Orphaned in a Cruel Land: A Modern Myth for North Korea

ABSTRACT

In his stunning novel of the suffering, paranoid country of North Korea, wherein all normal relationship is constantly at risk, Adam Johnson creates a compelling story of a relationship that becomes essentially heroic. An orphaned child in cruel circumstances confronts tasks that are mythic in nature. The novel includes episodes of betrayal and despair, inspiration and inflation, epiphany and willing sacrifice, that parallel the stages of individuation as described by Edward Edinger. Relationships serve as the crucible and provide the power of this book.

KEY WORDS:

• alienation
• anima
• archetype of meaning
• defectors
• Edward Edinger
• Ego and Archetype
• enantiodromia
• epiphany
• feminine
• hero
• individuation
• Adam Johnson
• Jung
• myth
• North Korea
• orphan
• Orphan Master’s Son
• sacrifice
• Self
• symbolic
• Marie-Louise von Franz

NOTE

References to The Collected Works of C.G. Jung are cited in the text as CW, Volume number, and paragraph number. The Collected Works are published in English by Routledge (UK) and Princeton University Press (USA).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janet Germane

JANET GERMANE, MA, received her master’s in economics from Harvard University, where she was a research associate for Professor John Kenneth Galbraith. Her publications include “Looking at Type and Temperament: A Syncretic View” (Journal of Psychological Type, Vol 13); “Balancing Spontaneity and Structure: Workshop at WRAPT: The Workbook,” “JP Holds the Key: Applications and Implications of the JP Index” (Bulletin of Psychological Type); “Type, Hero, and Self: Essential Quest and Practical Journey,” a research study in Proceedings of APT Conferences XI, XII. The data from the 440 subjects used for this research is archived at UC Irvine.