The discussion of "negative narcissism" is another one of the several examples Butler provides that possesses a very contradictory nature. Negative narcissism deals with the counteractive effect of "regarding oneself as excrement." It is this negative experience that creates a disparity from actually identifying with the excrement. Therefore, a mediator, like a priest, is needed where "everything that the abject consciousness offers, that is, all of its externalizations, including desire, work, and excrement, are to be construed as offerings, as paying penance" (51). This purging of the body is what ironically creates this negativity into a narcissitic activity where self-absorption of the consciousness is practiced.

Therefore, along with Butler's argument with our inability to stop desiring along with this example of our inability to NOT be narcissistic seems that she is implying a lot of ultimately negative things about the human nature. Did anyone else interpret these discussions to this conclusion?