LATENT MEANING OF ELLIPTICAL DISTORTION

the affair will turn out. If they follow the friendly
advice to get angry at once, they will not only save
money, but also will be spared a series of un-
pleasant events and emotions.

Here, to be sure, the unconscious death wish is
not expressed. It is only the elliptical form that
testifies to its presence. But the actor's advice
betrays the fact that powerful hostile feelings have
already been aroused toward the borrower by the
very prospect that the money would not be returned.
The unconscious consequence of these affects,
however, is the death wish. And, as a matter of
fact, " being angry" really means no longer
existing in each other's regard. Do we not say of
a bitter enemy, " He no longer exists as far as Fm
concerned," or " For my part, he is dead " ?

Thus, in the technique of wit and in the formula-
tion of obsessions, we unconsciously confess our
vicious thoughts by the very omission which is
intended to conceal them.

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