lacking subject
1. Does "lacking subject" in the following text mean "an incomplete subject"?

2. Does "to keep it in place" in the last line of the text below mean "in order for the illusion to keep itself in place"?

Text:
According to Lacan, it is this misrecognition that dominates our relation to the image and which causes us misery in our bound-to-fail attempts to uphold this image of ourselves both in our own and in others’ eyes. This misrecognition founds a lacking subject, a subject who is not complete but uses the image to give itself the illusion of completeness, an illusion which, while partly necessary, leads one to erect defence mechanisms, such as superiority over others, to keep it in place.

Question

lacking subject
1. Does "lacking subject" in the following text mean "an incomplete subject"?

2. Does "to keep it in place" in the last line of the text below mean "in order for the illusion to keep itself in place"?

Text:
According to Lacan, it is this misrecognition that dominates our relation to the image and which causes us misery in our bound-to-fail attempts to uphold this image of ourselves both in our own and in others’ eyes. This misrecognition founds a lacking subject, a subject who is not complete but uses the image to give itself the illusion of completeness, an illusion which, while partly necessary, leads one to erect defence mechanisms, such as superiority over others, to keep it in place.

Answer

Lacking subject means a missing subject. And yes it’s talking about the subject where it sayS to “keep it in place.” It says “THE SUBJECT who is not complete but uses the imagine to give ITSELF the illusion which leads one to erect defence mechanisms SUCH AS superiority TO KEEP IT IN PLACE.” I used capitals on purpose so you know that it’s still referring to the subject. Hope this helps

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