Examine and contemplate Jung's "objective psyche". Carefully consider his position, defining all abstract concepts, applying his work not only to Meursault but to Gregor Samsa, as well.
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Jung’s collective unconscious states that people unconsciously form archetypes. Memories, instincts, and experiences are forms of archetypes. Archetypes manifest itself from dreams, fairy tales, myths, and religion. The archetypes are repetitive unconscious actions that reappear in our unconscious mind that also correspond to our moral ways in society. The way Meursault relates to this is by his shooting of the Arab. He does not know why he kills the Arab but just does. His collective unconscious probably has an impact on this action. His defensive instinct tells him “to kill or be killed” and as a result, he kills. Yet this action is also a way of releasing the Arab from the religious world, Meursault’s dream of a carefree life. Meursault does not believe in religion and so kills the Arab to save him from the world. The action could have also been an unconscious desire to protect his friend, Raymond. Raymond demonstrates loyalty to Meursault and so he does the same by killing the Arab for Raymond. Meursault’s action of killing the Arab leads to an unconscious desire for the answer to the universe which is Meurasult’s reward for his unconscious defense for either himself or Raymond. The collective unconscious also relates to Gregor Samsa’s transformation. Even though Gregor demonstrates a lot of loyalty to his family and to the firm, he does not enjoy doing what he does. At the beginning of the novel, Gregor’s thoughts are complaints about his job. He does not enjoy working for many hours to pay off his family’s debts. His transformation is an unconscious desire and dream that Gregor has, to escape from his “grueling job”. This transformation is similar to the Greek myths where nymphs turn into other beings to escape Zeus, the powerful God. Likewise, Gregor escapes the powerful job that decides his family’s income. Therefore, the unconscious mind makes both of the characters, Gregor and Meursault, act in ways that do not make sense with the absurdity of society with their transformations. Society continues to look for answers, openly, but that on hinders their quest.
The comment is by Nancy Lam.
Jung’s objective psyche states that several archetypes, innate ideas, are programmed into our minds. The objective psyche is an aspect of the “collective subconscious,” which is a common thought for everyone in society. Jung believes that the subconscious drives people to commit unusual actions, through either dreams or intuitions. He believes that people focus too much on science and can benefit from unconscious realms.
In the novel The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa undergoes an absurd transformation when he becomes an insect. When Samsa hears his sister playing he somehow feels drawn to her music. Subconsciously he wants to be in the presence of his family even though he knows that it is wrong. He later states that he became less considerate of his family.
Jung’s idea applies to the character Meursault who, in The Stranger, commits an unconscious act when he kills the Arab. Meursault blames the sun for his actions but is unable to prove his innocence. This is an example of the objective psyche because Merusault has no motive for committing the crime, since he hardly knew the Arab. He commits the act because he feels an urge from his subconscious. Meursault is able to benefit from his subconscious act because he is able to gain enlightenment. Instead of dreading his execution, Meursault is able to enjoy his last few days of life because he realizes that death is inescapable.
Carl Jung’s idea of the “objective psyche” is another name for the collective subconscious. The collective subconscious contains collective archetypes or representations that are programmed in our minds.
This relates to Meursault because Meursault has many things in his mind throughout the entire novel. First of all, Meursault has the idea of not knowing what life really is, then, he has the idea of why is he alive. The starts Meursault’s mind, and throughout the novel he obtains more ideas like killing the Arab guy and accepting what he did. In the end, Meursault accepts his destiny no matter what happens, which eventually is his death.
In The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa fills his mind of ideas of having to work for his family even when he does not really want to. His idea then changes in the end to wanting to die and not wanting to be in the way of the family. This leads Gregor to his death just like Meursault led himself to his death.
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