Jungian Archetypes

Comparing Similar Elements in Homer’s The Odyssey (Greek epic poem) and Tite Kubo’s Bleach (Japanese manga/anime series) in an Attempt to Isolate Archetypes

What is an Archetype?

“A pattern that serves to organize our experiences, almost like cognitive schema” (Knox 2001)

?…

Zeus Jupiter

-_-;;

TOO OBVIOUS!

Basically ideas or symbols that aren’t restricted to one culture (Like black, the color of this power point. It means spooky stuff.)

Archetype 1: The Tragic Hero

Odysseus

Strengths:

Strong, confident, courageous, cunning

Flaw: hubristic

Kurosaki Ichigo

Strengths:

Strong, confident, courageous, cunning

Flaw: internal struggle

http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/supplementary_slides/OdysseusCirce.jpg

http://www.boragungoren.com/images/ichigo_inner_hollow.png

Archetype 2: Lover (Love Interest)

Penelope

•Wife of Odysseus

•Believes Odysseus to be deceased

•Does not choose a suitor, hoping against hope that Odysseus will return

Kuchiki Rukia

•Ichigo’s (unofficial) significant other

•Ichigo travels to Soul Society to rescue Rukia

http://www.nautiljon.com/images/perso/grandes/Bleach/kuchiki_rukia.jpg

http://www.davidclaudon.com/odyssey/penelope.jpg

Archetype 3: The Crew

Odysseus’s crew members

•Fought with Odysseus during Trojan War

•Traveled with Odysseus homeward

•Eventually met their demise

Ichigo’s classmates (Ishida Uryu, Orihime Inoue, Sado Yasutora)

•Journey with and fight alongside Ichigo in Soul Society

•All survive, despite seemingly fatal injuries

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sebastiagiralt/2334114736/

Archetype 4: The Sage/Guide

Athena

•Greek goddess of wisdom

•Favors Odysseus, aids him in his return

Urahara Kisuke and Shihoin Yoruichi

•Former captains of Soul Society protection squads

•Vast knowledge of the inner workings of Soul Society

•Aids Ichigo and co. in their attempt to save Rukia

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shiyun/1045809917/

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/razorchaos578/UraharaxYoruichi.jpg

Archetype 5: Ultimate Adversary

Suitors

•Odysseus disguises self as an old beggar at first, then reveals himself

•Hundreds of suitors vs. Odysseus + a few

•Athena imbues Odysseus with supernatural strength

•Odysseus and co. defeat suitors, with only a few superficial injuries

Kuchiki Byakuya

•As the fight begins, Ichigo hides his true power

•As a captain of the Soul Society protection squads, he is far more powerful than Ichigo

•Ichigo defeats Byakuya, suffering near-fatal injuries

http://www.flickr.com/photos/litmuse/72834620/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8127907@N04/484367139/

Archetype 6: Omniscient Being

Olympian Gods

•Hold council to decide the fate of Odysseus

Thirteen Protection Squads

•Hold multiple councils to decide the courses of action to be taken in response to the events occurring in Soul Society

http://religion-cults.com/Ancient/Europe/greek-gods.gif

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l412/Mellu-chu/Bleachcaptains.jpg

Conclusion

Through this analysis, several recurring elements have been articulated. Since one work was written during ancient Greek times, and another was written in modern-day Japan, it is most likely that these elements define a number of Jung’s archetypes.

Bibliography• http://www.dl.ket.org/latin1/mythology/1deities/gods/olympians/images/zeus

_.jpg

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach_(manga)

• http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff3/freakyjohn101/grim_reaper.jpg

• http://www.pojo.com/anime/specific_anime/bleach/ep8.shtml

• http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/facts.html

• http://videobleach.com/bleach-character-bio

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbVMu6894Y8#