Illeism (; from Latin : "he; that man") is the act of referring to oneself in the third person instead of first person. It is sometimes used in literature as a stylistic device. In real-life usage, illeism can reflect a number of different stylistic intentions or involuntary circumstances.
In literature Early literature such as Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico or Xenophon's Anabasis, both ostensibly non-fictional accounts of wars led by their authors, used illeism to impart an air of objective impartiality, which included justifications of the author's actions. In this way personal bias is presented, albeit dishonestly, as objectivity.
In an essay, theologian Richard B. Hays challenged earlier findings that he disagrees with: "These were the findings of one Richard B. Hays, and the newer essay treats the earlier work and earlier author at arms' length."Richard B. Hays, “‘Here We Have No Lasting City’: New Covenantalism in Hebrews” in Richard J. Bauckham et al. (eds.), The Epistle to the Hebrews and Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009), 151–173, esp. 151–152, 167.
Illeism may also be used to show idiocy, as with the character Mongo in Blazing Saddles, e.g. "Mongo like candy" and "Mongo only pawn in game of life", though it may also show innocent simplicity, as it does with Harry Potter's Dobby the Elf ("Dobby has come to protect, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door"). The childlike Sesame Street Muppet character Elmo almost exclusively speaks in the third person.
In the Babylonian Talmud and related texts, illeism is used extensively, often taking the form of the speaker utilizing the expression hahu gavra ("That man") when referring to himself.Cf. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Chagigah 15a
Salman Rushdie used the device in his memoir Joseph Anton.
In everyday speech In different contexts, illeism can be used to reinforce self-promotion, as used to sometimes comic effect by Bob Dole throughout his political career ("When the president is ready to deploy, Bob Dole is ready to lead the fight on the Senate Floor", Bob Dole speaking about the Strategic Defense Initiative at the NCPAC convention, 1987). This was particularly made notable during the United States presidential election of 1996 and lampooned broadly in popular media for years afterwards. Deepanjana Pal of Firstpost noted that speaking in the third person "is a classic technique used by generations of Bollywood scriptwriters to establish a character's aristocracy, power and gravitas".
On the other hand, third person self-referral can be associated with self-deprecation, irony, and not taking oneself too seriously (since the excessive use of the pronoun "I" is often seen as a sign of narcissism and egocentrism), as well as with eccentricity in general. Psychological studies show that thinking and speaking of oneself in the third person increases wisdom and has a positive effect on one's mental state because an individual who does so is more intellectually humble, more capable of empathy and understanding the perspectives of others, and is able to distance themself emotionally from their problems.
Accordingly, in certain Eastern religions, like Hinduism, illeism is sometimes seen as a sign of enlightenment, since through it, an individual detaches their eternal self (atman) from their bodily form; in particular, Jnana yoga encourages its practitioners to refer to themselves in the third person. Known illeists of that sort include Swami Ramdas, Anandamayi Ma, and Mata Amritanandamayi.
A number of celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, Alice Cooper, and Deanna Durbin,Private letter to film historian/critic William K. Everson in the late 1970s referred to themselves in the third person to distance their public persona from their actual self. Mary J. Blige, in her song "Family Affair", introduces herself in the third person.
Some parents use illeism (refer to themselves as "Daddy" or "Mommy") because very young children may not yet understand that the pronouns "I" and "you" refer to different people based on context. Toddlers acquiring speech often refer to themselves in the third person before learning proper usage of the pronoun "I", and their speech evolves past using illeism once they develop a strong sense of self-recognition, often before age two.
In Japanese, children may refer to themselves by their name, girls in particular. Furthermore, Japanese women may refer to themselves by their name to appear cute or childish. This practice is associated with burikko, a Japanese term for women who put on an affect of cuteness.
Notable illeists Real people
Politics and military Xenophon's (c. 430–355/356 BC) Anabasis (ca. 370 BC) where the author puts the description of his own military campaign into Asia Minor and back under the pen of an otherwise unknown "Themistogenes of Syracuse" — see above, and also Anabasis (Xenophon)#Authorship. Julius Caesar's (100– 44 BC) Commentarii de Bello Gallico (58–49 BC) present the author's exploits in the Gallic War in the third person. Henry Adams (1838–1918), historian, author and descendant of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, throughout his autobiography The Education of Henry Adams (1918)See the Wikisource of the book: s:The Education of Henry Adams Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) was known to refer to himself as "MacArthur" in telling stories involving himself Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970), President of France (1959–1969) Richard Nixon (1913–1994), 37th President of the United States (1969–1974) Bob Dole (1923–2021), during his United States presidential campaign in 1996 Mikhail Gorbachev (1931–2022), Leader of the USSR (1985–1991) Paulo Maluf (born 1931), Brazilian politician Donald Trump (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present) Silvio Berlusconi (1936–2023), Prime Minister of Italy (1994–1995; 2001–2006; 2008–2011) Herman Cain (1945–2020), during his United States presidential campaign in 2012 Narendra Modi (born 1950), Prime Minister of India (2014–present) Anthony Garotinho (born 1960), Brazilian politician Roy Kwong Chun-yu (born 1983), District Councilor and legislator of Hong Kong Chen Shui-bian (born 1950), President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (2000–2008) Mark Robinson (born 1968), Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (2021–2025) Eric Adams (born 1960), Mayor of New York City (2022–2025)
Sports Cristiano Ronaldo (born 1985) has often referred to himself as "Cristiano". One example came after Portugal's 0–1 Round of 16 defeat to Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when he said that "before Cristiano, Portugal did not win a single title in history". Johnny Cueto (born 1986) gave a post-game interview in the third person, after pitching Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS. Zlatan Ibrahimović (born 1981), Swedish footballer LeBron James (born 1984) made several references to himself in the third person during The Decision program on ESPN in 2010. Rickey Henderson (1958–2024), baseball left fielder, often referred to himself as “Rickey." Dwayne Johnson (born 1972), professional wrestler, referenced himself in the third person as The Rock during his career, particularly with his trash-talking promos. Karl Malone (born 1963), basketball player Diego Maradona (1960–2020), Argentinian footballer Lothar Matthäus (born 1961), German football manager and former player, is quoted with the phrase: "A Lothar Matthäus does not let himself be beaten by his body. A Lothar Matthäus decides on his fate himself."e. g. here Cam Newton (born 1989), NFL quarterback, referred to himself in third person during his press conference at the NFL Combine in 2011. Pelé (1940–2022), Brazilian footballer
Entertainment Alice Cooper (born 1948) Alain Delon (1935–2024) Alix Earle (born 2000) Flavor Flav (born 1959) Gina LollobrigidaPearson, Howard (7 February 1958). "Murrow to visit Gina Tonight: Producer Opposes Film on TV". . Deseret News. Salt Lake City. "Miss Lollobrigida and her husband, Dr. Milko Skofic, arrived in this country only this week for a brief stay. The Italian actress will be only the second person on Murrow's show to speak of herself in the third person."Hyams, Joe (29 July 1956). "A simple country girl". . The Boston Globe. "I found that in addition to having a ready sense of humor, Gina always speaks and thinks of herself in the third person because there are two Gina Lollobrigidas: the actress and the woman."Rau, Herb (11 September 1955). "Everybody Picks on Lollobrigida". . The Miami News. "Off-stage, Gina's very natural, very human, and departs from this pattern only to speak about herself in the third person." (1927–2023) Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000) Sylva Koscina (1933–1994) Jamie Hyneman (born 1956) Jean Harlow (1911–1937) Jerry LewisHow Did an Unknown Filmmaker Coax Jerry Lewis Out of Retirement?Where Does Comedy End and Jerry Lewis Begin?No Foolin’ Jerry Lewis Has To Restrain His Idiotic Ways In His First Broadway Role, ‘Damn Yankees’ (1926–2017) Deanna Durbin (1921–2013) Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) Lila Morillo (born 1940) Mister Lobo (born 1970) Mr. T (born 1952) Mae West (1893–1980) MF Doom (1971–2020), British-American rapper and record producer. His persona was partly inspired by Doctor Doom, a fictional illeist. Noel Edmonds (born 1948), English television presenter, radio DJ, writer, producer and businessman
Religion and spirituality Anandamayi Ma (1896–1982) Buddha sometimes referred to himself as either "The Buddha" or "The Tathagata." Sathya Sai Baba (1926–2011) Mata Amritanandamayi (born 1953) Swami Ramanagiri (1921–1955)Swami Ramanagiri Swami Ramdas (1884–1963), Indian saint, philosopher, philanthropist and pilgrim Rama Tirtha (1873–1906), Indian teacher of Vedanta Ma Yoga Laxmi, the secretary of Osho Jesus Christ is found referring to himself as "Jesus" (as well as the "Son of Man"), as in John 17:1–3.
Other Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) in his interview with Mike Wallace, also known as The Mike Wallace Interview, on April 19, 1958. Norman Mailer's (1923–2007) non-fiction work The Fight (1975) refers to the author in the third person throughout, explaining why he has chosen to do so at the beginning of the book. George Remus (1876–1952), American lawyer and bootlegger.
Fictional characters
Books Major Bagstock, the apoplectic retired Indian army officer in Charles Dickens' Dombey and Son (1848), refers to himself solely as Joseph, Old Joe, Joey B, Bagstock, Josh, J.B., Anthony Bagstock, and other variants of his own name. Captain Hook in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy (1911): "'Better for Hook,' he cried, 'if he had had less ambition!' It was in his darkest hours only that he referred to himself in the third person." Winnetou, a Native American character in the eponymous novel by Karl May.'Winnetou' actor Pierre Brice dies Deutsche WelleSeeking the Aboriginal experience in Germany, Windspeaker Hercule Poirot, a fictional Belgian detective created by British writer Agatha Christie, usually refers to himself in the third person.Your next box set: Agatha Christie's Poirot, Emine Saner, The Guardian, 28 Jul 2011 Gollum in The Lord of the Rings (1954–55) spoke in an idiosyncratic manner, often referring to himself in the third person, and frequently talked to himself—"through having no one else to speak to", as Tolkien put it in The Hobbit. Charlie Gordon in the acclaimed novel Flowers for Algernon (1959) speaks in third person in the "being outside one's body and watching things happen" manner in his flashbacks to his abusive and troubled childhood suffering from phenylketonuria. Boday, a quirky female artist in Jack Chalker's Changewinds trilogy (1987–88). Y. T., a teenage girl in Snow Crash (1992) by Neal Stephenson. Bast the Wood Elf in The Council Wars series by John Ringo. The healer and wisewoman Magda Digby in the Owen Archer series (1993–2019) by Candace Robb.