Psycho-analysing Shaggy: Part Two

In my previous blog entry I was jokingly talking about completing a thesis on the emotional problems of Shaggy, of Scooby-Doo fame.

Continuing on that theme, I thought it might be interesting to look at a few more.

Garfield Cartoon

Garfield

The character of Garfield is such a cliche in so many ways, and I'm sure he would make an interesting psychological study. 

The morbidly obese feline has an obvious eating disorder and an almost pathological need for lasagne and coffee. Certainly his manipulation of those around him to get wants he wants; his inability to empathise with others; along with his desire to hurt or keep others in their alloted place, suggests a strong pathological disorder.

Odie
Odie is an extremely needy character, far beyond what one would expect from a dog. His need to please and to return for further punishment suggest an abandonment issue, possibly from his puppy-hood.

Jon
The long-bearing Jon has been so strongly influenced by the forceful personality of Garfield, that he has now become a twisted shell of his former self. Garfield's ongoing manipulation of his master has now warped Jon to such a degree that he no longer knows how to act as a real human being, which has lead to his ongoing problems with women, and with coping with life in general.

One of the simplest solutions in such a situation would be for Jon to request hormonal medication for Garfield. Female feline hormones would lead to a softening in Garfield's personality, though Garfield's emotional distancing issues are unlikely to change in the long-term.

Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck

Scrooge McDuck

Scrooge McDuck's obsessive need to not only acquire money but to swim in it, hints at an extremely poverty-stricken and/or emotionally distant childhood. In Scrooge's mind, the acquisition of wealth is the only thing on which he can rely. Consequently his relationships with others, including his own nephew continue to suffer. 

Until Scrooge can come to terms with the void he felt in his life as a youngster, he will always remain an emotional cripple, unable to appreciate anything except wealth.

Donald Duck

Donald Duck's only adult relative is his uncle Scrooge who is an emotional cripple. The fact that Donald has managed to keep Daisy at an emotional distance for many years, suggest issues with emotional intimacy. 


In addition Donald's explosive temper would imply difficulties in identifying and managing his own emotions. This would be highly likely because his own emotional development would have been critically impaired  by his uncle.

Wile E Coyote

Wile E has an obsessive fascination with beating and eating the roadrunner. That in itself would imply only a strong need to win. But the coyote's continuing failure, which invariably resulst in pain and severe injury, may point to a form of masochism, otherwise he would simply target an easier prey.

One would need to delve into Wile E's own puppy-hood to determine his compulsive need to beat this one creature he deems as his ultimate enemy. All other distractions in life including eating and breeding have long since been forgotten.

Wile E needs long-term therapy to first identify where this need originated, and to redirect his energies into more purposeful and healthful activities.