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Chapter 4    Jung: Analytical Psychology119
Jungbelieved thattheanimus isresponsible forthinking andopinion inwomen 
justastheanima produces feelings andmoods inmen. Theanimus isalsotheexpla -
nation fortheirrational thinking andillogical opinions often attributed towomen. 
Many opinions heldbywomen areobjectively valid, butaccording toJung, close 
analysis reveals thatthese opinions werenotthought out,butexisted ready-made. 
Ifawoman isdominated byheranimus, nological oremotional appeal canshake 
herfrom herprefabricated beliefs (Jung, 1951/1959a). Liketheanima, theanimus 
appears indreams, visions, andfantasies inapersonified form.
Great Mother
Twoother archetypes, thegreat mother andthewiseoldman, arederivatives ofthe
anima andanimus. Everyone, manorwoman, possesses agreat mother archetype. This
preexisting concept ofmother isalways associated withbothpositive andnegative 
feelings. Jung(1954/1959c), forexample, spoke ofthe“loving andterrible mother” 
(p.82).Thegreat mother, therefore, represents twoopposing forces— fertility and
nourishment ontheonehand andpower anddestruction ontheother. Sheiscapable 
ofproducing andsustaining life(fertility andnourishment), butshemayalsodevour 
orneglect heroffspring (destruction). Recall thatJungsawhisownmother ashaving 
twopersonalities—one loving andnurturing; theother uncanny, archaic, andruthless.
Jung(1954/1959c) believed thatourviewofapersonal loving andterrible 
mother islargely overrated. “Allthose influences which theliterature describes as
being exerted onthechildren donotcome from themother herself, butrather from 
thearchetype projected upon her,which gives heramythological background” (p.83).
Inother words, thestrong fascination thatmother hasforbothmenandwomen, often 
intheabsence ofaclose personal relationship, wastaken byJungasevidence forthe
great mother archetype.
Thefertility andnourishment dimension ofthegreat mother archetype issym-
bolized byatree,garden, plowed field, sea,heaven, home, country, church, andhollow 
objects suchasovens andcooking utensils. Because thegreat mother alsorepresents 
power anddestruction, sheissometimes symbolized asagodmother, theMother of
God, Mother Nature, Mother Earth, astepmother, orawitch. Oneexample ofthe
opposing forces offertility anddestruction isthestory ofCinderella, whose fairygod-
mother isabletocreate forheraworld ofhorses, carriages, fancy balls, andacharming 
prince. However, thepowerful godmother could alsodestroy thatworld atthestroke 
ofmidnight. Legends, myths, religious beliefs, art,andliterary stories arefilled with
other symbols ofthegreat mother, aperson whoisbothnurturing anddestructive.
Fertility andpower combine toform theconcept ofrebirth, which maybea
separate archetype, butitsrelation tothegreat mother isobvious. Rebirth isrepre -
sented bysuchprocesses asreincarnation, baptism, resurrection, andindividuation 
orself-realization. People throughout theworld aremoved byadesire tobereborn: 
thatis,toreach self-realization, nirvana, heaven, orperfection (Jung, 1952/1956, 
1954/1959c).
Wise Old Man
Thewise old man, archetype ofwisdom andmeaning, symbolizes humans’ preexisting 
knowledge ofthemysteries oflife.Thisarchetypal meaning, however, isunconscious Final PDF to printer