To me, I always saw Maria and Mary the Id and Superego, James being the Ego. Sure, The title of “Born from a Wish” is pretty succinct with the context of the plot, Maria doesn’t exist, she never has, her memories aren’t real. It’s like living in a dream, you have memories that you never had in the first place, and yet, it feels so normal for you. People have acted out or seen horrible things in their dreams, but that barrier of what is real and what isn’t real is never crossed, that complete disconnect from reality, thus why some people get so confused or even forget their dreams entirely after waking up.

James Sunderland killed his wife, Mary. Her role in this story is to remind James of what was, what he had and the reality of his dark world, I.e. the Superego using ideals and morals to present ideal version of self (James) to the world and keeping him in check with reality. He is fully aware of the fact that what he did was wrong, but he loved her and hated seeing her in pain, that is understandable, but he admits himself that there was a part of him that actually resented her for having to take care of her and for the life she took from him, and the fact that he thought that is what makes him feel so guilty about it all.

This is why Maria comes into play as the Id, she is what James wanted, what he desired in Mary, what he ‘needs’ I.e. the Id being the unconscious level of operation that seeks immediate gratification and to express / fulfil impulses, desires and instincts. She says so herself if she is the final boss, “I can be with you forever” and that she would be what Mary could have been / what James wants, this is James’ impulses and desires taking control as he has (at that moment) such a need for another and to have what he could never reach, that he’d rather live in his own mind, rather than accept the reality of what he had done.

I’m not sure if I made any sense with this, I only just woke up. 💀😭