Narcissus — The Myth of Narcissism

An ancient Greek myth tells of a beautiful young man named Narcissus, full of vanity, loving himself beyond measure.

The myth tells that one day Narcissus went to the riverbank to drink water. He leaned down to kiss his reflection, and remained lying on the riverbank for long days until his feet struck deep roots into the water and his body transformed into twigs and flowers — thus the narcissus flower came to be, telling the story of a young man who loved himself to the point of drowning.

The myth inspired many psychologists to analyze what they termed narcissism — the pathological condition in which people develop an excessive need for veneration and admiration from others, an inflated ego, a grandiose sense of self-importance, and talk of great achievements that are in reality simple at best or nonexistent.

Such people may act with two faces, lacking a clear personality. They are defeated within, swaying and tilting according to their interests, hypocritical in social relationships.

There is a noble hadith that says: “You will find that the worst of people is the two-faced one who comes to some with one face and to others with another.”

Self-love is not a flaw, but the problem arises when it turns into a pathological condition and a game of manipulation.

Narcissus was beautiful, and his infatuation with himself drove him to drown. But what about those with grim faces possessing neither beauty of form nor spirit, defeated within, acting with two faces, swaying with their interests, and practicing social hypocrisy? That is the problem.