Woolf and Jung: A Glimpse of Individuation in The Years

• Main Authors: Wen-sheng Tsai, 蔡文晟
• Other Authors: Mei-ying Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/11536660233889707961

碩士 === 國立彰化師範大學 === 英語研究所 === 94 === The thesis intends to reconsider Virginia Woolf’s 1937 novel The Years in terms of Carl Gustav Jung’s idea of individuation. In the introductory chapter, a theoretical ground—the principle of paradox—is constructed to bridge these two iconic thinkers. And then there follows the motivation of the present study and a brief chapter description. Chapter Two is a comparative study between Jung’s and Woolf’s psychological views and concludes that both of them embrace a vision of mutuality. A discussion of Jung’s idea of individuation will be provided first and then there will be an analysis of its related concepts, such as the persona, the Self, transcendent function, T’ai-chi T’u (Tao), synchronicity, and meaning archetype. Then the discussion moves on to Woolf’s ideas of being and non-being in her autobiographical writing “A Sketch of the Past” and the androgynous mind in A Room of One’s Own. At this point Jung’s alchemical terms Logos, Eros and coniunctio will come into play and the interconnection between the androgynous vision and individuation will be formed. In Chapter Three several incidents of The Years will be reexamined in the light of individuation. The chapter will be roughly divided into two subsections, both dominated by the mood of detour. The word detour is coined to emphasize the circumambulation of the Self in the individuation process. The first section includes two parts. The first part concerns the victims who suffer from the excessive influence of Logos. The second part is about the motif of profile which is closely related to the Logos-dominant persona. In the second section I will focus on the magnolia figure, Eleanor, and her three foils, Kitty, Sara, and Delia. The psychic equilibrium disturbed by the burning Logos at the beginning of the meaning search of the narrative consciousness would be regained by Eleanor’s restoration of Eros. The thesis concludes with the conviction that through reading great visionary works, the limited and one-sided conscious outlook will be compensated. Therefore, reading becomes a metaphor for the reader’s individuation.