Confrontations with the Anima in The Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, and Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Authors
Barrett, Mary Sarah
Issue Date
2005-11
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Journey , Collective unconscious , Jungian psychology , Ursula K. Le Guin , Fantasy , Science fiction , Individuation , Anima , Archetypes , Gender studies
Alternative Title
Abstract
This dissertation analyses the protagonists in The Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, and Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin, and looks at the extent to which they confront the Jungian archetype of the anima. I demonstrate that individuation and wisdom are not achieved in these characters until they confront the anima archetype within their individual psyches. I analyse the experiences and behaviour of each protagonist in order to identify anima confrontation (or lack thereof), and I seek to prove that such confrontation precipitates maturity and wisdom, which are goals of the hero's journey. The essential qualities of the anima archetype are wisdom, beauty and love. These qualities require acceptance of vulnerability. I argue that the protagonist is far from anima integration when he displays hatred and fear of vulnerability, and conclude that each protagonist is integrated with the anima when wisdom, beauty and love are evident in his character.
Description
Citation
Barrett, Mary Sarah (2005) Confrontations with the Anima in The Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, and Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1651>