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Clarence Cowie
Dr. Berger is the central figure of a vignette entitled “Dr. Berger’s Mental Health Hour,” in which various “cured” characters—including a psychopath, homosexual, and writer—are put to the test by being asked to recite a specific line in a specific way. The results are unsuccessful, and Dr. Berger’s technician calls into question the efficacy of his work and suggests that Dr. Berger’s methods (which likely include lobotomy) are antithetical to health. This outrages Dr. Berger, and he exclaims that he has “all the health!” In this way, his character represents the type of medical professional who is filled with hubris and believes he has the knowledge and skill to solve all manner of problems within the human psyche.
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Dr. Berger Character Timeline in Naked Lunch
The timeline below shows where the character Dr. Berger appears in Naked Lunch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
14. Ordinary Men and Women
The narrative jumps to Doctor Berger ’s Mental Health Hour. A Technician coaches a Cured Criminal Psychopath to deliver a specific...
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The Technician says that those three are the only boys he’s got. He then reminds Doctor Berger that he still hasn’t been paid for the work he’s done. The Technician asks Doctor...
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