The Awakening and Fahrenheit 451 - an Archetypal Comparative Analysis

master's thesis

• Author: Ana Pilat
• Mentor: Krunoslav Mikulan (mentor)
• Committee member: Vladimir Legac (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Predrag Oreški (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Krunoslav Mikulan (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Teacher Education; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-02-25, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology

Abstract

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of two novels – Fahrenheit 451 by author
Ray Bradbury and The Awakening by author Kate Chopin – using the archetypal literary
criticism approach.
The approach is based on the theory of the psyche of the famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl
Gustav Jung. The first part of this thesis will delineate the basic concepts of his
proposed topography of the mind, namely that of the conscious, personal unconscious,
and collective unconscious layers. As proposed, the interaction of these layers structures
our perception of ourselves and our fellow man affecting our interpretation of events,
and, consequently, our behavior. Particular attention will be given to archetypes –
special forms observed as universally arising from the collective unconscious layer of
the psyche.
The second part will describe the nature of the applied theoretical approach: archetypal
literary criticism. As the name suggest, the principal aim of this type of analysis is to
interpret the plot, events, characters, and themes in the narrative through the lens of
their archetypal symbolic meaning. Critique of the approach will also be represented.
Finally, both aforementioned novels will be analyzed independently as well as subjected
to a comparative examination so as to call attention to the similarities which surface as a
result of this type of theoretical approach. However, one crucial difference in the
development of the story line of both works will be highlighted – that of a successful as
opposed to an unsuccessful individuation process. With both protagonists striving
towards the affirmation and realization of their own nature, i.e. the completion of the
individuation process, one will succeeded in gaining deeper insight and the other will be
engulfed by the depth of their nature.

Abstract (croatian)

Ovaj rad predstavlja komparativnu analizu dvaju romana – Fahrenheita 451 autora
Raya Bradburyja te Buđenja autorice Kate Chopin – koristeći pristup arhetipske
književne kritike.
Pristup je zasnovan na teoriji psihe poznatog švicarskog psihijatra Carla Gustava Junga.
Prvi dio rada ocrtat će osnovne koncepte njegove predložene topografije uma, naime
svjesnog, osobnog nesvjesnog te kolektivnog nesvjesnog sloja. Kao što je predloženo,
interakcija ovih slojeva strukturira našu percepciju sebe i naših bližnjih utječući na našu
interpretaciju događaja i, posljedično, naše ponašanje. Posebna pažnja bit će posvećena
arhetipovima – posebnim oblicima koji su primijećeni kako univerzalno proizlaze iz
kolektivnog nesvjesnog sloja psihe.
Drugi dio opisat će prirodu upotrebljenog teorijskog pristupa: arhetipske književne
kritike. Kao što ime govori, glavni cilj ove analize je interpretacija radnje, događaja,
likova i motiva koji se javljaju u priči kroz njihovo arhetipsko simbolično značenje.
Kritika ovog pristupa također će biti predstavljena.
Naposlijetku, oba spomenuta romana bit će analizirana zasebno te zatim usporedno
kako bi se uočile sličnosti koje proizlaze iz korištenja ovog teorijskog pristupa.
Međutim, jedna neizostavna razlika u razvoju priče oba djela bit će istaknuta – kontrast
uspješnog naspram neuspješnog proces individuacije. Iako će oba protagonista stremiti
izražaju i spoznaji svoje vlastite prirode, drugim riječima ostvarenju procesa
individuacije, jedan protagonist će uspjeti doći do dublje spoznaje dok će drugi biti
progutan dubinom vlastite prirode.

• Keywords: archetypes; individuation; archetypal literary criticism
• Keywords (croatian): arhetipovi; individuacija; arhetipska književna kritika
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:147:399123
• Study programme: Title: Integrated undergraduated university study with english language and german language; specializations in: English language, Deutsche sprache; Course: English language; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja (magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-07-21 10:36:55