Abstract
The Greek mythical hero Orestes has sometimes been viewed as a model of healthy psychological development (especially for a young man), sometimes as an exemplum of 'madness' and 'badness'. In this chapter I first argue that this confusion arises partly from a mistake in focus: as I show with reference to both religious ritual and tragedy, we need to look instead at how celebrations of Orestes help a community to integrate violence, guilt, and chaos. Second, I argue that we can then use what we've learned to help us think about the problem of 'aggrieved masculine entitlement' in politics today. The point is not to castigate 'toxic masculinity' but to contribute to understanding how these forces can be integrated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Descent of the Soul and the Archaic |
| Subtitle of host publication | Katabasis and Depth Psychology |
| Editors | Paul Bishop, Terence Dawson, Leslie Gardner |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 10 |
| Pages | 183-200 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780367515010 |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Sept 2022 |
Keywords
- Carl Jung
- Jung
- Analytical Psychology
- Mythology
- Myth
- Greek Myth
- Orestes
- Masculinity
- Misogyny
- Rebirth
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (accepted manuscript)
This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Routledge at https://www.routledge.com/The-Descent-of-the-Soul-and-the-Archaic-Katabasis-and-Depth-Psychology/Bishop-Dawson-Gardner/p/book/9780367515010. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.