Jungian psychology is an interesting tool with which to develop a character, but, for me, it's too feminine. I realize the big thing is for heroines, but it just opens up too many portals. For example: "She wants to honor her parents while also proving her mother wrong, that she is not a cause of ruin and shame for her family and her city. ..." Why doesn't the mother help her daughter when asked, becomes for me, easy answered ... the mother is a narcissist, doesn't love her kid, and worries more about disgracing the her neighbors than helping he kid through a tough time. (Are they Muslims? Who else care about such nonsense?) And if the girl child is tough enough (military training) to problem-solve, why would she care what her mother thinks, feels, or does? And why would she want to "honor" such a parent?
I get your point about back stories and the need for "round characters" readers care about. And, of course people have public and private personas, but there are past, present and future versions of the "self" as well to consider. I suppose I'm more of Humanist, CBT, Gestalt kind'a person. Food for thought, maybe characters depends on what kind of story authors want to tell, and how. Literary, to me has always seemed emotional angst close related to estrogen levels, while novels/ writers like London and Zane Grey have a testosterone edge to them. Jane Withersteen doesn't seem to worry about what her mom did, she ain't marryin' a varmit like Elder Tull.
Thanks for the deep dive!
I hope it's useful
Jungian psychology is an interesting tool with which to develop a character, but, for me, it's too feminine. I realize the big thing is for heroines, but it just opens up too many portals. For example: "She wants to honor her parents while also proving her mother wrong, that she is not a cause of ruin and shame for her family and her city. ..." Why doesn't the mother help her daughter when asked, becomes for me, easy answered ... the mother is a narcissist, doesn't love her kid, and worries more about disgracing the her neighbors than helping he kid through a tough time. (Are they Muslims? Who else care about such nonsense?) And if the girl child is tough enough (military training) to problem-solve, why would she care what her mother thinks, feels, or does? And why would she want to "honor" such a parent?
I get your point about back stories and the need for "round characters" readers care about. And, of course people have public and private personas, but there are past, present and future versions of the "self" as well to consider. I suppose I'm more of Humanist, CBT, Gestalt kind'a person. Food for thought, maybe characters depends on what kind of story authors want to tell, and how. Literary, to me has always seemed emotional angst close related to estrogen levels, while novels/ writers like London and Zane Grey have a testosterone edge to them. Jane Withersteen doesn't seem to worry about what her mom did, she ain't marryin' a varmit like Elder Tull.