Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” As such, we may often turn to ancient stories to provide explanation of current events. One such famous ancient legend was told by the Roman poet Ovid, writing sometime around the first century.
Ovid recounts the myth of Narcissus. Narcissus was the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. Tiresias, the seer, told Narcissus’ parents that he, “would live to an old age if it did not look at himself.” Many nymphs and girls fell in love with him but he rejected them. One of these nymphs, Echo, was so distraught over this rejection that she withdrew into a lonely spot and faded until all that was left was a plaintive whisper. The goddess Nemesis heard the rejected girls’ prayers for vengeance and arranged for Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection. Narcissus stayed so long at the water’s edge watching his beautiful reflection that he let himself die.
This myth lends its name to a very real psychological problem termed Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Writing for Psychology Today, Barry Scott Kaufman observes, “A cross section of the narcissist’s ego will reveal high levels of self-esteem, grandiosity, self-focus, and self-importance. They think they are more physically attractive and intelligent than just about everyone, and would rather be admired than liked. They are enraged when told they aren’t beautiful or brilliant but aren’t affected much if told they are jerks.”
We can see where a certain amount of these qualities would be great attributes for a leader: confidence, self-assuredness, decisiveness. Unfortunately, the line between confidence and an arrogant paucity of empathy is too commonly breached among our political figures.
Of course, it’s easy to see how one could slip into the trap. Buttressed by the knowledge that thousands of people chose them to be the leader, vanity swells in a self-reinforcing chorus that validates their every whim. Likewise, this can trickle down to their subordinates and appointees. To be chosen by the chosen must surely make us infallible. By extension, that infallibility relieves us of the burden of answering to anyone save when it suits us. We feel entitled and may be prone to exploit others. At least that’s certainly how it seems on the outside of the narcissistic bubble.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
According to Psychologist Anita Vangelisti of the University of Texas at Austin, “narcissists’ language and demeanor is often geared toward one objective: to maintain power in an interaction.” Moreover, Vangelisit argues, “Narcissists’ typical behavior include bragging, refocusing the topic of conversation, making exaggerated hand movements, talking loudly, and showing disinterest by “glazing over” when others speak.”
Cognizant of all this, we can’t help but recall the poison dynamic that is increasingly evident in Pine Bluff City Council meetings. How many times in last few years have our leaders played a little fast and loose with the truth; talked over one another; run away from questions; ignored the public will; or just generally comported themselves in ways that signal their detachment from the rules that govern the rest of us.
Anyone familiar with ancient mythology likely knows that Ovid’s version of Narcissus is but one variation of the tale. Even so, all versions share a common element: However it happens, Narcissus’ vanity and self-focus always contains the seeds of his destruction. It’s time for city hall to put away the mirrors and tend the people’s business.