Vond /charm

[David Morris]

Jung's Shadow is the first aspect (AKA archetype) of the unconscious
recognized in dream analysis by a person in his journey of
"individuation."  Once recognized it must be accepted as an inherent
part of one's self before one can move on to subsequent aspects.
Subsequent archetypes are later met in dreams, and these subsequent
archetypes will have their own shadow sides.  When we are told of
Vond's mad woman in the attic, Pynchon is unmistakeably representing
Vond's repressed Anima, the shadow aspect of his Anima.

Jung's version of the "return of the repressed" was the dark aspect of
the repressed archetype rising up and attacking the subject.  The
Anima is essentially the Oedipal figure archetype, the opposite sex
parent.  As a parent it is the authority figure, but with a sexual
component included.  In its positive manifestation it is a guiding,
loving mother/father.  But it (Anima) can turn into the Siren, Witch,
She-devil, Seductress of Doom, **when it is vigorously repressed by
the subject.**

Vond's role is a Repressor for the State, not just himself.  Thus his
psychic recoil should be larger that normal for an individual.

David Morris

On Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 1:57 PM, Ian Livingston <igrlivingston at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think the "spirit of darkness" is represented by several characters
> in the novel.  Darkness in Jung, like water, stone and a number of
> other seemingly innocent factors of being, including also 'mother',
> refer loosely to the "shadow" or unconscious aspect of the self.