The Journey Of Achieving Self A Study Of Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard Of Earthsea

Ursula K.Le Guin is one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.She is well known for her novels such as The Left Hand of Darkness(1969),The Lathe of Heavein(1971),The Dispossessed(1974)and the "The Earthsea Trilogy," which includes A Wizard of Earthsea(1968),The Tombs ofAtuan(1970)and The Farthest Shore(1972).The high quality and important status of her Earthsea series make her stand alongside those world-renowned fantasy writers such as J.R.R.Tolkien and C.S.Lewis.She has also won numerous awards,including the prestigious National Book Award,the Newbery Medal and the Hugo.The thesis will analyze A Wizard of Earthsea from the perspective of the Jungian theory,according to which,Ged,the hero of the novel,can be regarded as a patient who gradually develops neurosis and is forced onto a journey of self-discovery,one which requires not confrontation,but acceptance.And it cannot be accomplished without help from the right people.This thesis can be divided into three parts:The first part explains that Ged's natural attitude towards the unconscious archetypes of persona and shadow help him to navigate through life,but since he is still ignorant of the unconscious archetypes,this attitude is fragile and easily swayed.The second part explores Ged's twisted attitudes towards the unconscious and its consequence.Ged's unreceptive and repressive attitude towards the unconscious is caused by an over-extended persona;the disastrous result of it is an over-charged shadow,which manifests itself in the form of projection and neurosis.The third part elaborates on the establishment of a new and proper attitude towards the unconscious.The need to cure the neurosis forces Ged onto the journey of individuation,through which he readjusts his persona and accepts the shadow by combining the conscious and the unconscious.Not only is he cured of the neurosis,but he also achieves selfhood.It is worth noting that it is with the help of a mentor and a friend that Ged reaches his destination.Even though Le Guin claimed to have never read Jung before writing the novel,she discovered the similar principle.Through Ged's journey,Le Guin shows us that maintaining a proper attitude towards our unconscious archetypes is vital to our growth and development.One should not exaggerate the persona nor over-repress or escape from the shadow.Only total acceptance can help us integrate the unconscious into the conscious and become psychologically stable and strong,capable of making remarkable achievements in life.