The Archetypal Voice in Literature

The world is filled with literature, which attempts to capture in words, the most fundamental elements of mankind's existence. Some of it began in the distant shadowy past of prehistory as the oral tradition of societies passed down for many generations by word of mouth. For at least 5000 years now those words have been captured in some form of writing. Through the vast reaches of time stories that have great appeal and are turned to over and over have captured something universal, something archetypal.

In an earlier article I discussed the appeal of the Harry Potter series. Just recently I watched with my students a documentary that pointed out the many myths and legends that served as basis for some of J.K. Rowling's characters. One speaker in the film stated that Rowling might have drawn from her obviously wide knowledge of mythology unconsciously in her writing. ("Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter") Whether or not she did so consciously or purposefully, Rowling did fill her books with archetypal elements, not the least of which is the hero's journey, or quest. The quest is a common motif in myths, legends, and fairy tales, which remain favorites to us and have universal appeal. It is, also, the path of individuation portrayed to us in many costumes.

"Coming of age" stories continue to abound and are favorites of every generation. In the past century's writing we have seen young people struggling to begin the journey in such books as J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, which have been favorites of young people. Alice Walker in The Color Purple takes us further, and Walker Percy in The Second Coming combines the journeys of both the young and the middle-aged. On the other hand, William Golding's The Lord of the Flies shows us the process gone awry when the collective becomes too strong and shadow elements emerge in an unusual situation.

Shakespeare, acclaimed as the greatest playwright of all times, was a master of capturing universal qualities of human nature and playing on them either for humor or pathos. His tragedies particularly are great tales of the individuation process gone awry. In each tragedy some part of the process is thwarted or gets off track. The result is disaster. For instance, Macbeth is influenced by his overly ambitious wife and the suggestion of the witches and becomes a ruthless murderer, rather than the hero he is in the beginning of the play. Lady Macbeth and the witches here seem the archetypal negative mother wielding their influence in a destructive way.

Go To Page: 1 2