the Gods. In some mythological tales because he had seen Athena bathing and Athena got angry  and cursed him; in other stories because in an argument between Jupiter and Juno about whether man or women enjoyed sex more he said women.  According to the myth, Tiresias had been transformed into a woman for seven years after striking a pair of mating snakes. During this time, he lived as a woman, experiencing the world from a different perspective. When he later encountered the same snakes again, he struck them once more and was transformed back into a man. This unique experience made him the perfect judge in the debate between Jupiter and Juno. Jupiter claimed that women experience more pleasure than men, while Juno disagreed. Tiresias, having lived as both genders, sided with Zeus, affirming that women experience greater pleasure. Enraged, Hera struck him blind. As compensation, Jupiter granted him the gift of prophecy, making him one of the most famous seers in Greek mythology. So here is a guy/girl that got the best of both worlds, turned blind so his inner vision could grow. It reminds me of Odin who sacrificed an eye, got inner vision, and was able to safe his people.Like Tiresias, Odin, the Norse Allfather, undergoes a profound transformation through loss. In Norse mythology, Odin sacrifices one of his eyes at Mimir’s Well in order to gain cosmic wisdom. The well, guarded by Mimir, contains the deep knowledge of the universe, but to drink from it, Odin must pay a steep price—his physical sight. By plucking out his own eye and offering it into the waters, he gains profound wisdom that allows him to guide the gods and foresee Ragnarök, the prophesied end of the world.Both myths present a powerful paradox: by losing an essential part of themselves–sight (their vision on the world)–they gain something even greater. Tiresias loses his ability to see the physical world but is granted prophetic vision by Jupiter, allowing him to perceive truths that others cannot. Similarly, Odin’s self-inflicted blindness grants him access to the hidden workings of the cosmos, ensuring that he can protect his tribe from impending doom.These figures embody a universal mythological theme: the idea that wisdom comes at a cost. In Jungian terms, they represent the journey of individuation, where personal suffering and sacrifice lead to a deeper, more integrated understanding of the self and the world. They also highlight the idea that external perception (literal sight) can be misleading, while inner vision: intuition, prophecy, or wisdom (all those so called “female” qualities that are very undervalued in the Trumpian Empire) reveal the deeper truths of existence.This idea resonates in modern contexts as well. Leaders, thinkers, and visionaries throughout history often endure personal trials or sacrifices that sharpen their insight. Whether through political exile, social rejection, or personal hardship, those who “see” the world differently often pay a price for their knowledge.
• Nemesis (The Goddess of Retribution) punishes Narcissus by making him fall in love with an unattainable illusion. She symbolizes the principle of karmic balance: those who reject and act without love toward others ultimately face their own suffering.
• The water’s surface symbolizes illusion and self-deception. Narcissus believes he is looking at another person, when in reality, he is only seeing himself. This reflects how narcissism revolves around a fragmented self-image and an inability to form genuine connections. Human beings start to recognize their image in a mirror around 18 months. So in that sense Narcissus is like a child, a toddler in the body of a handsome young man.
• The narcissus flower, which emerges where Narcissus dies, holds deep symbolic meaning across cultures. The color white is traditionally associated with purity, innocence, and in some cases, mourning and death. It suggests the tragic irony of Narcissus’s fate: his beauty remains eternal in the form of a flower, but he himself is lost. In the political realm, this speaks to how narcissistic leaders often cultivate a façade of greatness and virtue while leaving destruction in their wake.
  The flower he leaves behind has Six Petals: Carl Jung and his collaborator Marie-Louise von Franz both explored the symbolic significance of numbers within the framework of analytical psychology. Jung considered numbers to be archetypes of order that have become conscious, suggesting that they are fundamental elements inherent in the human psyche. Specifically, Jung associated the number six with creation and evolution, viewing it as a conjunction of the numbers two and three, which he interpreted as representing the union of female and male principles, respectively. He referenced Philo Judaeus, who described the senarius (six) as the “number most suited to generation,” highlighting its connection to the process of creation. Von Franz also delved into the archetypal meanings of numbers, particularly in her work “Number and Time.” She emphasized that numbers, including six, are not merely mathematical constructs but hold deeper philosophical and archetypal significance, reflecting inherent patterns in the human experience. Its presence in the flower of Narcissus’s downfall suggests an unattained equilibrium—an ideal he could never reach because of his self-obsession. Applied to figures like Trump, this could represent the failure to maintain balance between self-promotion and governance, personal gain and public service.The symmetrical nature of many narcissus flowers mirrors Narcissus’s obsession with his own reflection. It becomes a natural emblem of vanity and self-absorption, reinforcing the idea that what he loved most—his own image—was ultimately his undoing.In Greek and Roman traditions, the narcissus was linked to the underworld and often planted on graves, symbolizing both remembrance and the transition from life to death. In a contemporary political context, the image of the narcissus can metaphorically represent the legacy of narcissistic leaders—what remains of them is often not their true self, but a distorted, mythologized version of their own making.

Narcissus represents the ego that is out of balance with the Self—the deeper, integrated, and holistic aspect of the personality. Narcissus’s inability to recognize his own reflection as a part of himself exemplifies the narcissistic individual’s inability to confront their true, unpolished self. Instead of embracing the shadow aspects of the psyche, they become fixated on an idealized image, which shields them from their insecurities and vulnerabilities.

Echo, in contrast, symbolizes the anima—an aspect of the unconscious that represents the emotional and relational facets of the psyche. In her inability to initiate speech, Echo represents the fragmented self, one that loses its autonomy and voice by excessively depending on others for validation. Instead of being an independent, individuated presence, Echo becomes a mere reflection of Narcissus’s desires and words. Her tragic fate is a direct consequence of her inability to separate her identity from Narcissus’s.

The relationship between Narcissus and Echo illustrates the destructive consequences of unbalanced ego dynamics. Narcissus’s fixation on his own image keeps him from experiencing genuine emotional connection or growth, while Echo’s complete dependence on Narcissus leads to her disintegration. Together, they embody two extremes of the psyche: Narcissus’s inflated self-image and Echo’s disembodiment and inability to assert her identity.

This imbalance is prevalent in real-world examples of narcissistic behavior, where individuals who over-identify with their persona (the outward mask) fail to integrate their deeper, more vulnerable selves. Their refusal to acknowledge their shadows leads to the creation of a false self that is disconnected from the true Self. The narcissist’s obsession with maintaining a grandiose image often leads them to reject others, causing emotional fragmentation in both the individual and their relationships.

Donald Trump as Narcissus: A Modern Reflection

Donald Trump’s public persona serves as a modern embodiment of the Narcissus archetype. His narcissistic traits—his inflated sense of self-importance, his constant craving for admiration, and his disregard for others—mirror the characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Trump’s grandiose self-perception, coupled with his tendency to exaggerate his accomplishments (such as claiming he won the 2020 election by a landslide despite the loss), reflects the deep-seated narcissism that defines his character. His constant need for external validation through rallies, social media, and public appearances aligns with the narcissist’s need to recharge their ego.

Trump’s fixation on his image, especially in relation to the praise and adoration of his followers, mirrors Narcissus’s obsession with his reflection in the water. Trump’s followers, much like Echo, mirror his words and adopt his viewpoints without independent thought. The repeated phrases, slogans, and ideas promoted by Trump become a type of echo chamber in which his self-perception is amplified and reinforced.

The tragic consequences of narcissism are evident in Trump’s public life. Much like Narcissus’s eventual death by staring at his reflection, Trump’s fixation on his image and public persona prevents him from confronting deeper questions about his vulnerabilities and flaws. His obsession with appearing victorious and superior—regardless of objective reality—demonstrates the dangerous consequences of unbalanced ego dynamics.

The Echo of Trump’s Followers

The followers of Narcissists, like Trump’s, can often fall into the role of Echo. Echo’s tragedy is that she loses her voice and becomes nothing more than a mirror of Narcissus’s desires. Similarly, Trump’s followers often repeat his words and adopt his views without independent reflection. Their support of him—no matter how misguided or harmful—mirrors Echo’s blind devotion to Narcissus.

The Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, serves as a prime example of how Trump’s followers became Echoes of his rhetoric. They repeated his false claims that the election was stolen, embodying his words without questioning their validity. Just as Echo’s voice became a hollow repetition of Narcissus’s, Trump’s followers became trapped in an echo chamber, losing their individual agency and adopting his distorted worldview as their own.

Putin as Narcissus and Trump as Echo

In the geopolitical arena, Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin also demonstrates the dynamics of Narcissus and Echo. Putin, much like Narcissus, is obsessed with his own power and dominance. His carefully curated image of invincibility, whether through shirtless photos on horseback or military displays,  serves as a reflection of his narcissistic fixation on strength and control. Trump, in this dynamic, functions as his Echo. Rather than asserting a strong, independent American stance, Trump frequently echoes Putin’s narratives, downplaying Russian interference in U.S. politics and advocating for policies that align with Kremlin interests.

This interaction between two narcissistic figures—Trump and Putin—highlights how one narcissist may adopt the Echo role in relation to another. In this case, Trump mirrors Putin’s rhetoric, amplifying his image to gain favor, while diminishing the sovereignty of the U.S. and its relationships with Western allies.

Conclusion

The myth of Narcissus and Echo provides profound insight into the dynamics of narcissism and the psychological consequences of an unbalanced ego. Narcissus represents the inflated ego that denies the shadow, while Echo symbolizes the fragmented Self that loses its voice by relying too heavily on external validation. Together, they embody the tragic consequences of neglecting the deeper, integrative work of individuation. In the modern world, figures like Donald Trump embody the Narcissus archetype, while their followers become Echoes, repeating their words and reinforcing their delusions. Ultimately, the myth reminds us of the importance of self-reflection, individuation, and the integration of both light and shadow in order to avoid the destructive traps of narcissism and dependency.

Literature

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.

Baer, D. (2016). One Trump Quote Gets at a Key Component Of Narcissism. Thrive Global. Retrieved October 14, 2024.

Jung, C. G. (1961). Psychological aspects of the self. Princeton University Press.

Ovid. (2004). Metamorphoses (A. D. Melville, Trans.). Oxford University Press.

Robertson, I. (2017). Trump, Jong-un and the Psychology of Nuclear Confrontation. Retrieved October 14, 2024.

Von Franz, M.-L. (1974). The process of individuation. In The psychology of C.G. Jung (pp. 114-129). Routledge.