An Examination of the Shadow Archetype in the Character of Seyedeh Zahra (the Narrative Da) and Audrey Caltrin (the Novel War Is the World’s Most Beloved Girl)

Abstract

Jungian analytical psychology and the shadow archetype constitute a powerful framework for understanding personality transformations in literature. Using a descriptive–analytical method with a comparative approach grounded in this theoretical perspective, the present study examines the shadow archetype in the character of the narrator, Seyedeh Zahra, from the Iranian novel Da, compiled by Seyedeh Azam Hosseini, and the character of Audrey Caltrin from the American novel War Is the World’s Most Beloved Girl, written by Noel Salazar. The findings indicate that both protagonists confront their shadows within the shared context of war; however, the content of their shadows is antithetical. Seyedeh Zahra struggles with the shadow of “weakness” and “incapacity” in order to attain decisiveness. In contrast, Audrey, who wears a mask of strength, encounters the shadow of “vulnerability” and “emotion,” which she projects onto “Crowl Ann.” The results demonstrate that Seyedeh Zahra moves from weakness toward strength, whereas Audrey progresses from indifference toward the full acceptance of humanity and emotions. Both characters achieve psychological balance through the conscious integration of repressed aspects and thereby complete their process of individuation.