The Three Christs of Ypsilanti

by Milton Rokeach

  It is awfully nice of you to be interested in me, seeing that there are 4,000 persons that you have to take care of.

  I am praying that I will obtain a transfer from my dad … Yes, a dad cannot refuse such a transfer as I am asking for, when especially it means so many values.

  I would have the opportunity of so many doubles that we all would be richer for it; and it is all a matter of mind. It is all a matter of pure mentality. Those doubles must be all used; I would use them in C-63. Over there in D-16 it is all different. The mind is so different. I would use all with my power the mentality of those doubles. Believe me, sir, I would. So be it. I write the truth.

  Joseph Cassel

  This is the first time Joseph refers to the “doubles,” a term which immediately calls to mind Dostoevski’s novel, The Double. On an earlier occasion Joseph had similarly spoken of “changing numbers.” “You go to bed one night wearing a bow tie and you wake up one morning and you’re not wearing a bow tie. In the night you changed numbers.”

  February 21. Dr. Yoder writes Joseph that he is willing to reconsider the issue of a transfer if Joseph explains more fully his reasons for the request and particularly his attitudes toward Leon and Clyde. Joseph replies:

  I am glad that you will reopen my case. As for the separation from Clyde Benson and Leon Gabor, I will say that in C-63, I will be safe, from not only D-ward, but also from the bad psychology that I received, or have been the recipient from, both of them. Thus, I admit the bad feeling and the sickness, although your medicine that you have prescribed to me is doing a tremendous amount of goodness to me; and I certainly would hate to separate from my medicine.

  As for John Michael Ernahue, I am he, I am also God. You see, Dr. Yoder, there is such an entity as reproduction in life. You die and you are reproduced, and sometimes you have another name. As for the claims of Gabor and Benson for Jesus Christ and God, I must say that Benson is kind of mild anent it; he claims still that he’s God and Jesus Christ, but Gabor is rather quiet about it. As for me, I am very quiet, thus, I do not invite myself for a contrariness that I am God and Jesus Christ. But Gabor, not long ago, said he was Christ. I said I was what I was.

  February 24. A letter from Dr. Yoder denies the transfer on the ground that Joseph is better off where he now is. Joseph seems quite unconcerned. In fact, his anxiety about a transfer seems to have suddenly waned. He shifts, instead, to another demand.

  February 26

  My dear dad:

  The medicine is doing a tremendous amount of good to me. My stomach and abdomen are better. I digest better; I eat better; and my constipation is not bothering me any more. My peace of mind is better. Thank you for your ordering that the medicine be continued for me.

  Yours very truly,

  Joseph Cassel

  P. S. . . . What I should ask you for is a job. Why don’t you give me a hand, Dr. Yoder? I can write. If I ever get outside, if I ever get free, I’ll write and one day I’ll become great in the art of literature. This is it! In literature. I’ll write books! I’ll work even for a publishing house, selling books. I’ll work for a magazine. I’ll work for a newspaper. I’ll work for the purpose of becoming great in literature. I’ll make the grade, all right, but I must be given a hand. So please, Dr. Yoder, do something about giving me a job?

  Joseph says he’s been reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. When I ask him the details of the story, he says it is symbolic of the bad side of man’s nature. Man is good and man is bad. People like this do exist. Prisons will prove it—double personality.

  “Do you think Mr. Hyde was crazy?” I ask.

  “I think Mr. Hyde had enough memory of Dr. Jekyll to be not insane. I think he was a criminal. He should have stayed with his first person.”

  March 1

  My dear Joseph:

  You write that you wish a job becoming great in literature. Well, I have always admired your literary taste and I would like very much to encourage you. May I make the following suggestions:

  1. Would you be willing to write a short story? Perhaps it might be good enough to send to a magazine.

  2. Or, an article about a topic of your choosing, for a good literary magazine.

  3. Or, a novel.

  4. Or, an autobiography. “The story of my life” by Joseph Cassel.

  5. Or, an article about psychology.

  Would you be willing to take one of the above jobs? … I hereby give you freedom to write. Let me know what you need; paper? pencils? pen? typewriter? anything. Let me know what you need to have the freedom to write.

  In the meantime, be assured that I will always love you just exactly like a father who deeply loves his own son.

  Sincerely yours,

  O. R. Yoder, M.D.

  March 2. Joseph, in his reply to Dr. Yoder’s letter, throws up all sorts of obstacles: he does not have a good library; he is occupied with his new cleaning job; he must first have a publisher; he needs more office space; he needs a secretary; he needs a typewriter, preferably a portable Corona; he needs money for supplies. And, Joseph adds, he needs courage and pluck. “Perhaps,” Joseph says, “the letters I have written to Dr. Yoder could be published? Along with his? Read this letter carefully and see if it is not worthy of being published. I have seen such letters of this type published before, but not as good as mine, by a long shot. They were much cheaper.”

  March 7. Dr. Yoder replies in this vein: “You say you need courage and pluck. I hereby give you the strength to have courage and pluck, loving you as I do, loving you as a father loves a son. Have the courage and pluck to be a penniless writer, starting out to write without secretaries.” And so on.

  March 9. Joseph says he doesn’t have time to write and that he isn’t ready. “You have to have the head for it.”

  It is clear we have learned all we are going to about Joseph’s reaction to writing. To continue along this line would only be to increase his anxiety. It is time to put an end to it.

  March 14

  My dear Joseph:

  If you would feel better by not writing, then I urge you not to write literature.

  If you wish to write something, all right. I think that what would be interesting to write about is the psychology of identity, about which psychology and psychiatry know so little as yet. Would you be interested in writing a short article on your identity, and on the identity of the other two gentlemen with whom you have meetings? … However, I wish to make it perfectly clear that if for any reason whatsoever you do not wish to write, you do not have to. Write such an article only if you are interested in doing so. If not, then perhaps we should drop altogether the whole matter of writing literature.

  Whichever way you decide, be completely assured that I will continue to love you like a father loves his own son.

  Cordially,

  O. R. Yoder, M.D.

  March 15

  My dear Dad:

  Thank you for your writing that I have the choice of writing literature or no … I am not writing literature for a while ’cause I am not quite ready for it, and I ask of you to give me the grant to write later. . . .

  … As for the psychology of identity, it is quite tempting to write anent, as you suggest, but I think I should write this later. One wishes to be oneself, to look like himself, and the will of one person is awfully needful for the obtaining and keeping of one’s identity … You are quite right that “psychology and psychiatry know so little as yet about identity.” This should be written by a good author … it ought to be taken out of closets and written for the reader in a literary form, the same as The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant, The Human Body by Logan Clendenning, The Outline of History by H. G. Wells, The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem Van Loon. . . .

  Yes, I am attending church still. I have attended Catholic Church, but of late I have attended Protestant and Jewish services. I do not wish to commit myself to write which I prefer, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish. I love the One-God idea of religion, but Catholic religion is very histo
rical and strong … religion is so essential, delicate, and necessitous. . . .

  Knowledge does so much to you, ignorance kills you and makes you sickly.

  Yours truly,

  Joseph Cassel

  One of the curious aspects of Joseph’s church-going is that despite the fact that he is a Catholic he does not attend Catholic services. How would Joseph react to a suggestion from Dr. Yoder that he attend such services?

  March 16

  Dear dad:

  In answer to your letter of March 16, I wish to write that your letter was quite unexpected. However, since you want me to write a report on the “Catholic Church” and what their services are like I hereby ask of you to read what follows. But, as for my attending Catholic service, I wish to write that I first attended Catholic service for quite or for an enough-while that I remember what Catholic service is like. From the Catholic service, I went to the Protestant, and after, I went to Jewish service. I am sorry, but I have to attend Jewish service but perhaps, late around, I may go to Catholic service again. However, it may be, I can write on what Catholic service is like.

  The Catholic service is a do-not-wrong service, it is full of moralism. It is adopted from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and it is full of history—history since the persecution of martyrs and of crucifixion of Christ. The service is full of prayers, essential to the fervent—prayers to the saints and to God. God and the saints are forever prayed in church—in Catholic church.

  When the priest preaches, he is enunciating in favor of doing good and he demolishes the bad and evil in the world. The Catholic Church is forever heralding the good, and evil is spoken against. The followers of Catholicism are forever reminded that once upon a time the followers of the new religion, Catholicism, were persecuted by the pagans. . . . The early followers of the church were right, when they knew there was but one God. . . .

  Yours truly,

  Joseph Cassel

  March 22

  Dear Joseph:

  I would like an up-to-date report on your medicine, your work and whatever else is happening, and should you ever attend the Catholic service an up-to-date report on it.

  I continue to think of you with high regard and esteem.

  Sincerely,

  O. R. Yoder, M.D.

  My dear dad:

  Thank you for your letter of March 22. . . . I am sorry to relate I cannot write another Catholic service report. I am sure the one I have written is sufficient, so please do not expect any other Catholic service report from me. . . .

  As for the up-to-date report which you ask for on my medicine, I can only reply … that the medicine is very excellent for me; it is the same as I have scribbled before: good for all; for constipation, for stomachache, etceteraes. . . .

  As for my work, I work in K-1 building, as you know, and I work hard enough: I empty waste-baskets, I pick up laundry, I sweep and mop the hallway, on both ends, I sweep and mop the stairways, two of them. I work hard enough.

  Yours very truly,

  Joseph Cassel

  P.S. Please do not forget to make a reply to this my letter. . . . As for money, I am broke … I have not any money.

  March 24. Joseph embarks once again on a letter-writing spree to all his relatives—this one a pre-Easter campaign. To his father in Canada he writes (in French):

  Dear father:

  Easter greetings to my parents. Wishes I could see you. I have not had any news for a long time … How is it in Canada?

  I have no money. Can you send me some. Thanks in advance.

  Dr. Yoder wants me to write literature; told him I had to justify literature and could write better later on, when I leave hospital … I correspond with Dr. Yoder regularly.

  Do not forget to send me money. I have been in hospital for a long time. Would like to leave. How I would love to be in Canada with you and Mama. If you find some way to get me out of here I would be very happy …

  I love the English language and people. I write well in English. Don’t forget the money.

  When there is great trouble, as in the present time, England steps in and ends the trouble with God, who is me …

  Can it be arranged in Canada that Elizabeth ‘gives in,’ that is, if she is not willing to give me my job as king. I need a good lawyer in order to get back my job as king.

  Drop my going to Canada. I’ve no head for it.

  Yours truly,

  Joseph Cassel

  March 30. In a private interview with Joseph I ask him whether the man he writes to in Canada is his Dad.

  “Supposed to be,” he replies.

  —Is he really your Dad?—

  “Yeah.”

  —And Dr. Yoder is your Dad too?—

  “I guess that’s right.”

  —It isn’t very often a man has two Dads.—

  “Dr. Yoder says he treats me like a Dad but he doesn’t say he is my Dad, but the other one in Canada writes ‘Cher Fils,’ so if that’s the case he’s my Dad.”

  —Which one is your favorite Dad?—

  “My favorite Dad is over in Canada, as far as I know. But Dr. Yoder is more prompt in answering letters.”

  He goes on to say that Dr. Yoder’s letters are “answering some purpose for the hospital. Dr. Yoder wrote to Benson and Dung and now to me. Some day mine will cease too. It terminated with them; why not with me? Clyde Benson was calling him Dad and answering letters to him.” This is not so, of course. Clyde has never written to Dr. Yoder, or called him Dad.

  March 31. Today something quite unexpected happens. Joseph makes an extraordinary attempt to go over Dr. Yoder’s head. He writes a long letter to President Kennedy, parts of which are reproduced here.

  My dear President Kennedy:

  You may wonder for my sending this letter to you, but I am God, and I remember you as an old friend of mine.

  You, as president of the U.S. have already done much work for the benefit of the country. . . . In my engineering, I knew that you would become president of the U.S., therefore I engineered to this effect. And I thank you for your having done so well. . . . I cannot praise you enough for your work.

  But what I wish to write at this moment is that I am stranded here in the hospital, and I wish I could be released. Could you do something for me? And could you give me a job in Washington—I could be a good adviser. I understand science of politics, sociology, civics, economics, law, etc. I’m sure you could effect my dismissal from this institution. How gleeful I would be to be your adviser. . . . Just write to Dr. O. R. Yoder, who is medical superintendent of Ypsilanti State Hospital, Ypsilanti, Mich., U.S.A., Box A, and by telling him that you need me as your adviser, and that you’d like my release, I’m sure that Dr. Yoder would oblige. . . .

  Yours very truly,

  Joseph Cassel

  P.S. Any kind of job would do in Washington, even floor cleaning and mopping, for me. I have nothing here, I am without everything. . . .

  The English are the head of the Ka of the world, and how they take care of it. And am I glad I am English. If I could only go back to England. But the doctor who is head of this hospital claims I cannot go back to England. What am I to do now, Mr. President? …

  If you want a good writer with you, I am the one: I can write. . . . Hire me as a writer for you or for the govt. and you will never be sorry; you would be sure of me as a sober, assiduous worker. . . . And all day, I hear voices that you are my dad, my father. So please do something for me. . . . And as you are my dad and father, I certainly am well enough to be released by your order and taken to the White House. Can you send some of your men to take me to the White House? Please, father, do it, and I’ll be a devoted worker for you. I will live and conduct myself as God ought to. . . . As your son I certainly deserve a job in the govt. . . .

  Now you have replaced Eisenhower. As for Eisenhower, it was he, also, who brought me to the hospital, so I could get my godliness from Nixon. . . . Well, I was then vice-president of the U.S., but I was replaced by Nixon. (If
some of the writings are illogical, it is because some of the happenings took place in the world, which I am talking about.)

  … I guess I have written enough so, so long, dad, and don’t forget your old pal, God.

  … And nobody else is to be picked up in my place. Just me—I mean there may be a fellow in the hospital who might want to be picked up in my place, please give order not to pick him up. His name is R. I. Dung and he is a patient here in D-16.

  April 1

  My dear wifie:

  … I am sending a letter to President Kennedy in Washington; I hope I get an answer. I am asking him to get me out of the hospital and give me a job in Washington. . . .

  I hope President Kennedy gets me out of here. If he does, I’ll write to you from Washington and have you come to stay there with me. O.K.? …

  Yours very truly,

  Joseph Cassel

  What was the psychological import of Joseph’s letter to President Kennedy, we asked ourselves. It was clear, at least, that we were witness here to a significant change in his delusional system. He now saw President Kennedy as his father. And it is unlikely that Joseph was only pretending; his letter to his wife suggests he was in dead earnest. Did this mean that Dr. Yoder was no longer Dad? But he continued to address Dr. Yoder as “My dear Dad.” Despite this, however, it was reasonable to suppose that Joseph had written to President Kennedy to ask for a job as a writer because he was unhappy that his incompetence in this field had been exposed and for this reason felt compelled to seek out a yet more powerful protector—the President of the United States.[1]

  By means of our experimental procedure we had put Joseph in what has been called a “double-bind”[2]—either he must change his behavior to comply with suggestions made by a positive authority or he must change his attitude toward authority itself. This had happened earlier to Leon, who had either to go along with Madame Yeti Woman’s suggestions or else to change his attitudes toward her. At first Leon had gone along with her suggestions, but not without some ambivalence. As the ambivalence increased, he changed his attitudes toward her, eventually giving up the delusion that he was married to her or even that she existed, and more generally giving up the delusion that he was a Yeti man, a member of the Yeti tribe of remote Mount Komuru, which had very specific norms and values.