The Studyon The Kite Runner From The Perspective Of Jungian Archetypal Theory

This thesis aims at analyzing the best seller The Kite Runner from psychological perspective by employing Carl Gustav Jung's archetypal theory. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini has moved millions of readers around the world. It is a story about an Afghan boy Amir who despicably betrayed his brother and redeemed himself years later. This paper concentrates on Jungian theory, using the theories from Plato, Frazer, and Frye as support which includes Plato's Idea, Frazer's The Golden Bough, and Frey's archetypal criticism to analyze the psyche of Amir to explain his betrayal and atonement; studies the scapegoat archetype as Hassan and other archetypes in the novel. And finally unveils the reason that this novel touches so many readers.Carl Gustav Jung is an outstanding Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist who found the school of analytical psychology. Jungian theory focuses on collective unconscious. And the content of collective unconscious is archetype. Archetypal theory is of great contribution not only in the field of psychology but in other disciplines, including literature, art, aesthetics, and so forth.This paper falls into five parts. The first part of chapter one studies the development of Jungian archetypal theory and its most important components which are unconscious and archetype; and the second part introduces the author, Khaled Hosseini and his book The Kite Runner.Chapter two deciphers the protagonist Amir's deep motives of betrayal and atonement. The factors contributed to Amir's betrayal are his love to his father, jealousy to Hassan, unfulfilled"anima". Reasons for his atonement are the guidance of the"wise old man"and fulfilled"anima".Chapter three analyzes Hassan as a"scapegoat"archetype. His tragedy attributed to not a single factor. The"persona"of Amir and Amir's Baba, racial discrimination due to the"projection"of"shadow", as well as the influence of"The Great Mother"upon individual are responsible;Chapter four researches the relations between myth and archetype; and makes a comparison between dissentious brothers archetype in Holy Bible and The Kite Runner. Conclusion summarizes profound influence of archetypal theory represented by Carl Jung on the literature studies. Although it had be continuingly revised and challenged by skeptics and new theories, it is indispensable in literature criticism as which was shown in The Kite Runner.Through analysis, this paper helps the readers to have a rational understanding of Amir's deeds. Archetype plays an important role in the composing of literary works and reader's exception.