4

With the decline of the authority of patriarchy, the “basic structures of the family” become even clearer. The prohibition of incest no longer appears as a law enunciated by a father, but as the result of commitment to speech. Thus, the paternal and maternal functions stand out from their past cultural references, and even from their definition by anatomy. It is necessary to define the nature of the “desire of the father,” the “desire of the mother,” and their “desire for the child.” From the point of view of the child, s/he creates for him/herself a family that is quite distinct from that which is formed by those who raise him/her. This complexity organizes new family presentations, the only condition of existence being the love that is exchanged.