NCHS AP English Language

Jungian Archetypes and Ishmael-Jessica Huff

According to Jung: A Very Short Introduction, archetypes are "identical psychic structures common to all." It also describes archetypes as the "collective unconscious and the functional units of which it is composed." Another book, Archetype Revisited: An Updated Natural History of the Self, defines archetypes as "active living dispositions that perform and continually influence our thoughts and feelings." In simpler terms, archetypes are how our unconscious plays out in our behavior and is manifested in three ways- dreams, art, and religion. Our archetype greatly affects our behavior; however, we are unaware of it, yet our unconscious continues to play a great role in our lives, just as it does in Ishmael's.
Although there is no clear-cut archetype for Ishmael, he can fall under the archetype of an outsider or outcast, as defined by his name. His name refers back to a biblical reference of Ishmael who was an outsider. Ishmael is visible as an outsider because he seems to have few people that are very significant to him. Thus far, the reader only sees one person of great significance to Ishmael, Queequeg. In addition, Ishmael seems to have an unbiased view, furthering his fit as an outsider. Additionally, Ishmael has a strong desire to go to the sea, but does not know why. Ishmael goes on further to say that everyone and everything has an innate attraction to water. In class, Mr. Oliver discussed this tendency for water as fitting into our unconscious mind. People tend to be drawn toward water because of the womb; however, they tend to be unaware of it. Additionally, Ishmael has a natural fear of the unknown. At first, he fears sharing a bed with a harpooner because he does not know him. Later, he realizes it is better to share a bed than to not sleep at all, until he sees Queequeg. Although Queequeg is harmless, Ishmael is afraid. He claims that he is afraid because Queequeg is a pagan, when in actuality he fears Queequeg because he is different. Humans have an innate fear of the unknown, most probably for protection. Nevertheless, when someone is place in an unfamiliar situation they are afraid and down let their guard down until they feel comfortable. Overall, it is hard to place Ishmael to an archetype, although he does fit into the archetype of an outsider.
-Jessica Huff

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 10:19 PM