MYTH, ARCHETYPE, AND INDIVIDUATION IN ORHAN PAMUK’S THE RED-HAIRED WOMAN: A JUNGIAN ANALYSIS

Abstract

The paper explores the protagonist's journey toward individuation in Orhan Pamuk’s The Red-Haired Woman through the perspectives of Jung’s theories of archetypes and the collective unconscious. It demonstrates how mythic structures continue to influence human attitudes and identity in contemporary society. Employing a qualitative research design, the study analyzes the psychological growth of the protagonist by comparing it with traditional myths, particularly the Rostam-Sohrab and Oedipus narratives. It addresses a gap in Pamukian scholarship by considering a Jungian psychological framework – an approach often overlooked in favor of political, cultural, and historical readings. The protagonist’s hunger for paternal approval, remorse, and emotional struggles exemplify archetypal patterns that shape his individuation process. His growing mythic consciousness and evolving relationships reflect the operation of archetypes within both personal and cultural dimensions. The anima archetype is revealed through his shifting perceptions of maternal and romantic figures, fostering his journey toward self-realization. This paper encourages future research to extend Jungian approaches to Pamuk’s broader oeuvre or to explore archetypal analysis across other works of contemporary literature.