4.2 Ego Personality
The ego comes into existence to deal with the objective, outside world and to satisfy the id’s wishes and instinctive demands. For example: it seeks food when the id
calls for appeasement of hunger drives. The ego eventually becomes capable of self – reflection and disserves the name Freud gave it: ego, or self. Until self-reflection occurs
there is no “I” but only a mass of undifferentiated strivings. The ego obeys the reality principle in contrast to the id’s pleasure principle. The
reality principle, because it has to deal with the objective, “ real “ world, aims to suspend the pleasure principle until satisfaction – food in this example is found. The ego is thus
the executive personality. It controls actions and chooses outcomes. A person with a week ego may be dominated by the wish fulfilling fantasies of the id and fail to deal
effectively with objective reality, spending instead a disproportionate amount of time in fantasy and daydreaming.
According to the reality principle, the energy of the id may be blocked, diverted, or released gradually, all in accordance with the demands of reality and the super – ego.
Such an operation does not contradict the pleasure principle, but rather represents a temporary suspension of it. It functions, in George Bernard Shaw’s words, so as “ to be
able to choose the line of greatest advantage instead of yielding in the directions of least resistance. “ the ego is able to separate wish from fantasy, it can tolerate tension, and
compromise, and change overtime. Accordingly, it expresses the development of perceptual and cognitive skills, the
ability to perceive more and think in more terms that are complex. For example, a person can begin to think in terms of the future, and what is best in long run. All these qualities
are in contrast with the unrealistic, unchanging, demanding qualities of the id.
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Although the ego may sound like the decision – maker, or the executive of personality, Freud thinks that the ego is weaker than the metaphor of executive implies.
Instead, a central metaphor of psychoanalysis is that the ego is like a rider on a wild horse the id. The horse provides all the energy. The rider tries to direct it. But,
ultimately, the more powerful beast may end up going wherever it wants. In sum, Freud ego is logical, rational, and tolerant of tension. In its actions, it is subject
to control by three masters: the id, the super – ego and the world of reality. From Freud’s theory, the writer analyze that Atticus, Jem and Scout has the ego even though the id be
opposite of the ego. These following quotes will prove of the ego within their personality.
4.2.1 Atticus’s Ego
Begin with the attitude of Jem who want to know about Radley family, and he asks Atticus about them.
he said Atticus never talked much about the Radleys: when Jem would question him Atticus’s only answer was for him to mind his own business
and let the Radleys mind theirs, they had a right to: but when it happened Jem said Atticus shook his head and said Mm, mm,mm
Son, “he said to Jem, “I am going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man. That goes for the other two of you. When
Atticus finally called us to order and bade us look at our plates instead of out the windows, Jem asked, “How do you make a snowman?” Harper
lee 2004: 49
Quoting from the dialogue above, Atticus knew, that his children want to know about Radley Place, but he did not tell any thing, because he had know, if he told about
Radley place, Jem will do any thing with them. Here Atticus ego came; because the ego understands that other people have needs, desires, and that some times being, impulsive
or selfish can hurt us in the end. Even though he want to satisfy his children id, but his ego come strongly. So Atticus ego get a job, so that didn’t tell any thing, with his
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children, and he just going to tell so that his children stop tormenting that man in Radley place.
Atticus tries to tell the fact of life for his children and he asks Alexandra aunt give them advices about Finch family.
Atticus suddenly grew serious. In his lawyer’s voice, with out a shade of inflection, he said : “ your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you
and Jean Louise that you are not from run – of the mill people, that you are the product of several generations gentle breeding __ “ Atticus
paused, watching me locate an elusive redbug on my leg. Harper lee 2004: 133
His ego talking, he grew serious and talked to his children, he do it with calm and not selfish and even hurt his children heart. Because the ego within Atticus, understands
that other people have needs, desire, in their personality. The trial will begin; Atticus tries to defend and help Tom Robinson, from the
slanders of white people at him, because they accuse him already rape Mayella Ewell the woman from white people. When the judge Taylor presents as a judge in the trial, at the
time Atticus got the envelope from California, said that his children are missing since this afternoon, and he want to get permitted from the judge, but one of the lawyer said
that, they’re right up yonder in the colored balcony___ been there since precisely one- eighteen
P.M
.” Actually Atticus look so tired, but with his ego, he make his children happy and
said so that they go home. Jem and Scout ask him so that they can stay there to hear the verdict of the Tom Robinson, the niggers.
“The jury might be out and black in a minute, we don’t know __ “but we could tell Atticus was relenting. “ Well, you have heard it all, so you
might as well hear the rest. Tell you what, you all can come back when you’ve eaten your supper __ eat slowly, no, you won’t miss anything-
important __ and if the jury’s still out, you can wait with us. Harper lee 2004: 207
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Atticus angrier when, he felt not satisfies about decision. The judge gives the punishment of Tom Robinson, and when the Boob Ewell spitting in his face and
threatening him to save Mayella Ewell. But Atticus said is better he do it for me, than his children. It is the ego within Atticus, because the ego based on reality principle. Atticus
did not do any thing, with Boob Ewell, although he has threatened by him. His ego was in conscious area; he did not want to satisfy his id, he thought his mind and think about
reality principle. Atticus dropped his newspaper beside his chair. He said he didn’t have
any quarrel with the rape statue, none what – ever, but he did have deep misgivings when the state asked for and the jury gave a death penalty on
purely circumstantial evidence. He glanced at me, saw I was listening, and made it easier. “___ I mean, before a man is sentenced to death for
murder, say, there should be one or two eye – witnesses. Some one should be able to say, yes, I was there and saw him pull the trigger.’ “Harper lee
2004: 219.
From the dialogue above, Atticus still not felt satisfy about decision, he said that, none what – ever, when the rape statute, however, he did have deep misgivings when the
state asked for and the jury gave a death penalty on purely circumstantial evidence. Atticus wants so that the judge didn’t give the death penalty of Tom Robinson. Here
Atticus use his ego, in finishing Tom Robinson’s trial and hope so that the judge give the really penalty. Atticus ego comes to meet the needs of id, of the judge. So Atticus hope
so that within ego of the judge he could considerate the punishment.
4.2.2 Jem’s ego
Beside id within of Jem, the ego also comes to considerate the reality principle when some times the desire comes and some times being the impulsive or selfish. So the
ego come to make the consideration in the reality principle. The ego Jem begin with his attitude when they went to the Radley place. Jem, scout, and Dill, tries to make Boo
Radley come out from his house. When they do it, they felt afraid and tremble.
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This was enough to make Jem march to the corner, where he stooped, and leaned against the light – pole, watching the gate hanging crazily on its
homemade hinge. “I hope you’ve got it through your head that he’ll kill us each end every
one, Dill Harris, “said Jem, when joined him. Don’t blame me when he gouges your eyes out. You started it, remember.”
“You’re still scared,” murmured Dill patiently. Jem wanted Dill to know once and for all that he wasn’t scared of
anything. “It’s just that I can’t think of a way to make him come out without him getting us.” Besides, Jem had his little sister to think of.
Harper lee 2004: 14
Jem raised his eyebrows. “There are things you don’t understand, “he said, and I was too weary to argue. Harper lee 2004: 210
From the quoting above, Jem show his angrier at Scout and Dill, because both of them were scared. He said to Dill so that they must carefully and brave. Beside his
angrier, Jem also presents his ego, he was cancelled his inciting. He always thinks of his sister safety, and he loves her very much. Although some times the id comes and talking
with him but Jem’s ego try to meets the id needs, and he considerate it with his ego.
4.2.3 Scout’s ego
Scout’s ego comes on when she realize that Jem was offended by her contradicting him on hot steams. Because of it, the id within Jem talking, he was not
patiently awaiting an opportunity to reward her. He did, by pushing the tire down the sidewalk with all the force in his body. Ground, sky, and houses melted into a mad
palette, my ears throbbed, she was suffocating, and could not put out her hands to stop; they were wedged between her chest and knees. Scout hope so that Jem would outrun the
tire and her, or she would be stopped by a bump in the sidewalk. Until it happened, I did not realize that Jem was offended by my
contradicting him on hot steams and that he was patiently awaiting an opportunity to reward me. He did, by pushing the tire down the sidewalk
with all the force in his body. Ground, sky, and houses melted into a mad palette, my ears throbbed, I was suffocating. I could not put out my hands
to stop; they were wedged between my chest and knees. I could only hope
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that Jem would outrun the tire and me, or that I would be stopped by a bump in the sidewalk. I heard him behind chasing, shouting, and me.
The tire bumped on gravel, skittered across the road, crashed into a barrier, and popped me like a cork onto pavement. Dizzy and nauseated, I
lay on the cement and shook my head still, pounded my ears to silence, and heard Jem’s voice : “ scout, get away from there, come on “
I raised my head and stared at the Radley place, steps in front of me. I froze.
“Come on, scout, don’t just lie there” Jem was screaming. “Get up, can’tcha?”
I got to my feet, trembling as I thawed. “Get the tire” Jem hollered. “Bring it with you Ain’t you got any sense
at all?” When I was able to navigate, I ran back to them as fast as my shaking
knees’ would carry me. “Why didn’t you bring it?” Jem yelled.
“Why don’t you get it?” I screamed Jem was silent
“Go on, it ain’t far inside the gate. Why, you even touched the house once, remembers?”
Jem looked at me furiously, could not decline, ran down the sidewalk, treaded water at the gate, then dashed in and retrieved the tire.
“See there?” Jem was scowling triumphantly. “Nothing’ to it. I swear, scout, sometimes you act so much like a girl it’s mortifying’.”
There was more to it than he knew, but I decided not to tell him. Harper lee 2004 : 37 - 38
The neutral side of Scout is clearly seen from her attitude or her reaction when she got accident because of Jem’s id and she hope so that Jem would outrun the tire and
her, or she would be stopped by a bump in the sidewalk. Actually Jem did not do it, he just keep stay and looking for his sister, and
screaming. Scouts get up, and she gets her feet, trembling as she thawed. She leaves the tire, but Jem asked her to bring it, and he yelled her. Scout got angry at him, but with her
ego, she do it, and to be brave bring the tire from the Raddley house even though, Jem mock her, and she became calm and stay cool. In addition, she thought by her self that
there was more to it than he knew, but she decided not to tell him. She did not fulfil her id needs. She did the action with the reality principle.
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Atticus angrier with her, when Aunt Alexandra talked and says something with them, but Scout wheeled around, startled, then turned back to Atticus in time to catch his
swift glance at her, but it was too late, she said, “I didn’t ask you” Atticus angry and turned his head and pinned her to the wall with his good eye with his big voice and said
please apologize with your aunt?” I understood, pondered a while, and concluded that the only way I could
retire with a shared of dignity was to go to the bathroom, where I stayed long enough to make them think I had to go. Returning, I lingered in the
hall to hear a fierce discussion going on in living room. Through the door, I could see Jem on the sofa with a football magazine in front of his face,
his head turning as if its pages contained a live tennis match. Harper lee 2004 136
Scout realize her mistaken that she has done with her aunt, and make her thinking and understood pondred a while concluded that only way she could retire with a shared
of dignity, she go to bathroom. Even though Scout has fulfil her id, but she also present her ego side toward his father and Alexandra. The ego makes scout thinking and could
retire with a shared of dignity. But I must have been reasonably awake, or I would not have received the
impression that was creeping into me. It was not unlike one I had last winter, and I shivered, though the night was hot. The feeling grew until
the atmosphere in the courtroom was the same as a cold February morning, when the mockingbirds were still, and the carpenters had
stopped hammering on Miss Maudie’s new house, and every wood door in the neighbourhood was shut as tight as the doors of the Radley place
Harper lee 2004: 210.
Scout must give her attention to the trial, she must cancelled the satisfy of instinct until the satisfy could be reach without get the conflict with the super ego. Scout still
following the trial and thought by her self, when she saw the condition of the trial was silent. Even though she got sleep but she still try to follow the trial and hope so that the
judge could get free Tom Robinson from the trial, because by Atticus explanation, she had known that Tom, didn’t do the mistake, he is the victim of the slender from the white
people.
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4.3 Super - ego Personality
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