The myth of Narcissus

By John Serfustini

Narcissism is a word that has been bandied about quite a bit during and after the long presidential campaign.
More often than not, it has been used to describe the person who won the White House. The word supposedly describes extreme self-love or conceit.
But is it correct to apply it to the president only? Here’s the background story that explains the reason for the question.
Narcissus was a young man who was reportedly handsome but apparently did not spend any time in front of a mirror.
One day, he was crouching down on the bank of a deep still pool to get a drink and saw his reflection in the water.
Myth has it that he was quite taken by the image he saw, and thinking it was a beautiful stranger in the water, he bent over to kiss him. Narcissus fell in and drowned.
Now myths are not falsehoods but metaphors for larger truths in life. The point here is one that is usually missed:
Narcissus did not know it was himself he saw in the pool. He fell in love with his own image but did not recognize it for what it was.
So the story of Narcissus isn’t the tragedy of a single egotist but about someone who saw a stranger he thought was beautiful.
In looking at the outcome of the election, the myth may explain why so many voted for the person who eventually won. He was the image of what they admire most in themselves.