A Jungian Reading of The Midnight Library: Individuation Theory and Literary Criticism
2023 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The essay is a Jungian reading of the novel The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig, using Jung’s individuation theory. The author attends to the psychological journey of Nora, the protagonist on a quest of finding her identity. She struggles with anxiety and depression and commits suicide. In a state between life and death, she finds herself inside a library where she gets the chance to redeem her regrets and find true happiness by choosing between many different lives. Additionally, the Jungian concepts of active imagination, complexes, shadow, mother archetype, and animus are applied in different stages of her individuation. In the end, her mental state improves as she finally accepts her true self and her perspective of life changes dramatically. The essay introduces the novel to new readers who are interested in psychological narratives, and through the psychoanalysis approach, raises awareness of mental health. This essay might appeal to students who are interested in Jungian literary criticism and its approach to literature, as well as Jungian analysts.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2023. , p. 54
Keywords [en]
Jung, Matt Haig, Jungian literary criticism, individuation, mother archetype, animus, complex, shadow, library, mental health
National Category
Languages and Literature
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-119261OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-119261DiVA, id: diva2:1735968
Educational program
English Language and Literature, Master Programme, 120 credits
Presentation
2023-01-12, Fe3027, Linnaeus University, Växjö, 10:00 (English)
Supervisors
Examiners
2023-02-142023-02-102023-02-14Bibliographically approved