“A Little Life” (post 3) by Hanya Yanagihara: Jude Argues with Himself, a Sign of Multiple Personality

“…increasingly he [Jude] was certain Willem [a friend] knew something. (Knows what? he’d [an alternate personality would]  argue with himself…You’re just looking for a reason to tell him, and then what will he think of you? Be smart. Say nothing. Have some self-control)” (1, p. 108).

Textbook: “Many host [regular] personalities already have some form of communication with the other personalties when they present for treatment, although they are usually not aware of what is actually happening. The experience of the host personality is that he or she gets into arguments with himself or herself" (2, p. 82).

Comment: Ambivalence, per se, would assume the presence of only one person who has mixed feelings; whereas arguing, per se, would assume the presence of two people, the regular personality and an alternate personality, which is experienced as if it were another person. Therefore, arguing with yourself (as opposed to ordinary ambivalence) is a sign of multiple personality.

1. Hanya Yanagihara. A Little Life. New York, Anchor Books, 2015/2016.

2. Frank W. Putnam, MD. Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder. New York, The Guilford Press, 1989.