Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Social Sciences Studies
Year: 2025
DOI:
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A Jungian Psychoanalytic Perspective on Beauty and the Beast
Krishnapriya Kanakkassery Satheesan
ABSTRACT:
This paper examines Beauty and the Beast through Carl Jung’s psychoanalytic framework, utilizing lesser-known archetypes such as the Syzygy, the Mana Personality, and the Wounded Healer. The study explores how these archetypes contribute to the individuation process, emphasizing the Beast’s psychological transformation from fragmentation to wholeness. The Beast represents the Wounded Healer, burdened with internal wounds that must be confronted for genuine transformation. Beauty (Belle) symbolizes the Syzygy, embodying the union of opposites and acting as a catalyst for the Beast’s self-realization. The Enchantress serves as the Mana Personality, an agent of profound psychological change who initiates the Beast’s transformative journey. Beyond character analysis, this study investigates the symbolic significance of key objects and spaces within the tale, such as the enchanted mirror and the Beast’s castle, interpreting them through Jungian symbolism. The castle represents the unconscious mind, while the mirror functions as a psychological tool for self-reflection. Using a qualitative, hermeneutic approach, this study demonstrates that Beauty and the Beast is not merely a romantic fable but a mythic blueprint for psychological integration.Findings indicate that the tale provides a profound exploration of individuation, offering insights relevant to personal development and therapeutic practice. The study highlights the practical applications of Jungian theory in psychoanalysis, literature, and cultural studies, emphasizing how fairy tales can serve as valuable tools for understanding psychological growth. By examining this classic narrative through depth psychology, the research offers a richer appreciation of its enduring significance in human experience.
keywords: Archetypes, Beauty and the Beast, Jungian Psychoanalysis,Mana Personality, Syzygy, Wounded Healer