This dissertation investigates the concept of masochism within Freudian theory, analyzing its development, reformulations, and theoretical and clinical implications. Starting from the initial formulation of masochism as a sexual perversion, the study traces the conceptual transformations leading to its articulation with the death instinct and the compulsion to repeat. The research proposes a distinction between structuring masochism, which sustains pain without leading to psychic destruction, and masochism as pathology, linked to guilt, the punitive Superego, and submission to the other. In addition to Freud s formulations, later contributions are discussed, such as Rosenberg s notions of life-preserving masochism and deadly masochism. The dissertation also explores cultural representations of masochism and uses film references to illustrate its subjective manifestations. Based on this line of inquiry, the study aims to highlight the complexity of masochism, showing how it can operate both in psychic support and in the destructive repetition of suffering.