Chapter Fifteen (the final chapter) of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Chapter Fourteen of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Chapter Thirteen of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Chapter 12 of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Dear Rowan,

This is the second part of the episode where we talk about the film Freud, directed by John Huston and starring Montgomery Clift as Freud, Eric Portman as Professor Meynert …among a cast of other talented actors. We’ll speak mainly about a key scene in the film where Freud and Meynert officially part ways. It’s a beautifully acted scene between two illustrious professionals in which we see Sigmund Freud break off from the relative comfort of the life he knows, in order to begin his own research.

As with most things in life for which we have a passion, there comes a time to decide whether or not to “hang our hat” on it. That is to say, do we put it at the forefront of our life and be defined by this thing or the other? Or do we keep it on a backburner somewhere, only to take it out occasionally for inspection?

Freud could have stayed where he was, working for others. In particular for a fellow like Meynert who seemed to have a particularly nasty dislike for him. Then on the side, in his own time he could have poked around at the concepts of hypnosis and psychoanalysis. But if he’d chosen that path, we would not know him as The Father of Psychoanalysis. We may not have ever known his name at all.

If there is a take-a-way that I would hope for you in this discussion, it is that pursuing knowledge is never futile. Everything we learn is another tool in our arsenal for living a happy life. Even if we make mistakes along the way or decide at some point to pivot from one thing to another, all of your life experiences go into the recipe that makes you who you are. So if you one day find yourself consumed by a an interest, vocation, occupation, artistic medium, area of study or even want to invent something of your own… there will be Professor Meynerts in your path to discourage you. Don’t let them. Stay the course and never let anyone tell you who you are and what you stand for.

With all my Love and Admiration,

Papa

Chapter Eleven of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Chapter Ten of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Chapter Nine of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Chapter Eight of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966

Chapter Seven of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966