ABSTRACT
The chapter presents two different ways of living out grandiosity—two “types.” For Puer types, grandiosity presents only in fantasies, including in the stories that they tell about themselves. By contrast Sisyphus types are those who put their grandiosity into action and, for better or worse, actually pursue their goals. This chapter focuses on Puer types, who have been discussed extensively in analytical psychology. Puer types grandiosely aim to extend adolescence indefinitely to avoid facing the inevitable disappointments of adult life. Stuck in a provisional life, they do not commit to relationships, keep trying out different careers, and never quite settle down. The chapter presents examples from The Little Prince and The Great Gatsby and concludes highlighting some of the Puer types’ positive traits, such as enthusiasm and openness to new possibilities and ideas.
