Individuation in Children's Literature: The Child Hero's Journey and Coming-of-age
- ISBN-10
- 1321726449
- ISBN-13
- 9781321726442
- Category
- Archetype (Psychology)
- Pages
- 386
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2015
Description
Children's literature is a medium that not only transports the reader into magical worlds of adventure, but that provides important psychological life lessons. Recent trends have shown that it is no longer only children that are reading contemporary works in this genre, but that an increasing number of adults are as well. There are certain adults who have yet to individuate, but can do so by experiencing the process of it, as do child heroes in literature, by identifying with the archetype of the child hero, and by associating with the pattern of the hero's journey. In this way, it can be said that these works of literature and myth are, in essence, adult adventures pretending to be children's stories, and that the successful child hero is symbolic of the adult hero. This research examines the matter of child heroes and heroines who endure the same trials and tribulations of the hero's journey as do adult male heroes, as well as discussion of individuation of the adult reader. The examination is carried out by defining the characteristics and nature of specific child heroes and adult male heroes, including the journey patterns based on the models of Joseph Campbell and Maureen Murdock, and with the meaning of individuation, as put forth by C. G. Jung. The research also draws upon the perspectives of the works by Jung on archetypes and the collective unconscious, and on Freud's analysis of the structural model of the psyche. Because the heroine's journey contains some variances from the male hero's journey, and because the feminine processes such experiences differently, the works of Marie-Louise von Franz will be a part of the analysis. Claims on how adults relate to children's literature will be supported by Jung, through a look at the collective unconscious; and by Jack Zipes, with how moral issues are resolved by identification with archetypes in order to mature. The central argument of this dissertation is that the child hero endures the stages of hero's journey as does the adult male hero, yet only comes-of age, rather than fully individuates; and that un-individuated adult readers are drawn to children's literature because the trials and tribulations endured portray a pattern of experiences also encountered by the adult reader in everyday life, thus allowing for individuation to be achieved. The myths and literature display certain psychological issues and narrate a specific series of events that produce emotional growth for the child hero. The child hero, as an archetype, is symbolic of potential wholeness, and therefore, provides a healing image that enables the un-individuated adult reader to circle back and reclaim the child hero within.
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