Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
12-2005
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Mark S. Holland
Committee Members
John D. Morefield, Judith B. Slagle
Abstract
This paper is a psychological reading of E. M. Forster's A Pasage to India. It uses the psychological theories of C. G. Jung and the methodological postulates of Jungian literary critic, Terence Dawson, to examine the psychological implications of the text, especially in relation to the novel's characters. Attention is given to biographical material related to Forster, particularly his homosexuality, that is important for understanding the psychological implications of the text as well as Forster's art. The paper concludes that the Marabar Caves is the the central psychological symbol of the narrative, representing what Jung calls the collective unconscious. Both Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore, the novel's effective protagonist, encounter heretofore unconscious material in the caves that precipitate psychological growth for each. Adela's encounter is best understood as an animus confrontation while Mrs. Moore's more profound journey is best characterized as a meeting of the self archetype.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Elliott, David W., "A Psychological Literary Critique from a Jungian Perspective of E. M. Forster's A Passage to India." (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1069. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1069
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.