The (Re) presentation of Philippine mythology and folklore: A psychological literary analysis of Karen Francisco’s Naermyth Duology
Author Affiliations
- 1Department of English and Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Central Luzon State University, Philippines
- 2Department of English and Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Central Luzon State University, Philippines
- 3Department of English and Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Central Luzon State University, Philippines
Res. J. Language and Literature Sci., Volume 9, Issue (3), Pages 7-11, September,19 (2022)
Abstract
Karen Francisco's Naermyth Duology propagates the Philippines' diverse mythology and folklore. The plot centers on Athena Abigail "Aegis" Dizon, who dedicates her life to protecting humanity from mythical creatures attempting to seize the human homeland. The two novels do not only illustrate Athena's life as a shepherd and her battle against Naermyth but also provide a glimpse into her past. In this regard, the researchers attempted to study the novels through the viewpoint of psychological criticism, specifically Carl Gustav Jung's Theory of Dreams, and proved that the events in the story were merely the main character's dreams. Dreams, according to Jung, are not a collection of insignificant events but rather a slew of truths that the conscious mind denies or rejects. The findings of this study indicate that the repressed desires and unfulfilled wishes of the main character were reflected in her dreams. In this case, the purpose of her dreams is to foster psychological healing by driving her to go through a self-realization or individuation process.
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