Difference between revisions of "Archetype" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
Line 102: Line 102:
 
*In addition to light, the sky, the sun, or the eyes, can symbolize consciousness.
 
*In addition to light, the sky, the sun, or the eyes, can symbolize consciousness.
  
==Appearance of Archetypes==
+
==Expressions of Archetypes==
  
 
===Mythology===
 
===Mythology===
Line 116: Line 116:
  
 
====The Trickster====
 
====The Trickster====
 +
*[[Agu Tonpa]]* in [[Tibet|Tibetan folklore]]
 +
*[[Amaguq]]* in [[Inuit|Inuit mythology]]
 +
*[[Ananse]]* in [[Ashanti mythology]]*
 +
*[[Awakkule]]* and [[Mannegishi]]* in [[Native American|Crow mythology]]
 
*[[Azeban]]* in [[Abenaki mythology]]*
 
*[[Azeban]]* in [[Abenaki mythology]]*
 +
*[[Bamapana]]* in [[Aborigine|Australian Aboriginal mythology]]
 +
*[[Eris]]*, [[Prometheus]], [[Hephaestos]]*, [[Hermes Trismegistus]]*, [[Odysseus]] in [[Greece|Greek mythology]]
 +
*[[Brer Rabbit]] in [[American folklore]]
 +
*[[Cin-an-ev]]* in [[Native American|Ute mythology]]
 +
*[[Fairy]] and [[Puck (mythology)|Puck]]* in [[Celt|Celtic mythology]]
 +
*[[Iktomi]]* in [[Native American|Lakota mythology]]
 +
*[[Iwa]]* and [[Kaulu]]* in [[Polynesia|Polynesian mythology]]
 +
*[[Kantjil]]* in [[Indonesia|Indonesian folklore]]
 +
*[[Kappa (Hawaiian mythology)|Kappa]]*, [[Maui (mythology)|Maui]]* in [[Hawaii|Hawaiian mythology]]
 +
*[[Kitsune]]* and [[Susanoo]]* in [[Japan|Japanese mythology]]
 +
*[[Kokopelli]]* in [[Native American|Hopi and Zuni mythology]]
 
*[[Kwaku Ananse]]* in [[Akan mythology]]*
 
*[[Kwaku Ananse]]* in [[Akan mythology]]*
*[[Brer Rabbit]] in [[American folklore]]
+
*[[Loki]]* in [[Norway|Norse mythology]]
*[[Ananse]]* in [[Ashanti mythology]]
 
*[[Bamapana]]* in [[Australian Aboriginal mythology]]*
 
*[[Tezcatlipoca]]* in [[Aztec civilization|Aztec mythology]]
 
*[[San Martin Txiki]]* in [[Basque mythology]]*
 
*[[Saci (Brazilian folklore)|Saci-Pererê]]* in [[Brazilian folklore]]*
 
*[[Fairy]], [[Puck (mythology)|Puck]]* in [[Celt|Celtic mythology]]
 
*[[Nezha]]*, [[Sun Wukong]]* (the Monkey King) in [[Chinese mythology]]
 
 
*[[Nanabozho]]* in [[Native American|Chippewa mythology]]  
 
*[[Nanabozho]]* in [[Native American|Chippewa mythology]]  
*[[Awakkule]]* and [[Mannegishi]]* in [[Nativge American|Crow mythology]]
+
*[[Nanabush]]* in [[Native American|Ojibwe mythology]]
 +
*[[Nankil'slas]]*, [[Raven spirit]]* in [[Haida mythology]]*
 +
*[[Ndauthina]]* in [[Fiji|Fijian mythology]]*
 +
*[[Nezha]]*, [[Sun Wukong]]* (the Monkey King) in [[China|Chinese mythology]]
 
*[[Reynard]]* the Fox in [[France|French folklore]]  
 
*[[Reynard]]* the Fox in [[France|French folklore]]  
*[[Ndauthina]]* in [[Fiji|Fijian mythology]]*
+
*[[Saci (Brazilian folklore)|Saci-Pererê]]* in [[Brazil|Brazilian folklore]]
 +
*[[San Martin Txiki]]* in [[Basque|Basque mythology]]*
 +
*[[Tezcatlipoca]]* in [[Aztec civilization|Aztec mythology]]
 
*[[Till Eulenspiegel]]* in [[Germany|German folklore]]
 
*[[Till Eulenspiegel]]* in [[Germany|German folklore]]
*[[Eris]]*, [[Prometheus]], [[Hephaestos]]*, [[Hermes Trismegistus]]*, [[Odysseus]] in [[Greece|Greek mythology]]
 
*[[Nankil'slas]]*, [[Raven spirit]]* in [[Haida mythology]]*
 
*[[Kappa (Hawaiian mythology)|Kappa]]*, [[Maui (mythology)|Maui]]* in [[Hawaii|Hawaiian mythology]]
 
*[[Kokopelli]]* in [[Native American|Hopi and Zuni mythology]]
 
*[[Kantjil]]* in [[Indonesia|Indonesian folklore]]
 
*[[Amaguq]]* in [[Inuit|Inuit mythology]]
 
*[[Kitsune]]* and [[Susanoo]]* in [[Japan|Japanese mythology]]
 
*[[Iktomi]]* in [[Native American|Lakota mythology]]
 
 
*[[Tonenili]]* in [[Native American|Navajo mythology]]
 
*[[Tonenili]]* in [[Native American|Navajo mythology]]
 
*[[Loki]]* in [[Norway|Norse mythology]]
 
 
*[[Nanabush]]* in [[Native American|Ojibwe mythology]]
 
*[[Iwa]]* and [[Kaulu]]* in [[Polynesia|Polynesian mythology]]
 
 
*[[Agu Tonpa]]* in [[Tibet|Tibetan folklore]]
 
*[[Cin-an-ev]]* in [[Native American|Ute mythology]]
 
  
 
===Literature===
 
===Literature===
Archetypes are often discussed in [[literature]]. [[William Shakespeare]], for example, is known for popularizing many archetypal characters. Although he based many of his characters on existing archetypes from [[fable]]s and [[myth]]s, Shakespeare's characters stand out as original by their contrast against a complex, social literary landscape. The epic poem ''Beowulf'' describes one of the most famous Anglo-Saxon hero archetypes of the same name.  
+
Archetypes are often discussed in [[literature]]. The epic poem ''Beowulf'' describes one of the most famous Anglo-Saxon '''hero''' archetypes.
 +
[[William Shakespeare]] is known for popularizing many archetypal characters. Although he based many of his characters on existing archetypes from [[fable]]s and [[myth]]s, Shakespeare's characters stand out as original by their contrast against a complex, social literary landscape.
  
 
===Popular culture===
 
===Popular culture===
Line 157: Line 155:
 
====Wise Old Man====
 
====Wise Old Man====
  
*[[Albus Dumbledore]] from [[J.K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series
+
*[[Abbot Mortimer]]* from [[Brian Jacques]]*'s novel ''[[Redwall]]*''.
*[[Auron]] from ''[[Final Fantasy X]]''
+
*[[Albus Dumbledore]]* from [[J.K. Rowling]]*'s ''[[Harry Potter]]*'' series
*[[Gandalf]] from [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[Lord of the Rings]] series
+
*[[Ancient One]]* from ''[[Doctor Strange]]*''
*[[Allanon]] from [[Terry Brooks]]' [[Shannara]] series
+
*[[Auron]]* from ''[[Final Fantasy X]]*''
*[[Brom (Inheritance)|Brom]] from [[Christopher Paolini|Christopher Paolini's]] [[Inheritance (trilogy)|Inheritance Trilogy]].
+
*[[Gandalf]]* from [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]*'s [[Lord of the Rings]]* series
*[[Elminster]] from the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' RPG setting
+
*[[Allanon]]* from [[Terry Brooks]]*' [[Shannara]]* series
*[[Methuselah (Redwall)|Methuselah]] and [[Mortimer (Redwall)|Abbot Mortimer]] from [[Brian Jacques|Brian Jacques']] novel ''[[Redwall]]''.  Both are mice.
+
*[[Brom]]* from [[Christopher Paolini]]*'s [[Inheritance Trilogy]]*.
*[[Press Tilton]] from the [[Pendragon fiction series|Pendragon]] series
+
*[[Elminster]]* from the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]*'' RPG setting
*[[Professor X]] from the ''[[X-Men]]''
+
*[[Mr. Miyagi]]* from ''[[The Karate Kid]]*''
*[[Ancient One]] from ''[[Doctor Strange]]''
+
*[[Morpheus]]* from ''[[The Matrix]]*''
*[[Morpheus (Matrix character)|Morpheus]] from ''[[The Matrix]]''
+
*[[Oogruk]]* from [[Gary Paulsen]]*'s novel ''[[Dogsong]]*''
*[[Yoda]], [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]] and [[Qui-Gon Jinn]] from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' films.
+
*[[Press Tilton]]* from the [[Pendragon]]* series
*[[Mr. Miyagi]] from ''[[The Karate Kid]]''
+
*[[Professor X]]* from the ''[[X-Men]]*''
*[[Rafiki]] from ''[[The Lion King]]''
+
*[[Rafiki]]* from ''[[The Lion King]]*''
*[[Thufir Hawat]] from ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]''
+
*[[Thufir Hawat]]* from ''[[Dune]]*''
*Oogruk from Gary Paulsen's novel ''Dogsong''
+
*[[Yoda]]*, [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]]* and [[Qui-Gon Jinn]]* from the ''[[Star Wars]]*'' films.
  
Sometime the wise old wizard may be a wise old witch, as Moiraine Damodred from ''The Wheel of Time'' novels.
+
====Trickster====
  
====Trickster====
+
*[[Arsene Lupin]]* the gentleman thief from [[Maurice Leblanc]]*'s novel series of the same name
Modern day tricksters
+
*[[Bugs Bunny]]*
*[[Brer Rabbit]]
+
*[[Bart Simpson]]* from [[The Simpsons]]*
*[[Bugs Bunny]]
+
*[[Captain Jack Sparrow]]* from ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]*''
*[[Bart Simpson]] from [[The Simpsons]]
+
*Jerry Mouse from ''[[Tom & Jerry]]*''
*Kyprioth, also known as the Trickster is the patron god of the Copper (or Kyprin) In [[Tamora Pierce]]'s fantasy novels about [[Tortall]]
+
*[[Matrim Cauthon]]* from the ''[[Wheel of Time]]*'' fantasy book series.
*[[Plastic Man]] comic artist [[Jack Cole]]'s [[shape shifting]] [[superhero]].
+
*[[Mr. Mxyzptlk]]*, a tormentor of [[Superman]]*
*[[Q (Star Trek)|Q]] from ''[[Star Trek]]''
+
*[[Plastic Man]]* comic artist [[Jack Cole]]*'s shape shifting superhero.
*[[Mr. Mxyzptlk]], an [[imp]]like tormentor of [[Superman]]
+
*[[Q (Star Trek)|Q]]* from ''[[Star Trek]]*''
*Jerry Mouse from ''[[Tom & Jerry]]''
+
*[[The Tramp]]*, [[Charlie Chaplin]]'s famous silent film character.
*[[Captain Jack Sparrow]] from ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]''
+
*[[Trickster (comics)|The Trickster]]*, a super villain in the [[DC Universe]]* who has been both an ally and an enemy of [[The Flash]]*.
*[[Trickster (comics)|The Trickster]], a [[super villain]] in the [[DC Universe]] who has been both an ally and an enemy of [[Flash (comics)|The Flash]].
+
*[[The Riddler]]* [[DC Comics]]* super villain, an enemy of [[Batman]]*
*[[Matrim Cauthon]] from the [[Wheel of Time]] fantasy book series.
 
*[[The Tramp]], [[Charlie Chaplin]]'s famous silent film character.
 
*[[The Riddler]] [[DC Comics]] [[super villain]], an enemy of [[Batman]]
 
*[[Arsene Lupin]] the gentleman thief from [[Maurice Leblanc]]'s novel series of the same name
 
  
 
==Archetypes in Personal Development==
 
==Archetypes in Personal Development==
Line 199: Line 193:
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
  
*Campbell, Joseph. [1971]. ''The Portable Jung'', Translated by R.F.C. Hull. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140150706.
+
*Campbell, Joseph. 1971. ''The Portable Jung''. Translated by R.F.C. Hull. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140150706.
*Johnson, Robert A. [1993]. ''Owning Your Own Shadow : Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche''. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0062507540
+
*Johnson, Robert A. 1993. ''Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche''. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0062507540
*Johnson, Robert A. [1989] ''Inner Work : Using Dreams and Creative Imagination for Personal Growth and Integration''. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0062504312.
+
*Johnson, Robert A. 1989. ''Inner Work : Using Dreams and Creative Imagination for Personal Growth and Integration''. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0062504312.
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
  
*Jung, C. G., Adler, Gerhard, and Hull, R. F.C. (1979). ''Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 2''. Bollingen, . ISBN 069101826X.
+
*Jung, C. G., Adler, Gerhard, and Hull, R. F.C. 1979. ''Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 2''. Bollingen. ISBN 069101826X.
*Jung, C. G., & Campbell, J. 1976. ''The Portable Jung''. a compilation, New York, NY: Penguin Books. ISBN 0140150706.
+
*Jung, C. G., & Campbell, J. 1976. ''The Portable Jung'', a compilation. New York, NY: Penguin Books. ISBN 0140150706.
*Myss, Carolyn. (2003). ''Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential''. Three Rivers Press. ISBN: 0609810111.
+
*Myss, Carolyn. 2003. ''Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential''. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0609810111.
 
*[http://www.dcdata.com/jung/cwsearch.htm  C.G. Jung's Collected Works]
 
*[http://www.dcdata.com/jung/cwsearch.htm  C.G. Jung's Collected Works]
  
Line 213: Line 207:
  
 
*[http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/jung.html Further information on Jung, written by C. George Boeree]
 
*[http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/jung.html Further information on Jung, written by C. George Boeree]
*[http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/hopkins_guide_to_literary_theory/free/archetypal_theory_and_criticism.html]
+
*[http://thelifeboatforum.com Jungian and Archetypal Psychology Discussion Forum]
* [http://thelifeboatforum.com Jungian and Archetypal Psychology Discussion Forum]
 
 
*[http://psikoloji.fisek.com.tr/jung/anima.htm Jung On Anima]
 
*[http://psikoloji.fisek.com.tr/jung/anima.htm Jung On Anima]
  
 
{{Credit6|Archetype|36782605|Shadow_(psychology)|33876701|Anima_(Jung)|36750582|Animus|36211624|Wise_Old_Man|36730959|Trickster|36445705|}}
 
{{Credit6|Archetype|36782605|Shadow_(psychology)|33876701|Anima_(Jung)|36750582|Animus|36211624|Wise_Old_Man|36730959|Trickster|36445705|}}

Revision as of 23:22, 19 March 2006


An archetype is an idealized model of a person, object, or concept from which similar instances are derived, copied, patterned, or emulated.

Definition

The archetype is a concept of psychologist Carl Jung. For Jung, "archetype is an explanatory paraphrase of the Platonic eidos" (9, pt. 1: 4), but he distinguishes his concept and use of the term from that of philosophical idealism as being more empirical and less metaphysical, though most of his "empirical" data were dreams. In this context, archetypes are innate prototypes for ideas, which may subsequently become involved in the interpretation of observed phenomena. A group of memories and interpretations closely associated with an archetype is called a complex, and may be named for its central archetype (e.g. "mother complex"). Jung often seemed to view the archetypes as sort of psychological organs, directly analogous to our physical, bodily organs: both being morphological givens for the species; both arising at least partially through evolutionary processes. Jung hypothesized that all of mythology could be taken as a type of projection of the collective unconscious.

Jung was especially knowledgeable in the symbolism of complex mystical traditions such as Gnosticism, Alchemy, Kabala, and similar traditions in Hinduism and Buddhism. From his research, he found that the concept of archetype was already in use at the time of St. Augustine in De deversis quaestionibus which speaks of "ideas...which are not yet formed...which are contained in the divine intelligence". His studies revealed that archetype was synonymous with the "Idea" of Platonic usage (arche, "original"; typos, "form"), the original form upon which all other forms are based. The Corpus Hermeticum from the third century describes God as "to archetypon phos", the "archetypal light", expressing the idea that God is the prototype of all light. Jung stated that to continue in this strain, there must also be a prototype or primordial image of the mother. The research of preliterate primitive people by Lévy-Bruhl, French philosopher, ethnologist, and psychologist, describes representations collectives in his 1910 book How Natives Think, as the symbolic figures in the primitive view of the world. Jung also found expressions of the archetypes in his study of tribal folk lore, mythology and fairy tales, as well as through his travels to Algiers, Tunis, New Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Mount Elgon, Egypt via the Nile River, Rome and India.

Jung's life work was to make sense of the unconscious and its habit of revealing itself in symbolic form through archetypes of the collective unconscious. He believed that it was only possible to live the fullest life when in harmony with these archetypal symbols; "wisdom is a return to them"(CW8:794). Jung postulated that the symbols and archetypes of an individual's collective unconscious can be primarily discovered by that person's dreams, revealing important keys to the individual's growth and development. Through the understanding of how an individual patient's unconscious integrates with the collective unconscious, that patient can be helped towards achieving a state of individuation, or wholeness of self.

Jungian archetypes

The key archetypes that Jung felt were especially important include: the persona, the shadow, the anima/animus, the mother, the father, the wise old man, and the self. Others include the trickster, the God image, the Syzygy (Divine Couple), the child, the hero and a variety of archetypal symbols.

The Self

The self, according to Jung, is the most important archetype. It is called the "midpoint of the personality", a centre between consciousness and the unconsciousness. It signifies the harmony and balance between the various opposing qualities that make up the psyche. The symbols of the self can be anything that the ego takes to be a greater totality than itself. Thus many symbols fall short of expressing the self in its fullest development. Symbols of the self are often manifested in geometrical forms (mandalas) or by the quaternity (a figure with four parts). Prominent human figures which represent the self are the Buddha or Christ. This archetype is also represented by the divine child and by various pairs—father and son, king and queen, or god and goddess.

The Shadow

In Jungian psychology, the shadow is a part of the unconscious mind which is mysterious and often disagreeable to the conscious mind, but which is also relatively close to the conscious mind. It may be (in part) one's original self, which is superseded during early childhood by the conscious mind; afterwards it comes to contain thoughts that are repressed by the conscious mind. The shadow is instinctive and irrational, but is not necessarily evil even when it might appear to be so. It can be both ruthless in conflict and empathetic in friendship. It is important as a source of hunches, for understanding of one's own more inexplicable actions and attitudes (and of others' reactions), and for learning how to cope with the more problematic or troubling aspects of one's personality.

It is said to be made up of all the reprehensible characteristics that each of us wish to deny, including animal tendencies that Jung claims we have inherited from our subhuman ancestors. However when individuals recognize and integrate their shadows, they progress further towards self-realization . On the other hand, the more unaware of the shadow we are, the blacker and denser it is. The more dissociated it is from conscious life, the more it will display a compensatory demonic dynamism. It is often projected outwards on individual or groups who are then thought to embody all the immature, evil, or repressed elements of the individual's own psyche.

The shadow may appear in dreams and visions in various forms, often as a feared or despised person or being, and may act either as an adversary or as a friend. It typically has the same apparent gender as one's persona. It is possible that it might tend to appear with dark skin to a person of any race, since it represents an old ancestral aspect of the mind. The shadow's appearance and role depend greatly on individual idiosyncrasies, because the shadow develops in the individual's mind rather than simply being inherited in the collective unconscious.

Interactions with the shadow in dreams may shed light on one's state of mind. A disagreement with the shadow may indicate that one is coping with conflicting desires or intentions. Friendship with a despised shadow may mean that one has an unacknowledged resemblance to whatever one hates about that character. These examples refer to just two of many possible roles that the shadow may adopt, and are not general guides to interpretation. Also, it can be difficult to identify characters in dreams, so that a character that seems at first to be a shadow might represent some other complex instead.

Jung has also made mention of there being more than one layer making up the shadow. The top layer is the rationally explicable unconscious. It contains material which has been made unconscious artificially; that is, it is made up of elements of one's personal experiences. Underneath this layer, however, is an absolute unconscious that has nothing to do with personal experiences. Jung described this bottom layer as "a psychic activity which goes on independently of the conscious mind and is not dependent even on the upper layers of the unconscious - untouched, and perhaps untouchable - by personal experience" (Campbell, 1971).

According to Jung, the shadow sometimes takes over a person's actions, especially when the conscious mind is shocked, confused, or paralyzed by indecision.

The shadow might be the basis of the rank of Corax (raven) in the ancient religion of Mithraism.

The Anima/animus

The anima/animus personifies the soul, or inner attitude. Following a person's coming to term with their shadow they are then confronted with the problem of the anima/animus. It is usually a persona and often takes on the characteristics of the opposite sex. The anima is said to represent the feminine in men and the animus is the comparable counterpart in the female psyche. The anima may be personified as a young girl, very spontaneous and intuitive, or as a witch, or as the earth mother. It is likely to be associated with deep emotionality and the force of life itself. Jung viewed the anima/animus process as being one of the sources of creative ability.

Anima

The anima according to Carl Jung, is the feminine side of a male's unconscious mind. It can be identified as all the unconscious feminine psychological qualities that a male possesses. In a film interview, Jung was not clear if the anima/animus archetype was totally unconscious, calling it "a little bit conscious" and unconscious. In the interview, he gave an example of a man who falls head over heels in love, then later in life regrets his blind choice as he finds that he has married his own anima–the unconscious idea of the feminine in his mind, rather than the woman herself. The anima is usually an aggregate of a man's mother but may also incorporate aspects of sisters, aunts, and teachers.

Jung also believed that every woman has an analogous animus within her psyche, this being a set of unconscious masculine attributes and potentials. He viewed the animus as being more complex than the anima, as women have a host of animus images while the male anima consists only of one dominant image.

The anima is one of the most significant autonomous complexes of all. It manifests itself by appearing as figures in dreams as well as by influencing a man's interactions with women and his attitudes toward them. Jung said that confronting one's shadow is an "apprentice-piece," while confronting one's anima is the masterpiece. He also had a four-fold theory on the anima's typical development, beginning with its projection onto the mother in infancy, continuing through its projection on prospective sexual partners and the development of lasting relationships, and concluding with a phase he termed Sophia, a Gnostic reference. It is worth noting that Jung applies similar four-fold structures in many of his theories.

In Italian and Spanish, anima is most closely translated as "soul," while in Latin , animus and anima may both be translated as "soul" or "mind," depending on context.

The Animus

According to Carl Jung, the animus is the masculine side of a woman's personal unconscious. It can be identified as all the unconscious masculine psychological qualities that a woman possesses.

Animus is also considered to be that natural and primitive part of the mind's activity and processes remaining after dispensing with persona, which is the "mask" displayed in interactions with others and which has been shaped by socialization. The animus may be personified as a wise old man, a sorcerer, or often a number of males, and tends to be logical, often rationalistic, even argumentative.

Syzygy

Together the anima and animus form a divine pair known as the syzygy. The syzygy consists of three elements:

  • the femininity pertaining to the man (anima) and the masculinity pertaining to the woman (animus);
  • the actual experience man has of woman and vice versa;
  • the masculine and feminine archetypal image.

In ancient Greek mythology we find an example of the divine pair in the gods Hermes and Aphrodite. Jung also observed that the divine pair occupies the highest place in Christianity as Christ and his bride, the Church.

Great Mother

Great Mother is the personification of the feminine principle, and represents the fertile womb out of which all life comes and the darkness of the grave to which it returns. Its fundamental attributes are the capacity to nourish and to devour. If the great mother nourishes us, she is good; if she threatens to devour us, she is bad. In psychological terms, the great mother corresponds to the unconscious which can nourish and support the ego or can swallow it up in psychosis or suicide. The positive, creative aspects of the great mother are represented by breast and womb. Mother is the source of life and nurture and the images are nearly inexhaustible: anything hollow, concave or containing, such as bodies of water, the earth itself, caves, dwellings, and vessels of all kinds.

Father

As the great mother pertains to nature, matter and earth, the great father archetype pertains to the realm of light and spirit. It is the personification of the masculine principle of consciousness symbolized by the upper solar region of heaven. From this region comes the wind, pneuma, nous, ruach, which has always been the symbol of spirit as opposed to matter. Sun and rain likewise represent the masculine principle as fertilizing forces which impregnate the receptive earth. Images of piercing and penetration such as phallus, knife, spear, arrow and ray all pertain to the spiritual father. Other symbols which emphasize the upper heavenly realms are feathers, birds, airplanes and all that refers to flying or height are part of this complex. All imagery involving light or illumination pertains to the masculine principle as opposed to the dark earthiness of the great mother. Illumination of the countenance, crowns, halos and dazzling brilliance of all kinds are aspects of masculine solar symbolism.

The positive aspect of the spiritual father principle conveys law, order, discipline, rationality, understanding and inspiration. Its negative aspect is that it may lead to alienation from concrete reality causing inflation, or a state of spiritual hubris.

Wise Old Man

The image of the wise old man as judge, priest, doctor or elder is a human personification of the father archetype. This is also known as the "Senex", and is an archetype of meaning or spirit. It often appears as grandfather, sage, magician, king, doctor, priest, professor, or any other authority figure. It represents insight, wisdom, cleverness, willingness to help, moral qualities. His appearance serves to warn of dangers, provide protective gifts such as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. As with the other archetypes the wise old man also possesses both good and bad aspects. It is also a classic literature literary figure, and may be seen as a stock character.

In works of fiction, this kind of character is typically represented by a kind and wise, older father-type figure that uses personal knowledge of people and the world, to help tell stories and offer guidance, that in a mystical way illuminate to his audience a sense of who they are and who they might become.

The Wise Old Man is often in some way "foreign," that is, from a different culture, nation, or - occasionally - time than those he advises.

Persona

The persona comes from a Latin word for mask, and reprsents the mask we wear to make a particular impression on others; it may reveal or conceal our real nature. It is an artificial personality that compromises a person's real individuality and society's expectations-—usually society's demands take precedence. It is made up of things like professional titles, roles, habits of social behavior, etc. It serves to both guarantee social order and to protect the individual's private life. It can be mistaken, even by ourselves, for our true nature. The persona is a compromise between what we wish to be and what the surrounding world will allow us to be; it is the manifestation of interactional demands. The 'persona' adopted is usually based on our superior functional type because it comes easier. There is a danger in identifying totally with the 'persona', being nothing but the role one plays.

In Greek drama actors wore masks that turned them into the Dramatis Persone—the actor becomes the person impersonated; the persona is the guise and manifestation of the role which disguises the personality of the actor. In modern day, the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz is an example of the persona archetype. In the movie The Nutty Professor, reveals a shy and weak persona in the form of a chemistry professor. A magic potion turns him into the handsome, arrogant and overly self-confident night club singer. Neither have a well-adjusted persona.

The Trickster

The trickster is an example of a Jungian Archetype. The trickster figure is described by Jung as a faithful representation of the absolutely undifferentiated human psyche which has hardly left the animal level. The trickster figure is represented in normal man by countertendencies in the unconscious that appear whenever a man feels himself at the mercy of apparently malicious accidents.

In folklore, the trickster is incarnated as a clever, mischievous man or creature, who tries to survive the dangers and challenges of the world using trickery and deceit as a defense. For example many typical fairy tales have the King who wants to find the best groom for his daughter by ordering several trials. No brave and valiant prince or knight manages to win them, until a poor and simple peasant comes. With the help of his wits and cleverness, instead of fighting, he evades or fools monsters and villains and dangers with unorthodox manners. Therefore the most unlikely candidate passes the trials receives the reward. More modern and obvious examples of that type are Bugs Bunny and The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) (see below).

In the study of mythology, folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, human hero or anthropomorphic animal. The trickster deity breaks the rules of the gods or nature, sometimes maliciously (for example, Loki) but usually with ultimately positive effects. Often, the rule-breaking takes the form of tricks (e.g. Eris) or thievery. Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both; they are often very funny even when considered sacred or performing important cultural tasks.

In many cultures, (as may be seen in Greek, Norse or Slavic folktales, along with Native American/First Nations lore), the trickster and the culture hero are often combined. To illustrate: Prometheus, in Greek mythology, stole fire from the gods to give it to humans. He is more of a culture hero than a trickster. In many Native American and First Nations mythologies, the coyote (Southwestern United States) or raven (Pacific Northwest and coastal British Columbia) stole fire from the gods (stars or sun) and are more tricksters than culture heroes. This is primarily because of other stories involving these spirits: Prometheus was a Titan, whereas coyote and raven are usually seen as jokesters and pranksters.

For a modern humanist study of the trickster archetypes and their effects on society and its evolution, see Trickster Makes The World: Mischief, Myth, and Art by Lewis Hyde.

Archetypal symbols

Here are a few examples of archetypal symbols:

  • The Mandala, a circle, often squared, can also symbolize the wholeness of the Self or the yearning for such wholeness.
  • Light/Darkness (the conscious and the unconscious), Water or wetness/Dryness or the desert, Heaven/Hell, Trees, Rocks, Dirt, Flowers, Animals of all kinds (insects, birds, fish, mammals), etc., etc. Birds, for instance, often symbolize the spirit (e.g., the Holy Spirit as a dove), but could symbolize many other things, as, for example, fear and destruction (e.g., in the Hitchcock movie, The Birds), courage, wisdom, etc. For many American Indians, the eagle is a particularly sacred symbol. By definition, a symbol has an infinitive number of possible meanings.
  • Caves can symbolize the unconscious, as can bodies of water, the forest, night, the moon, etc. These tend to be feminine symbols as well, just as anything that encloses or nourishes, depending on the context, can be a feminine symbol.
  • In addition to light, the sky, the sun, or the eyes, can symbolize consciousness.

Expressions of Archetypes

Mythology

Jung investigated mythologies and mystical traditions from around the world in his research on archetypes. Some examples illustrating several archetypes are as follows.

Wise Old Man

The Trickster

Literature

Archetypes are often discussed in literature. The epic poem Beowulf describes one of the most famous Anglo-Saxon hero archetypes. William Shakespeare is known for popularizing many archetypal characters. Although he based many of his characters on existing archetypes from fables and myths, Shakespeare's characters stand out as original by their contrast against a complex, social literary landscape.

Popular culture

As with other psychologies which have infiltrated mass thought, archetypes are now incorporated into popular culture, such as movies, novels, video games, comics, and television programs. Here are a few examples.

Wise Old Man

  • Abbot Mortimer from Brian Jacques's novel Redwall.
  • Albus Dumbledore from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series
  • Ancient One from Doctor Strange
  • Auron from Final Fantasy X
  • Gandalf from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series
  • Allanon from Terry Brooks' Shannara series
  • Brom from Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy.
  • Elminster from the Forgotten Realms RPG setting
  • Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid
  • Morpheus from The Matrix
  • Oogruk from Gary Paulsen's novel Dogsong
  • Press Tilton from the Pendragon series
  • Professor X from the X-Men
  • Rafiki from The Lion King
  • Thufir Hawat from Dune
  • Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn from the Star Wars films.

Trickster

  • Arsene Lupin the gentleman thief from Maurice Leblanc's novel series of the same name
  • Bugs Bunny
  • Bart Simpson from The Simpsons
  • Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Jerry Mouse from Tom & Jerry
  • Matrim Cauthon from the Wheel of Time fantasy book series.
  • Mr. Mxyzptlk, a tormentor of Superman
  • Plastic Man comic artist Jack Cole's shape shifting superhero.
  • Q from Star Trek
  • The Tramp, Charlie Chaplin's famous silent film character.
  • The Trickster, a super villain in the DC Universe who has been both an ally and an enemy of The Flash.
  • The Riddler DC Comics super villain, an enemy of Batman

Archetypes in Personal Development

In Sacred Contracts, Carolyn Myss describes the archetype as an organizing principle and pattern of intelligence that shapes the energy within us, thereby shaping our lives. Caroline Myss is a pioneer in the field of energy medicine and human consciousness. She holds degrees in journalism, theology, and intuition and energy medicine. Over the past decade, her work with Norman Shealy, M.D., a Harvard-trained neurosurgeon and founder of the American Holistic Medical Association, has helped define how stress and emotion contribute to the formation of disease. She draws from the archetypal research of Jung, as well as a study of mythology, and sees the archetype as an insight into a person's psyche that helps an individual to better understand their life situation. Awareness of how an archetype is dominating one's life can help a person to break the pattern and become "his/her own master". The individual is encouraged to embody what is positive in the archetype, while consciously choosing what to let go of. To do this it is necessary to step away from one's life and step back to see the whole picture, and which archetypes are dominant. This gives clues to one's life mission and relationships, according to Myss. She explains in her book that most people have 12 main archetypes as constant companions. Similar to Jung, she believes they are the architects of our lives. She further believes that the archetypes can connect us to our Sacred contract, which is our greater mission on the planet.


Further reading

  • Campbell, Joseph. 1971. The Portable Jung. Translated by R.F.C. Hull. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140150706.
  • Johnson, Robert A. 1993. Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0062507540
  • Johnson, Robert A. 1989. Inner Work : Using Dreams and Creative Imagination for Personal Growth and Integration. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0062504312.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Jung, C. G., Adler, Gerhard, and Hull, R. F.C. 1979. Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 2. Bollingen. ISBN 069101826X.
  • Jung, C. G., & Campbell, J. 1976. The Portable Jung, a compilation. New York, NY: Penguin Books. ISBN 0140150706.
  • Myss, Carolyn. 2003. Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0609810111.
  • C.G. Jung's Collected Works

External links

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.