The Father Archetype

1
The Father Archetype
Light Dark Self Shadow Mockingbird Blue Jay
2
The Father Archetype

• In myth, legend and dreams, the father archetype
  personifies as the Elder, the King, the Father in
  Heaven. He is the living embodiment of the Logos
  principle his word is law. As Defender of the
  Faith and of the Realm he is the guardian of the
  status quo and bastion against all enemies. His
  attributes are activity and penetration,
  differentiation and judgment, fecundity and
  destruction ("Transforming the Mind The
  Father).

3
The Father Archetype

• Without the father there is chaos, conflict, and
  sadnesswhen we feel the confusion of a
  fatherless life and wonder where he could be,
  the father has been evokedhe is finding his way
  back (Moore 34).
• A father is one whose perspective and knowledge
  are rooted in the underworld and tied to the
  forefathers, those who have gone before and have
  created the culture that the father now takes
  into his hands. A fathers wisdom and moral
  sensibility find their direction from voices that
  are not now in life. His initiators are both
  those literal fathers who have created culture
  and his own deepest reflections (Moore 36).

4
The Father Archetype

• In dreams, it is always the father-figure from
  whom the decisive convictions, prohibitions, and
  wise counsels emanatean authoritative voice
  which passes final judgments (Jung 214 215).
• It is the figure of a wise old man who
  symbolizes the spiritual factorThe wise old man
  appears in dreams in the guise of a magician,
  doctor, priest, teacher, professor, grandfather,
  or any other person possessing authority (Jung
  216 - 217).

5
The Father Archetype

• In multiple patriarchal mythologies and various
  world religions, the ruling deity is a father
  figure who routinely dwells in the heavens
  Uranus/Caelus and Zeus/Jupiter from Greek/Roman
  mythology, Odin from Norse mythology, Amon Ra
  from Egyptian mythology, the father/sky gods of
  various African tribes, God the Father of
  Christianity, Yahweh of the Jewish faith, and
  Brahma from the Hindu religion.

6
The Father Archetype

• The Father archetype can extend to the son in a
  positive manner (evident in numerous religious
  systems such as the loving relationship between
  the Christian God and Christ the Son) But there
  is a darker side of the Father, sometimes
  negatively stretching out toward his children
  (active in the disturbing Greek myth concerning
  Cronus and his attempt to devour Zeus).

7
The Father Archetype

• The Father Archetype has a distinct relationship
  with both the Shadow and the Child. As a father
  figure, the Father must first be aware of the
  Shadow in order to effectively (and momentarily)
  shield their young charges from internal and
  external harm. But the Father must also
  eventually initiate the Child into the darker
  ways of the world, helping them begin to know the
  Shadow within and without, removing their
  protective parental barriers.

8
The Father Archetype

• When seeking out the presence of the Father
  archetype within literary works, heed the
  movements of any character that exudes a definite
  sense of command or control. Additionally take
  note of figures who provide invaluable direction
  or sagacious advice to other pivotal characters.
  One final hint is to explore the deeper
  implications of one generations generosity
  toward the members of the next generation. If
  the metaphysical gifts and insights imparted are
  substantial, even if given to characters not
  directly related to the figure(s) in question,
  this might indicate the Father archetype is
  present within the examined text.

9
Literary Application - The Father

• In John Steinbecks unsettling work To a God
  Unknown, the protagonists father passes away but
  his spirit inhabits a tree near his sons
  settlement, He heard the sounds come back to the
  landand the great tree stirred to life under the
  wind. Joseph raised his head and looked at its
  old, wrinkled limbs. His eyes lighted with
  recognition and welcome, for his fathers strong
  and simple beinghad entered the tree (Steinbeck
  18). Later in the strange text, Joseph rises up
  to the status of the Father, lording over his
  land, That authority passed to Joseph. He spoke
  with the sanction of the grass, the soil, the
  beasts wild and domesticated he was now the
  father of the farm (Steinbeck 24).

Cover illustration for the 1995 edition of
Steinbecks To a God Unknown.
10
The Father Archetype

• Modern Examples of the Fathers Presence

11
The Father Archetype

• In the Beach Boys song Child Is Father of the
  Man, Brian Wilson explores the eternal cycle of
  the sons journey through childhood (under the
  tutelage of a guiding fathers hand) toward his
  ultimate destination maturity and the claiming
  of the status of fatherhood as he begins guiding
  his own offspring on their lifes journey. In
  simple terms, the songwriter describes this
  complicated circle, (The child) father of the
  manEasy my child, it's just enough to
  believeOut of the wild into what you can't
  conceive / You'll change (Wilson).

12
The Father Archetype

• Harry Chapins song Cats in the Cradle is a
  perfect example of the Fathers absence and its
  ramifications explored in song. After detailing
  the various ways in which he himself was an aloof
  father during his childs early years, at the end
  of the folk song the father realizes that his own
  sons lack of affection toward his aging father
  is a reflection on his own lackluster parenting,
  I've long since retired, my son's moved away / I
  called him up just the other day /I said, I'd
  like to see you if you don't mind / He said,
  I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the timeHe'd
  grown up just like me / My boy was just like me
  (Chapin).

13
The Father Archetype

• In George Lucus Star Wars Darth Vader is
  superficially and primarily the epitomy of the
  dark side of the Father. Enveloped in the cloud
  of the Dark Side of the Force, the remaining
  human shred of Anakin Skywalker must struggle
  with his Shadow and the Emperor to eventually
  sacrifice himself to save the life of his son.
  With his sons help, he takes off the mask of
  Darth Vader.

http//www.youtube.com/watch?vRwjOMVPMnxU
14
The Father Archetype

• In Walt Disneys The Lion King, young Simba is
  guided by his father both in life and death.
  Despite his early demise, Mufasa manages to still
  provide needed instruction to his son as he
  struggles to mature and face down the enemies of
  the jungle kingdom.

http//www.youtube.com/watch?vPZfeR-QE5io
15
The Father Archetype

• In both the book and film series, although not
  related by blood Dumbledore definitely acts as a
  guide and father figure to young Harry Potter.
  Whether offering advice, providing magical gifts
  of assistance, or sacrificing his life to
  indirectly protect Harrys life, Dumbledore
  exemplifies the Father archetype.

http//www.youtube.com/watch?vUunqBAHBDo8
16
The Father Archetype

• Gandalf from Lord of the Rings is a prime example
  of the Father archetype as guide. As Frodo and
  the other halflings make their treacherous ways
  to move against the darkness, the wizard provides
  sagely words of wisdom, offers his powerful
  protection, and even faces and returns from death
  to defend them in their quest.

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v44kBN340vd4
17
Major Resources

• Chapin, Harry. "Cats In The Cradle Lyrics."
  Lyrics Depot - Free Song Lyrics. Web. 2 Oct.
  2011. lthttp//www.lyricsdepot.comgt.
• Jung, C. G. The Archetypes and the Collective
  Unconscious. 2nd ed. New York Princeton
  University Press, 1959. Print.
• Moore, Thomas. Care of the Soul A Guide for
  Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday
  Life. Harper Collins, 1992. Print.

18

• Steinbeck, John. To a God Unknown. New York
  Penguin Books, 1925. Print.
• "Transforming the Mind The Father." Trans4mind.
  Trans4mind, Web. 26 Oct 2009.
  lthttp//www.trans4mind.comgt.
• Wilson, Brian. "Child Is Father Of The Man"
  Lyrics Depot - Free Song Lyrics. Web. 6 Oct.
  2010. lthttp//www.lyricsdepot.comgt.