Date of Award

9-1994

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Marilyn Patterson

Second Advisor

Carolyn Scott

Third Advisor

Arlene Taich

Abstract

The use of myth to examine and explain the human condition is axiomatic in most cultures and traditions. One reason is myth and folklore frequently provide illuminating metaphors for the universal life themes of human experience. In western culture, literature is one of the more powerful transmitters of attitudes toward aging and psychological issues that confront the aged (e.g., mental and emotional declension, human interaction with the environment., and the impact of the environment on the aging individual). The purpose of this research is to examine popular and classical literature for representative archetypes that correspond to the predictable life stages of middle aged and older adults.

This interdisciplinary research begins with a review of Jungian theory as it relates to the manner in which myth informs human psychological development., then sets forth a fundamental explanation of Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development, particularly the latter two stages (Generativity vs. Stagnation and Ego Integrity vs. Despair). To overlay these two stages, however, Robert Peck proposes seven developmental microstages (Valued Wisdom, Socialized Relationships, Cathectic Flexibility, Mental Flexibility, Ego Differentiation, Body Transcendence and Ego Transcendence). Literary characters that correlate with six of Peck's seven micro stages are identified (the Socialized Relationship microstage is omitted). In addition, the research of Jungian psychologist, Carol S. Pearson, provided archetypal references that facilitated the selection and analyses of these six literary characters.

The literary characters serving as archetypes for Peck's microstages are selected from The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Fried Green Tomatoes al the Whistle Stop Café, Siddhartha, A Christmas Carol, The Elephant Man and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. An archetypal profile highlighting the corresponding psychosocial microstage of each character is also included. The thesis concludes with a summary addressing possible applications for the inclusion of interdisciplinary theories in future social gerontological study.

Download

Share

COinS