Greek mythology is a complex form of literature with divine beings, mortals, heroes, and stories in the form of legends. These legends have carried on to our day, leaving an impact not just on art and literature but also on modern psychological theories, which aren't in the spotlight or talked about as much. This essay offers a perspective concerning the reflection of these myths on the human psyche.
With its pantheon of gods and mythical stories, Greek mythology provides an in-depth overview of human nature. Numerous psychological issues are reflected in these myths' main themes, including the conflict between fate and free will, the concept of heroism, and the intensity of human emotions. For instance, myths such as the tale of Narcissus have not only reflected the consequences of a well-known fatal flaw, hubris, but also have been used to name the psychological condition.
A variety of experts have used myths as tools to enhance their work and ideas. Carl Jung is one of the most prominent and transformative people in his field, who also assisted his work and theories with Greek mythology. Let's explore Carl Jung and how he combines gods with the human psyche while developing the 12 archetypes.
Jung is a Swiss psychiatrist known as the father of analytical psychology. Carl Jung took myths seriously and brought a whole new twist to the stories we read and love. His work led to his commentary on human nature, which he explained with "archetypes". Jungian archetypes are psychological notions, thought patterns, or images that exist in the collective unconscious of everyone. Archetypes are natural patterns of behavior and thought. The level of development or the growth of a person's unique identity is influenced by this process. Small things can partake in the shaping of your personality, like maternal figures, culture, and individual experiences, creating your archetype. There are 12 global, mythic character archetypes.
Starting with Zeus, the lightning king of the gods, represented by "The Ruler": The ruler archetype demands to dictate and rule, limit chaos, and keep things in their control. They are extremely responsible, they don't make decisions with feelings and are often controlling. They always feel the need to have the last word which makes them seem strict even when they're trying to do the right thing.
Secondly, Poseidon, the sovereign of the seas: "The Destroyer". The destroyer personifies paradox; despite having a strong desire to wreck and harm, they are afraid of mortality. They are prepared to destroy everything and everyone. They are fueled by intensely suppressed rage and frustration and are vicious. They view connection and feelings as challenging in relationships, reject them, bury them deeply, and find it simple to let go.
Thirdly, Demeter, the goddess of harvest: "The Innocent". The innocent may be sensitive, foolish, and too trusting. They do not understand the nature of life, which is the existence of death, misery and suffering. They constantly search for a better, carefree life. Their ignorance to trust people easily gives them comfort and courage. Still, inevitably they become overly reliant on them and they become dependent attachers, failing to become their own, separate person.
Moving on to Hera, the goddess of marriage and childbirth: "The Caregiver". The caregiver is far away from greed, battling it with compassion, kindness, and an urge to help others, even if it causes them to neglect themselves and their own needs. Besides their sweet side, they also have a manipulative edge to them. They use their care as a tool, pressuring people into staying with them. They are co-dependent.
Next, the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite: "The Lover". Love applies to so many different subjects as maternal, camaraderie, spiritual... The lovers are devoted to spreading love. They crave genuine relations and connections, sharing their desire with those around them. They might become overbearing and hard to deal with as they become obsessive, and they have a massive fear of loneliness that can make them go to extreme measures just to keep intimate relationships.
Then there's Ares, god of war: "The Warrior". The warrior is brave, dedicated and competitive. They can go to extreme measures just to ensure they're in the 1st place, like ignoring ethics, feelings, and moral codes. Their stubbornness and lack of empathy makes them hard to compromise with.
Continuing with Hephaestus, the god of fire and metallurgy: "The Orphan". The orphans are people who were forced to grow up so suddenly. They're witty and also empathetic, but they are incompetent. They use victimization to excuse their lack of discipline. They are pessimistic and they fear the misuse of power.
Following that comes Hermes, The messenger and the god of mischief: "The Jester". The jester relies on humor and trickery to embrace living as it is. They're lighthearted, sometimes lazy, and they crave adrenaline. They might overstep boundaries and act cruelly just for the adrenaline rush. They dislike serenity and crave feeling alive.
After that there is Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy: "The Magician". The magician is very powerful but mad. They can evoke fear in people around them out of worry for what might happen if they lose control. They seek some sort of metamorphosis, a change. They have the ability to charm a crowd. However, if they use their skill in manipulation for good, they can make an impact for humanity's sake.
Thereafter Athena, The goddess of wisdom and war strategy: "The Sage". The sage is motivated by wisdom and knowledge, dedicated to what's wrong or right. They are highly judgemental and critical, not open to changing their mind from what they think is the truth. This makes them lack empathy as they are seen as close-minded and dogmatic.
Subsequently, there's Artemis, the goddess of wilderness and hunting: "The Seeker". The seeker is creative and passionate, known by their distinct characteristics. They avoid crowds or teams as they are quite skeptical and untrusting of other people, viewing them as a burden. They stay away from commitment and tend to be perfectionists. Even though their individuality is impressive, they are usually bound to become resentful and conceited from loneliness.
Lastly, Apollo, the god of archery, poetry, and music: "The Creator". The creator embraces creativity as a whole. They are constantly on discovery and exploration. They have a great sense of imagination and they are dedicated to their work, to the point of obsession, feeling that they must always create something to make up for the gaps in their lives. They are far too paranoid about what's real or not, their quirks occasionally making them social outcasts.
In conclusion, Jung believed that myths were an expression of the collective human mind; in other words, myths stem from unintentional forms of thought and wit of the human spirit that can only be rationalized by symbolizm. His views and theories inspired so many such as Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist and writer who similarly states that “The myth is the public dream, and the dream is the private myth.” That can be interpreted as dreams representing individual goals and experiences, whereas myths represent societal values and common ideas. Collectively, they influence our perceptions of the world and ourselves. It takes a lot of thought and self-discovery to unravel the world of hidden meanings and imagery in mythology. There's so much that we don't know yet. The human mind in itself is like a grand theatre – every archetype, behavioral pattern, and characteristic makes out its own cosmos. There's a little of everything inside us, the outside factors like maternal figures, culture, society, and personal experiences deciding which one will be representing you as a person. The archetypical system is one of the tools that helps us understand our pattern of thought and upbringing by making it easier for us to comprehend our conscious. Think about the experiences that changed your life. Which traits are present in your grand theatre of thinking? Which archetype calls for your spirit?
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