EXPLORING PSYCHOANALYTICAL DIMENSIONS OF JUNGIAN ARCHETYPES IN SAMUEL BECKETTS DRAMAS

Author : Shraddha Deshpande

Abstract :This paper explores the influence of Carl Jung's theory of the collective unconscious and archetypes on literary criticism, particularly in the context of Samuel Beckett’s dramatic works. Jung expanded Freud's psychoanalytic model by introducing the concept of the collective unconscious—an inherited repository of symbols, myths, and archetypes shared across humanity. Beckett conveys the psychological trauma and existential absurdity experienced by individuals in the aftermath of war through these archetypal symbols. He depicts universal human conditions such as suffering, resilience, alienation, and the quest for meaning through his unique, minimalist dramatic style. The paper aims to study this nonlinear, ambiguous, and symbolic style through the lens of Jungian literary criticism, revealing deep patterns within the collective human psyche

Keywords :Archetypes, Collective unconsciousness, Anima and Animus.

Conference Name :National Conference on Business, Economics, Social Science and Humanities (NCBESSH-25)

Conference Place Hyderabad, India

Conference Date 15th Jun 2025