“Have you wanted to know the future, and use it to manipulate people and events?
Have you ever imagined a life of unadulterated pleasure doing whatever you want with no consequences? Such desires are entirely natural, and part of what is often known as our “shadow side.” The eminent psychologist Carl Jung believed that we all have a shadow self that reveals our deeper emotions and intentions. In our everyday
lives, we learn for the most part to control these thoughts through self-discipline. Phil’s actions allow us to witness what happens when our shadow runs the show. He eats and drinks as much as he wants, amuses himself as much as he wants, and has sex as much as he wants. He is living the life you might have dreamed of, or might even have led at one time. He symbolizes the fantasy of our consumer culture: you can have whatever you want whenever you want. You can also see that this fantasy is a
delusion, for Phil’s fantasy turns into a nightmare, as it probably would for you too.”