A 'individuação' de E. Scrooge: uma interpretação Junguiana, do conto a Christmas Carol, de C. Dickens

Abstract

The basic objective of this dissertation is a Jungian reading of the short story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The focus given to the character Scrooge is related to the intent of trying to understand his metamorphosis that occurred on Christmas Eve, 1843, in London. Until the eve of that date, Scrooge was a misanthrope who possessed a greed complex; the next day, he wakes up as a generous man, aware of the importance of celebrating the Christmas spirit. The main hypothesis is to understand this feat was that the character had gone through a psychic differentiation. This process is called individuation by C.G. Jung, which enabled a dynamism between the conscious and unconscious dimensions of the human soul. This dynamic Jung called transcendent function. This function enables personality development and promotes the encounter with the archetypal representation of the self or Selbst, in its deep psychological aspect. Jacob Marley, who has been dead for seven years, instigated Scrooge's path to individuation. This character was Scrooge´s friend and partner and carried the heavy chains. This character carried the heavy chains that he had fused in life, due to his selfishness and financial ambition. In life, he was not a good man. However, his prophetic character had shown great intimacy with Scrooge, allowing him to still do something different and break the bonds of his shackles, created a long time ago. Marley announces to him the visit of three ghosts that night, and they came as soon as Scrooge fell asleep. Therefore, the tale interpretation is that this encounter happened with the unconscious, through dreams. The dream is one of the languages used by the unconscious. For this reason, Scrooge will go through several fantastic experiences, from the memories of his past Christmases to the present Christmas experience and the possibility of glimpsing his future Christmas. The whole experience in Scrooge's dream will awaken his consciousness to something greater. Through the symbolism of the archetype of the spirits, his self. An emotional journey that awakens the self (Selbst) and makes it possible to change one's outlook towards the other. An encounter with otherness and love, as well as with the message left by the Son of Man, through the archetype Christ.