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curiescuriousity · 10 months ago

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Cersei Lannister; A Personality Analysis

Hey guys, here’s an excerpt from an old assignment that I wrote in Year 11 for Psychology, in which I got to analyse the personality of a fictional character. I chose Cersei, so I hope some of you may find it interesting. I’m in no way an expert, and skim reading it now I cringe at some of the things I said, but it was a lot of fun and a bit of a taste of the stuff I’ll most likely post on here. I’d love to hear any opinions or critiques. The aim of the assignment was to explore different ways to analyse personality (Freud, Maslow, etc.) and applying it to a character was only one element of the marking key so I did not get to go into as much depth as I would have liked. (My teacher has not seen GoT nor read ASOIAF, I did not want to confuse him/bore him/waste his time.) So if you guys enjoy this, I’d love to redo it, or add more elements, or perhaps analyse another character. Thank you so much. Sorry if this layout is weird, it’s my first post on here! xx

Here is the part that includes the application of the theories (let me know if you would like to read the full essay)

Cersei Lannister’s Personality according to Psychodynamic and Humanistic Theories

Cersei is predominantly driven by her id. She seeks her core desire; power, in a rather Machiavellian way. She pursues sexual satisfaction regardless of morality or what is considered socially acceptable, by having sex with her own brother. She likes to think that she is some mastermind schemer, but, in reality, she is impulsive and predictable. She constantly has other id desires such as food and shelter looked after as she is upper class, but if she was not, I would suspect that she would seek these just as the id demanded. Cersei is selfish, incredibly narcissistic, and believes herself to be superior to almost everyone. This is a very close minded, infantile-like personality, which I believe is reflective of her overpowering id.

“The longer Cersei waits, the angrier she’ll become, and anger makes her stupid. I much prefer angry and stupid to composed and cunning.” – Tyrion Lannister talking about Cersei, A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2.

Cersei still has somewhat of an ego, however, as she does realise that such things as openly flaunting her incestuous relationship is not a rational thing to do. Her ego helps her to continue her relationship with Jaime without being caught – and creates a fairly rational plan to do so. Her superego is where she is especially lacking, however. Where ‘normal’ people’s superegos would stop them from acting on their id, Cersei’s simply does not have the power to. She sleeps with her brother, despite being aware that it is morally unacceptable. She indirectly kills hundreds, despite being aware, that this, too, is morally unacceptable. Cersei’s perspective on the world is so warped due to her upbringing, that even her morals are warped too. Cersei’s morals are largely based on Tywin’s, and he married his cousin and openly ordered the death of children. It’s no wonder that her superego is underdeveloped.

Cersei uses numerous defence mechanisms to cope with the trauma and disadvantages in her life. Cersei uses compensation to cope with the fact that she was born female. To make up for being less valuable in her fathers’ eyes, she tries her very best to emulate him as much as possible. She pictures herself as ‘Tywin with teats,’ and constantly tries to be as intelligent and cunning as him. To make up for her disappointing gender, she compensates by trying to be ‘mentally male,’ and she often thinks and even openly states ‘I should have been born a man.’ She always tries to get Tywin’s attention and to please him by being manipulative, as well as committing horrible crimes. Cersei does not realise that she so desperately tries to be smart because of the way society views her gender.

“His sister liked to think of herself as Lord Tywin with teats, but she was wrong. Their father had been as relentless and implacable as a glacier, where Cersei was all wildfire, especially when thwarted. She had been giddy as a maiden when she learned that Stannis had abandoned Dragonstone, certain that he had finally given up the fight and sailed away to exile. When word came down from the north that he had turned up again at the Wall, her fury had been fearful to behold. She does not lack for wits, but she has no judgment, and no patience.” – Jaime’s thoughts about Cersei, A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 4.

Cersei also uses splitting to hide from the fact that she and those she admires are not perfect. Cersei is a complete narcissist, and she only loves those that remind her of herself. This is demonstrated by her idolisation of Tywin, her hatred for Tyrion partially because he does not look like her, her love for her children only as an extension of herself [through her male children, she can rule and feel a sense of power. Although she believes she loves them, it is purely for her own gain.] and of course, her relationship with her brother. Having sex with your own twin really has to be the epitome of ‘self-love.’ Jaime represents the male version of Cersei – what she could have been if she were born a man. He looks like her, is an excellent knight, rich, charming, etc., etc. Cersei loves him because she views him as a flawless male version of herself. She splits him into the category of good and perfect, but all havoc breaks loose when he steps out of the role she has unconsciously assigned for him. Jaime does not lust after power as Cersei does, nor does he possess the cunning. Jaime loves Cersei not for vain reasons like Cersei ‘loves’ him, but purely because of his twisted upbringing. Jaime eventually gets his hand chopped off – his sword hand- this hand represents all his masculine power as it is the source of his excellent fighting skills. When he loses it, Cersei’s love for him deteriorates. He is no longer the perfect knight he once was to her, nor does she consider him an accurate representation of herself as a male. Cersei then completely turns on Jaime, placing him into the ‘bad,’ category. Their relationship is very rocky from then onwards. Cersei, instead of accepting that Jaime, and, by extension, herself, is imperfect, she splits him into either the ‘good,’ or ‘bad,’ category. By placing him into the bad category, she separates him from herself, and fuels her perception that she is perfect.

“Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We are one person in two bodies. We shared a womb together. He came into this world holding my foot, our old maester said. When he is in me, I feel…whole.” – Cersei revealing her twisted mental process on her relationship with Jaime, A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1.

Cersei also uses projection, but to a lesser extent. Cersei despises Tyrion. She blames him for the death of her mother, and lives in constant fear that he will kill her and all her children. He is also a physical representation of weakness – he is a Lannister, a part of her, and yet he is stunted, ugly and evil. Cersei hates weakness – as is seen in how quickly she disregards Jaime once his strength is gone. In order to cope with her immense hatred for him, she projects it onto him. She is convinced that he detests her and is always out to get her. She feels threatened by his very presence, consciously because of the prophecy but subconsciously because she knows she would gladly order his death herself – and eventually does.

Cersei also uses denial to cope with the fact that her firstborn son is a sadist. Joffrey, throughout his life, mercilessly torments numerous people – from having a twelve-year-old girl publicly stripped and whipped to killing a man for daring to suggest that he was not the rightful heir, and then getting off on showing his severed head to his daughter. Cersei, as a mother, is unable to separate Joffrey from her as she separates Jaime out of the ‘perfect’ category. Instead, she lives in denial that he is a terrible person. Cersei never directly encourages his behaviour, and even endures some of it. But absolutely nothing he does will make her stop loving him. She continues to protect him as if he were still an innocent six-year-old. She openly denies and makes excuses for his behaviour. She places the blame onto others like Tyrion for being bad influences rather than admit that Joffrey’s behaviour is likely a fault of her own mothering and bad incest genetics. It only after he dies that she finally realises – only to an extent – how horrible he truly was.

“Love is poison. A sweet poison, yes, but it will kill you all the same.” – Cersei demonstrating her emotional strain with Joffrey, ASOIAF, Book 2.

As for psychosexual stages, I wouldn’t say that Cersei seems to be clearly fixated in any of them. Perhaps a little in oral due to her excessive drinking, but I’d say it’s most likely the Phallic stage. It is possible that Cersei still has an Oedipus, or rather an Electra complex. Even as a child, she completely adored Tywin. Although she feared him greatly, that is also partially why she adored him so much. He commanded respect from everyone. Cersei’s adoration for Tywin could have been somewhat sexual – I mean, she out of all people would probably have the least problem with this. As Cersei’s mother was taken from her as a child, she had no parent of the same sex to identify with, so this could have resulted in her sexual desiring and identifying with her father. This could explain why she tries to behave and think like him constantly. And Cersei definitely has penis envy – as she spends her life lamenting over not being born a male. Her frustration with her gender is one of her key motivations for why she is the way she is. Cersei also has sexual relationships with those that look like her father – even going so far as to have sex with his own son. Perhaps an element to why Cersei is in an incestuous relationship is because of her residual Electra complex.

Humanistic theories do not fit so well with Cersei as she is a pretty terrible person, surrounded by other terrible people that influence her to do terrible things. Her aspirations in life are not pure, nor solely to achieve her potential, but to be Queen of everything, kill all her enemies and remain young and beautiful forever. Cersei may have been innately good, but ultimately her environment corrupted her. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, however, have some relevance to Cersei. Cersei, as a rich royal, has ready access to all of the physiological needs – so there is no issue there. Cersei already gets stuck in the second category, though. Cersei, throughout her life, has been physically, sexually and emotionally abused – making her ‘unsafe.’ Cersei is also in constant fear of death, which is not entirely unfounded in the brutal world of Westeros. Cersei’s love and belonging is also a failure, supporting Maslow’s theory. Cersei’s familial and romantic relationships are all one big mess, and she has never really experienced any kind of pure love. Cersei’s esteem is also a train wreck. She does not receive the respect that she feels she deserves because she is a female, and she doesn’t even feel accepted by her own father. Cersei never even came close to achieving self-actualisation, let alone transcendence.

Conclusion

Both Freud’s Psychodynamic theory of personality and Humanistic theories such as Maslow’s both have some merit, but neither are flawless, nor founded on a mountain of evidence. Freud is often discredited on his theory that almost everything is rooted in some weird sexual desire [his Oedipus/Electra complex, for example.] Freud’s theories offer a lot of explanation for the behaviour of people like Cersei, but Cersei is a fictional character, albeit complex, she is still unrealistic and to have someone be identical in the modern world would be practically impossible. Freud’s theories do not seem to fit as well when applied to an average person, who just lives a normal life. However, Freud’s theory does provide an interesting alternative theory that would not really come to mind to most people. Freud’s theory acknowledges that humans are complex – we aren’t just good or bad, and that our childhood can greatly influence our behaviour as adults. Freud has provided the field of psychology with some fiery debate topics and has inspired many other psychiatrists/psychologists through his work. His work is not without fault though, as his theories largely depend on what the unconscious is doing or thinking, but how can he really know this, without tapping into some hive mind of everyone’s unconscious? Of course, it is possible to predict and make some fairly decent assumptions, but when one’s ideas are so radical and shocking, one should have a little more evidence to support the claims. Freud’s theories are often so focused around the sexual aspects of things, that he may ignore other factors that really influence our psychology. His adamant belief that his sexual interpretation is right makes you wonder if maybe he himself is stuck in a phallic phase. Freud’s theory of things such penis envy can be interpreted as rather sexist, and perhaps his society influenced this interpretation. As for Maslow, his hierarchy of needs will not apply to everyone. Many people living below the poverty line will have loving relationships and a sense of belonging, and some who are not safe may reach self-actualisation. Maslow’s theory is also largely based on a very small sample size, and just people he handpicked himself – which were mostly Caucasian males. This makes it highly likely that his findings do not, in fact, represent the entire population. Maslow’s theory does have its good points – it goes against the typically scientific and research based theories of the time, to provide a more personal and less numerical orientated theory. The Maslow hierarchy does have some evidence, but ultimately lacks substance. It is thus that I come to conclusion that neither Freud’s psychodynamic theories nor Maslow’s humanistic theory can explain personality as a whole. Freud’s concept of personality does not even fit well with the typical one. Whilst applying their theories to fictional characters can be quite fascinating, they do not hold up so well in real life. Personality is in actuality, subjective; and our perception of it continues to evolve and progress over time. Hopefully, one day, someone can conjure up an immaculate theory on personality, but until then, perhaps the theories of the likes of Freud and Maslow shall have to suffice.

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curiescuriousity · 1 year ago

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I TOTALLY NEED TO REBLOG THIS TO REMEMBER THIS

Essay time as someone who watched Encanto movie WAYYYY too much times + read interviews + q&a

It's all nonsense out of order rambling tbh in terms of the candle not being sentimental! At that interview confirmed there was no reason for Mirabel to have no gift. BIGGEST I TOLD YOU SO SINCE 2021!!!!!

Mirabel door faded/no gift doesn't have a reason! Things happen! Not because was gonna be matriarch. Not wiped because of hands.

Not even as a lesson to Alma! As the candle is NOT sentimental! You don't been have to touch + make an oath to the candle to get a gift. All you have to do is touch the doorknob! Triplets most likely didn't even do this at all of going by logic. Cause how did Alma know they would have gifts/magic rooms? Were they even aware Isabela was going to have a gift? We also know the fact adopted kids can have gifts even if past 5!

The ceremonies + touching candle + oath + earn the miracle in labor stems form Alma's Survivors Guilt/Trauma. Unknowing why she was given this miracle in terms doesn't feel like doesn't deserve it. Never allowed to properly grief. She looked at her three babies in such despair/likely cried before this based on eyes. She puts on a mask...and in so start of how things go in terms of generational trauma beginning with Alma. That stems from her need to protect her family. People forget Generational trauma isn't just Grandparents only. It goes from Grandparents to Parents to Child. So Parents may have past down own traits by accident. It affects each other! Alma as main influence. If Alma died their was a likely chance this could have continued as none of the Madrigal we're opening up! Since this became their "normal"

None of the Madrigals are evil & abusive. They simply are flawed. Even Mirabel has her flaws...no one was 💯 innocent in absolutely everything in that household. (Except Antonio as 5 but he likely would have developed a hiding away trait...I do see it reflect Bruno trait of hiding away to not confront a situation.) Doesn't mean they were bad people.

They weren't communicating/in own worlds/didn't see each other flaws but still cared in end... the household wasn't mentally healthy but they considered this their "normal"

It wasn't normal! Cause when heard someone else situation went ???? Noooo!!!!

I've said since on Tumblr before (others likely too) the mountains can be seen as her cacoon around them! Why it's always so,,,in terms of saying villagers comings in & out before events of movie as ruins point of just how tight concealed Alma became.

She wasn't allowing anyone in & she wasn't allowing anyone out! Butterflies that don't leave that cacoon die! (Dos Oruguitas Spanish lyrics ending part ties so much to the ending of Encanto as mountains split & now everyone is free to tomorrow,,,Alma says the miracle is you to her family...and in Dos Oruguitas Spanish version the butterflies are called miracles...the candle is gone/no longer a symbol of Madrigals... it likely now butterflies as song can tie into it + what surrounded the new front door of Casita are... butterflies...so many people need to let go of that candle post movie. There is NO more candle. In so no "Candleholder!")

A thing in movie is how much they worshipped the candle/felt like important than them! The second miracle is now embodied in them and Casita in love/togetherness is what fuels the magic! So focus is not on a candle (as there isn't one) but now themselves + eachother.

So,,, please let that miracle candle go...a candle with a miracle formed from pain/grief that flicker's when love becomes conditional is not a good thing to hold onto. Little candles day exist/different but I'm more saying as symbol/Candleholder/new candle forms.

They hold the magic! It's fueled by them!

In so...

A leader of Encanto just a leader!!! Not a magic role!!! Future gens people with gifts likely gonna take over at times....new era of Madrigal be such a team work with the leader rather than what happened to Alma where tried to do so much on her own in leadership! Which wasn't good! There is likely no oath new person makes me you do if following what is set up,,, don't even got to do the ceremony if kid rather not...or wear whatever white clothes!

So...I guess saying the gift ceremonies + oath doesn't really need to happen to get a gift. Just touch the door. You get a gift that comes from the core! Use gift in way that makes happy + serving community with gift is not an obligation.

The ceremonies up to Antonio get gray as were fun but more for the villagers in a sense. As starts & ends with a party. Intermission for true reason is just a short intermission. Likely got bigger each ceremony. Antonio being the biggest by far. During the gift ceremony the Madrigals are still helping around + entertaining. Even if gifts make tired. Don't want to hang around rn but gotta.

The gifts are deep on meaning but don't need to do all that,,,it's more of an entertainment for guest in the past as seen rather than a birthday party feeling...so def !!!! In focus on the kid as a person rather than "Let's hope it's better than the last!"

Osvaldo Comment showed villagers REALLY see it as entertainment (not all of them though I'm sure but you get me.) than the real intention Alma made it out to be with the oath!

So if Gift Ceremonies continue in the future there isn't gonna make some scary oath if going by Alma confronting her survivor's guilt and how it got to point! I'm sure its make fun on in terms of Madrigal breather in keeping a grant appearance. Kids doesn't want one it's okay. Don't have to wear all white unless want to. As that's really is just an Alma thing made up stemming from her trauma,,,up to them in way handle that in terms next gen as gift ceremony became an established thing I won't deny. I guess more birthday party rather than super serious! Don't have swear to use your gift for others in serving/earning like it's not part of you! The door is there because you are a Madrigal! Madrigals are blessed with this unexplained miracle that don't have to be on your 5th birthday if adopted. It is fueled by love/comfort/togetherness! Not because they HAVE to serve others. It's something they now do because want to! Help village & village helps them! They are a village in Colombia...not a kingdom or something... being a community is a big part of it! Even if not everyone agrees/arguments/not so nice people.

Bruno coming back & being told to do visions again by villagers if doesn't want to ruins such a point,,,

Mirabel & Alma argument with mountain splitting. Mirabel words split a crack between the two as "A house divided cannot stand." They are now all divided. Casita fell.

"Alma should have gotten a bigger consequence!"

1) The mountains split...

2) Casita fell (A loved family member. There is grief.)

3) She argued with Mirabel in front of everyone...and Mirabel words were alot in failed deflecting.

4) Seeing grandkids viewed a candle as more important then self so went afterwards! Mirabel kept going showing so much... literally thought Mirabel died. A house of that size + tower falling is SUPER LOUD! I'm so sure whole village heard it! Now imagine being close to it while Mirabel is still inside.

5) Her family looks so lost rn.

6) Mirabel ran away. Despite pushing Mirabel aside/treatment cause didn't she a gift still loved her! Wouldn't wish her harm. In the "step aside scene" she didn't mean Mirabel don't get in picture and don't stand in crowd with your family!!!! Alma was smiling a bit when said it. Mirabel nodded! Interpreted differently because of her past treatment,,, realized the treatment now.

7) Candle gone

8) Gifts gone

9) Deleted scene of Julieta arguing.

Alma lost all she cared about...her home & her family...who she swore to protect/love...and worse is that the lost was because of her.

Still, we see Luisa shelter her from a fall + Dolores ask if she's okay/going to help,,,she hurt them so much and here is Dolores asking for help.

What else if there to lose besides a family member dying,,,

Miracle was embodied in the candle! In so Casita wasn't responsible for any magical thing. Simple a living, moving house with a personality. A family member. Casita didn't fade the door / make the rooms / chooses any gift. The new miracle is now embodied in Casita & each other! Casita is sentimental!!! That says a lot in itself!

What did happen for a reason was the cracks + miracle dying! All planted before Mirabel as even born. Took physical form of growing cracks as Alma love... became conditional! In so a realization a decade later she lost site of who the miracle is for.

Miracle is for her family! Her family who she loves/wanted to protect that a moutain formed is the miracle! It's literally a realization she had in All Of You!

Alma is apologizing that 5 year old girl who she believed cracks began with when truly started with her...the fact Alma's apology showcased five year old Mirabel while not looking away is such a scene. Since it's not just her wishing in that scene to not have focusing on candle if went to the past. Change things. She's truly also apologizing to that hurt little girl... cause when it comes to trauma at times there is this hurt little child inside you that will always feel that hurt & confusion of can't understand as well but do when older. Baby Mirabel expression/emotions/confusion/looking at her Abuela for help will never change no matter how much reflect on it. She's so sorry to that Mirabel & also to the current. As the current matters too. The hurt little girl will never truly get that apology/comfort she deserved but the older one will get one & how feels in decided from there. I feel like people say Alma apology wasn't genuine/too quick aren't taking in mind it's most likely the ending of the apology! More focus on visuals! Encanto is a very visual movie.

Mirabel didn't say "I forgive you." As she still has hurt in her.

She is not 5 anymore. She is 15 in the present with the hurt but now understands Alma with her story...she admits the are broken...but they will heal!

The past can't change but they will heal!

Mirabel doesn't need a fancy role to be considered special! If she doesn't even become MATRIARCH it doesn't matter. (Also this adds to her being a Disney Princess upsetting others 😭 like??? She in same area as Esmeralda, Wendy & Alice. Encanto wasn't marketed like a Princess movie too despite a musical ,,,)

Being the real gift didn't tie back to any magic! Magic isn't when back yet and didn't know was gonna get gifts back.

Bruno said "You're the real gift kid!" NOT "You're the real gift...of the family!"

Mirabel is the real gift because the real gift in the end was herself. There was a journey to get here not set in place by any magic!

They see how bright she burnt.

They see how brave she been.

This is her turn to be aknowledged. As she wanted to shine like they shine...they don't see a shine...they see a burn!

Which is something so big that didn't follow with...to the family. Even if they do consider her a gift to their family I'm sure!

Mirabel did not want to be herself so tried to be someone she's not. She admitted it in the river scene...she didn't want to be herself at all! In so was this "quirky" persona & after like people words didn't hurt at times. There is this scene where Isabela makes a remark & Mirabel face drops for a moment before she comes back with a reply. When Osvaldo comes back with remark she goes 😁 in a smile again! Tbh she wasn't overly quirky like people make her out to be,,, Isabela doing way more than Mirabel at times,,,(someone making a Mirabel analysis I can't wait when drops)

Family photos were hard to do compared to special family with fancy roles!

Mirab ending scene reflects her gift Ceremony...

Julieta : "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you! (Describes traits)

Mirabel : I see me! All of me!

All she needed to be in the end. She doesn't need some special role/power at all to be a gift & appreciated!!!!

It's not "Your the real gift...of the family"

It's "You're the real gift kid, let us in"

In so into their home & into who she is as a person!

Stephanie even describes in an interview that Mirabel had a journey (which is !!! Cause I always call it that!!! Another old interview lining up...) I do HC she is the next Matriarch in an implied sense...but in terms of Casita being her "room" & front door being her "real door." I don't think it ties to that...

I can go into a meta on way I interpreted the ending differently in terms of all Madrigals on front door & rebuilding Casita together,,,final piece into place,,,

Uhhh yeah! Intense rant! I can go into so many rants,,,

Just Mirabel is a 15 year old girl in the end that spend so long asking why. Why me? What did I do?

She didn't do anything to have this happen to her. In magical realism... sometimes things just happen! No reason at all!

It is the aftermath of what happened that is the more focus.

The matriarch thing is just something in the future as her journey continues.

There is no "miracle holder" as they ALL are the miracle & holding it. Casita too,,,in so since it's embodied in the madrigals + Casita,,, it's a lot and she's included in that all!

As her emotions affected the cracks!

I do HC Madrigals decorated her door though! That was a deleted scene that felt so,,, shows how much love her!

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