Page 97 - Knighted_2018

narrator notes that “for a moment, all Conor could see was sudden thunderstorms on the way,
could feel them ready to explode in the sky and through his body and out of his fists. For a
moment, he felt as if he could grab hold of the very air and twist it around Lily and rip her right
in two” (67). Conor is inclined towards violence because his anger overpowers his grief and “he
blamed Lily, because who else was there” (69). The monster, acting as the id, offers Conor the
opportunity to physically satisfy his impulsive anger.

The monster’s role as the id is a reversal of its role as the superego. The id requires the
“satisfaction of its innate needs” while the superego’s “main function remains the limitation of
satisfactions” (Outline 17). Each role is assumed when it is needed most. Acting as the superego,
the monster is able to guide Conor out of his denial of the severity of his mother’s condition; as
the id, the monster provides Conor with a way to express the emotions he attempts to repress.
Through the third tale, the monster assumes the role of both, first as the id in violence and ending
as the superego with instruction. As the id, the monster urges Conor to stand up to Harry and
make himself seen: “‘I made them see,’ it said. Conor clenched his fists even tighter. Then the
monster leapt forward to make Harry see” (Ness 152). The monster gives Conor the strength
needed to adequately release his rage, enough strength to put Harry in the hospital with multiple
injuries:

Connor had felt what the monster was doing to Harry, felt it is his own hands. . . . When
the monster struck a blow, Conor felt the sting of it in his own fist. When the monster
held Harry’s arm behind his back, Connor had felt Harry’s muscles resisting. Resisting,
but not winning. Because how could a boy beat a monster? (Ness 154)
Conor must satisfy his “innate need” to be seen. Harry’s insisting that Conor is invisible awakens
Conor’s id to act. When the monster finishes attacking Harry, he immediately assumes the

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