Jung's archetypal criticism attempts to discover the basic
existentialist, metaphysical, and psychological philosophies proposed by Karl Jung, as
they appear in literature.
To illustrate an example, there
are certain cliches that tend to occur in literature, for example, the femme fatale, the
martyr, the Cinderella-type, etc. In Jung's opinion, these archetypes tend to repeat
themselves in literature as part of our deep, human connection which is sometimes even
metaphysical. This is what Jung deems as the "collective
unconscious."
In The Glass Menagerie
we see Tom as the martyr, somewhat, since he had to overcome his mother, his
sister, his situation, and himself, in order to escape the pressure of everyday life
with Amanda.
Laura represents the hidden ego, too scared to
come out, and terrified of the world. She is suppression itself, combined with
immaturity and lack of support. She is the incomplete
self.
Jim is the destitute hero whose former glory was
replaced with the sad reality of a society that is nearly bankrupt. He accepts his life
and moves on the best way he knows how- by accepting reality and continuing his journey
in peace. Contrastingly, Tom is the one whose pathos is too overbearing to handle.
Hence, Tom is a stronger Jungian archetype than Jim.
Amanda
is more of a femme fatale (or used to be back in her day) and still uses her charms,
perhaps in cathartic allusion to what she wishes for her daughter to
do.
In all, each character is representative of a different
unfinished business, and a different type of incomplete journey. This is true to most
individuals, and it is a repetitive theme across literature. This connection between
human emotion and the collective unconscious is what gives the theme to the Jungian
criticism.
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