The Story Behind the Name
I kind of love the story of how the word narcissist came to life. In Greek Mythology, Narcissus, was a son of Cephissus and Liriope. When he was still a child, Tiresias made a prophecy that he would live a long life as long as he never knew himself.
Narcissus was known for his beauty and turned those who sought him away because he was incapable of returning love and affection, also believing he was above all of them.
One day when Narcissus was hunting, Echo saw him and immediately fell in love. Echo had been cursed by Hera, leaving her only able to echo others, unable to speak her own words or her own mind. Echo watched him from a distance, falling more and more in love with him, becoming infatuated.
Echo could not call out to Narcissus, but when Narcissus heard someone in the forest he called out, “is anyone there?” Unable to speak her own words, Echo repeated, “is anyone there?” After a few other calls, Narcussis called out, “we must come together”.
Echo believed that he was recuperating the love she had for him. She ran to Narcissus who was appalled by her and turned her away as he exclaimed, “Hands off. May I die before you enjoy my body”. Echo ran and hid, his words leaving her with pain, humiliation, and shame. Echo, consumed by her love for Narcissus, withered away alone, leaving only a lonely voice. An echo.
Nemesis, the Goddess of retribution, called for revenge. She attracted Narcissus to a spring of water. Narcissus kneeled down and saw a beautiful image looking back at him. He grew with desire at the image. He would look in the eyes of the beautiful image, who would look back with the same intense stare. He would smile at the beautiful image, and it would smile back. He became obsessed with the image. Narcissus, longing for the beautiful image, went to hug it, only to realize that the image fell apart.
Narcissus realized that the image was himself and was so madly in love. Narcissus died at the edge of the water, unable to look away from himself.
This is a tale of obsessive love for another and for one’s self. Both of these loves were destined to die tragically.
Narcissus did not live a long life because he realized that he loved only himself. In the end, Narcissus faced the same kind of torment that he had afflicted onto others.
Great story, right? There are so many morals you can take away from this story.
A tragedy of being consumed by an idealized image of oneself, never the true self.
It can be a tale of Karma (who doesn’t love a good Karma story when it comes to a narc?!)
Cruelty will eventually be reflected onto oneself.
There are so many more, but you get the idea! If you have ever known a narcissist, I am sure this story moved you. It probably triggered a memory and brought you back to your own abusive story.
The irony is that Narcissus fell in love with an illusion of himself, the only self he would ever know.
