Ego and the Lacanian Subject

Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts the Ego and the Subject by first defining the two concepts and putting them in a frame of reference for easy understanding. The paper examines whether the Subject is an individual in any way and whether it can be defined with the Ego present. The paper explains that a key difference between the two concepts is that the Ego is a structural and topographical concept whereas Subjectivity precludes structure. The paper explores this difference.
Outline
Introduction
The Ego and the Subject
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"First the Ego or "I" according to Freud is "symbolized in dreams by a fortress, or a stadium-- its inner arena and enclosure, surrounded by marshes and rubbish-tips, dividing it into two opposed fields of contest where the subject flounders" (Lacan 5). This is where the idea of the Ego being based upon structure is derived from the imagery of dreams found in the human psyche. It seems one is ready to invent boundaries or compartments of complexities in order to explain or name human behavior. This happens so one can make logical sense out of experiences that may be difficult to process. Even Freud realized he made a mistake and gave Ego too much importance by "attributed powers and responsibilities to the ego that the ego was ill equipped to exercise" (Bodie 18). It is because of this Freud applied structure or division of the human subject into the conscious and unconscious portions even though structure does not work with the Subject. Despite these separations even Freud admitted "the ego is not sharply separated from the Subject; its lower portions merge into it" (Bodie 19)."

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