On nothing and nobody with an addendum on William Hogarth

While phase-related traumata are often accepted as sufficient explanation of patients' reporting that they feel like "nothing" or "nobody," it is the thesis of this paper that such feelings often derive from intrapsychic conflict and that the working through of such conflict leads to significant therapeutic benefit. In support of this thesis, two cases are presented, together with an addendum on Hogarth's Mr. Nobody.