The Progress of Self—Redemption

Abstract：This thesis analyzes the protagonists growth in The Kite Runner from the perspective of Jungs archetypal theory.Through an analysis of the protagonists growth，it reflects the development of the protagonists psychology and then his awareness of pursuing self-salvation and self-realization，thus resents the protagonists inner affection and his mental process.The emphasis of this thesis lies on the analysis of the protagonists personality and growth from the aspects of four major archetypes—the persona，the shadow，the anima/animus and the self，which play critical roles in peoples personality and behaviors.

Key Words：The Kite Runner archetype self-redemptionself-realization

1.Introduction

Based on the four major archetypes of Jung，the thesis analyzes the protagonists progress of self-redemption.It gives an analysis of the flaws in his personality from the aspects of persona，shadow and the absence of anima.And then，based on the archetype of the self，the author analyzes that Amir achieves his self-realization and raises himself to a level of pursuing wholeness in his personality when he plucks up courage to face his guilt and conquers his defects to realize his self-salvation.The author believes that encoding this novel with Jungs archetypal theory will provide the readers with a new standpoint to get a more thorough and deeper understanding about this novel.

2.Carl G.Jungs Archetypal Theory

As an influential thinker and the founder of analytic psychology，Jung spent his lifetime exploring the collective unconscious and the archetypes.In 1919，Jung first mentioned the term “archetype” in his Instinct and the Unconscious，and he conceived archetypes “to be innate neuropsychic centers possessing the capacity to initiate，control，and mediate the common behavioral characteristics and typical experience of all human beings”（Stevens，2007：48）.Tribal lore，myth and fairy tale are all included in the archetypes，from which we can find “countless typical experiences of our ancestors”（Jung，1968a：665）.Jung recognized and described many archetypes during his lifetime.In his work Researches into the Phenomenology of Self，Jung mentioned several most important archetypes when we are confronted with ourselves；they are in such an order from the outset toward the inner：the persona，the shadow，anima and animus，the self.

Jung described it in his book that persona is a mask or set of masks that we all wear.We choose a mask which “corresponds with our conscious intentions，while it also meets with the requirements and opinions of our social environment”（Jung，1971：608）.In order to adapt to particular situation and comply with the social standards and norms with regard to the behaviors，we often put on a false front—the persona.Therefore，the persona is our social personality，a personality that is sometimes quite different from our true self.Whats more，there are a variety of personas in one person.Each specific persona is the adaptation to specific surroundings and conditions，conforming to the persons social status and title.

The shadow archetype is basically the dark side of our personality.“The shadow archetype takes its manifested form from the dark and repressed aspects of the personality，those characteristics and traits are what a person refuses to acknowledge about him or her”（Jung 1968a：513）.It is our unrecognized desires and demands，our repressed portions of ourselves.In terms of acceptance，the shadow contains those aspects of ourselves we do not accept and may not even acknowledge.Inevitably，the shadow comes to possess qualities opposite to those of persona，the shadow compensating，as it were，for the superficial pretensions of the persona，the persona balancing the antisocial characteristics of the shadow.

The anima is a feminine image in the male psyche and the animus is a male image in the female psyche.The anima/animus represents the "true self" rather than the image we present to others and serves as the primary source of communication with the collective unconscious.The combination of the anima and animus is known as the syzygy，or the divine couple.The syzygy represents completion，unification and wholeness.Each person possesses some kind of qualities of the opposite sex，not only biologically but also psychologically.Thus，both anima and animus are crucial for ones healthy development of personality.

The self archetype represents the unity，integration and harmony of the total personality.Its goal is wholeness，the complete realization of the blueprint for human existence within the context of the life of the individual.This archetype involves bringing together and balancing all parts of the personality.The self serves as a motivating force，pulling us from ahead rather than pushing us from behind.The development of the self can motivate the increase of ones awareness，perception，understanding，and the direction of his life.

3.Amirs Process of Self-Redemption

3.1 Amirs Persona

For Amir，he has several titles in the novel.First of all，he is a gentle，mild boy born in an Afghan rich family，and thus he needs to adapt himself to the community he lives，no matter how unwilling he is.Second，being a motherless Afghan son，he lives in an all-man-round environment，and his dad—Baba，as a Pashtun specimen，who owns a good reputation in the society more than a successful merchant.Amirs admiration of Baba is evident.He desperately craves for Babas love，praise and whats more forgiveness，for he thinks he steals Babas princess away from him，and his birth is a kind of sin—theft.So as a son，he wears his good-son mask，discreetly behaving himself in order to get Babas appreciation.He tries hard to gain chances during which only he and Baba alone could stay together，which he thinks is a way to have his father all to himself.At last，he is also a Pashtun master，whose servant is loyal to him and he takes it for granted.In order to be recognized by all of them，it is necessary for him to wear different masks to face different people and in different situations.

3.2 Amirs Persona Shadow

In Amir，the shadow is the embodiment of his sensitivity，selfishness and cowardice，which are viewed as improper in his community and society，especially by his father.His sensitivity is reflected in his shame of himself as he considers himself as the murderer of his mother，and it is the reason why Baba always shows aloofness towards him.Babas aloofness is the origin of his lacking of confidence，suspicious of himself，jealousy of Hassan and self-contempt.His cowardice emerged every time he faced provocations，challenges and difficulties.

According to Jungs explanation of shadow，when sensitivity，selfishness and cowardice are designated to the dungeons of the unconscious as shadow prisoners，these feelings become insecurity and false pride that rule the conscious mind through fear，neurosis and aggressive behavior.These lead to isolation and depression.In this sense，it makes Amirs behavior understandable.Though as a seemingly mild child，his dark inner side makes its way out through cruel behavior upon Hassan，such as making fun of Hassans illiterate when he reads story for him even though he notices that Hassan feels the sting of his tease.And later，he treats Hassan even cruel by his totally betrayal.Regretting about his own choice about Hassan and the kite，he resents himself and feels guilty of looking at Hassans face or listening to his voice.In order to punish himself and reduce his sense of guilt，he does his utmost to drive Hassan and Ali away，which brings about the extremely painful hurt to everyone around him.At the same time，he isolates himself from contact with other people except his Baba.

3.3 Amirs Absence of Anima

Amirs mother died the moment after her giving birth to Amir，and his childhood is spent in an all-man-around environment，so the anima side of his persona is absented.In accordance with Jung，father acts as persona，influencing the childrens attitudes towards outside world and their confidence；while mother plays another role，supplying a feeling of safety to childrens inner psychology.As a boy growing without mothers tender care and love，he instinctively longs for fathers attention，recognition and love.However，he could not get these compensations from his father.All of these give rise to his unhealthy development of personality.Hence，his flaws of character，sensitivity，selfishness，humility and cowardice are on some degree caused by this absence of Anima.And it was not surprising when he made his own choice to sacrifice his best friend Hassan.

But later，when he gets married in free love in America，the Anima side of his persona is compensated by his beloved wife，and thus his personality is gradually getting completed.Compared to the young man who depended on his father in his earlier life stage，Amirs marriage resembles the beginning of adulthood.From the moment he getting married，his role is no longer a son but a husband of his wife.He had another social identity and a responsibility to carry，which required him not only physically matured but also spiritually matured，to be an independent man.

3.4 Amirs Self

Amirs self-realization is a tough task and a long journey.His first step of his self-realization begins with his decision to go back to Pakistan and to see Rahim when he gets his call，which means his admission of his sin and his resolution to compensate it.After old Rahim venting the past secret about Hassan，Amir sets up his mind to rescue Sorhab in spite of the extremely difficulties，dangers and hardships.And this redemption is the start of his “very lengthy，difficult，and complicated task” to his self-realization.Amir is not the only one who has his unatoned sin，Baba is also carried with his sin unatoned under the earth，and thus，Amirs redemption is both for himself and his father.And later，Amirs decision of adoption presents his progress of himself，indicating a pursuit of wholeness in his spirit.Although the process of adoption encounters many obstacles for the requirement of all kinds of unavailable certificates，they succeed at last.Ultimately，Amir conquers his cowardice，atons his sin，and gets the sublimation of his spirit.At the end of the novel，he is in harmony with himself as well as with the world.

4.Conclusion

From the aspect of Jungs archetypical theory，the thesis concentrates on the analysis of the heros self-redemption in The Kite Runner.According to Jung，humans past experiences lies deep in the collective unconscious that is the archetypes.And there are major four archetypes which influence human psyche more than others，the persona，the shadow，the anima and animus，and the self.The former three has tremendous significance for the formation of human personality.Therefore，by elucidating Amirs personality and growth from the three archetypes，the reader will have a more through picture as regard to the understanding the heros behavior.The self archetype is the unification of all other archetypes，and the harmony and wholeness of the personality.In his childhood，Amir bears an incomplete personality as a result of the absence of love，tender，affection，recognition and appreciation which is supposed to be offered by his mother and father.But later in his adolescence，his is on the way of pursuing self-salvation and the wholeness of his personality.And he does succeed.

References

Hall，C.&Nordby;，V.A Primer of Jungian Psychology.New York：Mentor Books，1973.

Hosseini，Khaled.The Kite Runner.New York：Penguin Group（USA）Inc，2006.

Jung，C.G.The Collected Works of C.G.Jung Vol.9（Ⅰ）：The Archetypes and The

Collective Unconscious.（2nd edition）.McGuire.W.（ed.）.R.F.C Hull（trans.）.

Princeton：Princeton University Press.1968a

Jung，C.G.The Collected Works of C.G.Jung Vol.6：Psychological Types.（2nd edition）.McGuire.W.（ed.）.R.F.C Hull（trans.）.Princeton：Princeton University Press，1971.

Stevens，Anthony.Jung：A Very Short Introduction.Beijing：Foreign Language Teaching and Researching Press，2007.

作者簡介

王小芳（19991.7～），女，重慶，中山大學(xué)南方學(xué)院，2016級(jí)碩士，比較文化研究

（作者單位：中山大學(xué)南方學(xué)院）