Literary Studies - The Heroic Archetype

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the Jungian hero-leader archetype in "The Epic of Gilgamesh", "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare, and "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. It explains how by understanding the collective unconscious within Prospero, Gilgamesh, and Okonkwo, the universal truth behind the tragic flaws that define their hero-leader personas is realized. The writer further discusses the basis of the unconscious excess of the hero archetype as part of major literary history of human behavior. In the conclusion, the writer suggests that, by evaluating how Jung's hero-leader archetype exists within the unconscious mind, one can realize the depth of the hero archetype that is found within the annals of literary tradition.

From the Paper:

"These three heroic leaders often bring forth examples of Jungian archetype of heroism and valor in their leadership, but at crucial moments they misguided choices that doom them to failure. For the characters Prospero, Gilgamesh, and Okonkwo, the Jungian archetype of the industrious hero-leader often entails the tragic flaw of naivety and rash behavior that lead to their downfall. In essence, a Jungian archetypal analysis of these three characters will be brought forth in relation to the tragic leaders that reside within these classic literary tales of excess."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Achebe, C. (1996). Things fall apart. London: Heinemann.
• Campbell, J. (2003). The hero's journey: Joseph Campbell on his life and work. New York: New World Library.
• Pearson, C. (1998). The hero within: Six archetypes we live by. New York, Harper Collins.
• Shakespeare, W. (2006). "The Tempest." Bartelby.com. Retrieved 23 November, 2006 from http://www.bartleby.com/46
• Stevens, A. (2001). Jung: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press

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