Progression To Individuation—a Jungian Interpretaton Of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned contemporary African American women writers.I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is her first and best-known autobiographical work.It retells her successful but difficult growth from her childhood to the age of seventeen.As a young black woman caged in racism and male-dominance,she endeavors to achieve self-acceptance and realize her own self-value.The thesis analyzes the work from the perspective of the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung's core theory of Analytical Psychology——individuation theory.The protagonist Marguerite's psychological growth before seventeen parallels the process of individuation.Through the specific analysis of Marguerite's persona,shadow,animus and self,the thesis indicates that Marguerite achieves a successful individuation by eliminating the conflicts between different archetypes in her personality and integrating them into a harmonious whole with the regulation of the self.In her childhood,Marguerite wears the obedience persona and silence persona in the white-dominant and male-dominant society.The overdevelopment of her persona results in the rejection of her black identity and alienation of the personality.With the awakening of the shadow and animus hidden deep in her personality,Marguerite begins to realize her true self and fight for equality and independence.In the individuation process,Marguerite struggles with the conflicts between her persona,shadow and animus.Finally,she eliminates the conflicts between the archetypes with the regulating function of the self and achieves an ideal individuation.Through the interpretation of Marguerite's individuation process,readers can get a better understanding of her psychological growth.The success of Marguerite's individuation encourages the vulnerable groups in the world to explore the real self in their deeper mind and quest for their self-realization bravely.