Es has Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Manifesto
Es, the protagonist of Milgram, textually has Dissociative Identity Disorder. This analysis will explain why.
First of all is the most obvious piece of evidence: dialogue from Fuuta's third voice drama, The Second Coming.
Es outright says that they believe themself to have multiple identities within them. They then go on to expand on this statement.
Now, what does this sound like?
That's right. Es practically lists the criteria for DID in respect to themself.
Now, I sincerely doubt that Yamanaka didn't know what he was doing here. After all, Milgram features Mikoto and John Kayano, who are explicitly stated to have DID; in fact, it's one of the main points of their character and case. With that in mind, it would be near impossible for this specific listing of symptoms not to be intentionally signalling Es's DID.
However, people tend to argue that Es doesn't have DID, as what they describe here may have to do with Milgram's real-life audience. To that, I will first say, why can't the real-life audience be an allegory for alters, or even outright be such in-universe? However, Es is shown to fulfill the criteria for DID in other contexts. This is what the bulk of my analysis will focus on.
The first example of Es showing behavior consistent with DID is in Muu's First Trial voice drama, Crying B. As shown in the above screenshots, when forced to confront their own inconsistent identity, Es is triggered and has a minor panic attack. This is a very common occurrence for people with DID; the way that the disorder functions is by hiding its own existence, and therefore having it brought to attention is upsetting. Below is quoted from the DSM-5:
They often conceal, or are not fully aware of, disruptions in consciousness, amnesia, or other dissociative symptoms.
Additionally, Muu describes patterns of dissociation here. In Trial One, Es treats everything, as Muu said, "like it's someone else's business". This is a clear example of depersonalization — "a dissociative phenomenon characterized by a subjective feeling of detachment from oneself, manifesting as a sense of disconnection from one's thoughts, emotions, sensations, or actions, and often accompanied by a feeling of observing oneself from an external perspective" [source].
Mahiru's First Trial voice drama, Love Is Mine, is another that directly confronts Es's amnesia and dissociation.
Mahiru asks Es for autobiographical information, which they don't recall. This is obvious, we've known from their introduction that they have amnesia. What's more interesting is their response to this questioning.
First of all, Es is shown justifying their own dissociative amnesia here. Digging deeper into their past would likely be triggering, but even that can't be acknowledged, so they make up an excuse. Below is quoted from the DSM-5:
Individuals with dissociative identity disorder vary in their awareness and attitude toward their amnesias. It is common for these individuals to minimize their amnestic symptoms. Some of their amnestic behaviors may be apparent to others — as when these persons do not recall something they were witnessed to have done or said, when they cannot remember their own name, or when they do not recognize their spouse, children, or close friends.
Regardless of level of disability, individuals with dissociative identity
disorder commonly minimize the impact of their dissociative and posttraumatic symptoms.
And when Mahiru further presses them?
They completely zone out — in other words, dissociate — from the topic, and don't pick it up afterwards.
This set of lines is from Amane's First Trial voice drama, Apostle And Death. Once again, Es has a hard time being confronted with the idea of their own identity.
This, from the same voice drama, shows the first example of Es switching to another alter. It is a repeated pattern of Es switching to this alter, typically triggered by the ringing of the bell. To avoid confusion, I'll nickname this alter "Executioner", after a line of Kotoko's from Task.
The switch from Es to Executioner is very clear. Es is originally holding calm and even positive conversation with Amane. However, after the trigger, they're silent for a moment, before their demeanor completely shifts. It's very obvious once you know what you're looking for. Keep this in mind, as Executioner shows up repeatedly throughout Milgram. In fact, they appear prominently once again in Kotoko's First Trial voice drama, Task.
Before that, though, Es once again dissociates when attempting to confront their identity.
Es is very friendly to Kotoko here. They even seem like they want to take her offer. However, moments later, the bell rings.
Es's behavior, attitude, and seemingly even belief set suddenly changes. Once again, Executioner has switched out; even Kotoko has noticed the change.
Even over the First Trial alone, Es has experienced enough to qualify for a DID diagnosis. The next few trials only strengthen this.
Fuuta's Second Trial voice drama, Baptism of Fire, shows another very clear switch. Es shows large amounts of sympathy to Fuuta, pitying him, only to switch to Executioner when the bell rings and go back on all their words of compassion.
In Muu's Second Trial voice drama, Queen B, Es once again tries to understand their identity outside of being the warden, and is met with another panic attack. Even Muu recognizes what's happening again.
In Shidou's Second Trial voice drama, Aesculapius, Es refers to themself as "we" for the first time. Upon having this pointed out, they seem confused at first, and then ignore it. Again, this is completely typical to DID. Acknowledgement of the disorder defeats its purpose.
Amane's Second Trial voice drama, Of Blessedness And Punishment, is a whole can of DID worms that I won't get into here, since the post is about Es. However, suffice it to say that Amane also fulfills the diagnostic criteria, something that is relevant to Es as well.
Previous to this moment, Es and "Amane" discussed at length how "Amane" is, quote, "like a different person" than the normal Amane. Now, "Amane" is comparing that experience of dissociative self states to Es, who has once again referred to themself in the plural.
Both Amane and "Amane" recognize Es as a non-singular entity, and refer to them accordingly. Interestingly (though there are no official studies on this, making it technically more like anecdotal evidence), people with DID tend to be able to recognize the condition in each other. If you Google it, people speak about the phenomenon quite frequently.
Switching headaches are a commonly recognized DID symptom, and have been documented in literature in the subject since 2001. Es being referred to in the plural is likely what's causing this switch.
A switch to Executioner. Just as usual, it was shortly after the bells rang, and it was once again marked with violence. The pattern is becoming quite consistent indeed.
In Kotoko's Second Trial voice drama, Yonah, Kotoko calls Es's role as a warden into question. Immediately, Es is hit with a headache, and struggles to speak, likely due to dissociation.
Then, Executioner switches out. You can see the quick oscillation in viewpoints and beliefs. Es is about to admit that they agree with Kotoko's point of view, but Executioner vehemently denies such a thing.
And, finally, we're hit with this. Quite explicit with it.
But it gets even more explicit in Fuuta's Third Trial voice drama, The Second Coming. Here are the lines that were quoted at the beginning of the post.
Let's compare Es's description of their symptoms to the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5.
"Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting."
"coexistence of completely opposite ideologies and values, as well as fragmented identity"
Disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states, which may be described in some cultures as an experience of possession. The disruption in identity involves marked discontinuity in sense of self and sense of agency, accompanied by related alterations in affect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition, and/or sensory-motor functioning. These signs and symptoms may be observed by others or reported by the individual.
Now, real quick, let's go through DID's remaining criterion.
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Check. Many previous screenshots have shown Es extremely distressed by their symptoms, and experiencing social impairment with the other prisoners as a result of them.
D. The disturbance is not a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice.
Note: In children, the symptoms are not better explained by imaginary playmates or other fantasy play.
Check. The only possible other explanation here is the audience, which is far from a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice, or imaginary playmates or fantasy play. (Not to mention, it hasn't even been confirmed that Es's "wills" are the audience. Considering Milgram's supernatural nature, it's even possible that the voices the other prisoners have heard are simply Es's alters being externalized throughout the prison!)
E. The symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., blackouts or chaotic behavior during alcohol intoxication) or another medical condition (e.g., complex partial seizures).
Check. Es has no access to mind-altering substances, and shows no symptoms of other medical conditions.
In conclusion? Es meets every single one of the criteria for DID. Es shows a distinct alter that can't be attributed to "the audience". Es textually, and even canonically, has DID.
Thank you for reading this monster of a post.
