Jungian Elements in Postmodern Literature: A Study of The Da Vinci Code (2003) by Dan Brown

Abstract

This dissertation deals with the application of the theory of character arc by K.M. Weiland and elements of Jungian theory to explain the nature of character development in the award-winning novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The research is purely analytical and achieved by applying the character arc theory to the protagonist of the novel. The second step is the use of the flat character arc as a foundation to highlight and prove the existence of the Jungian element and its fundamental function as a web of symbols that glue different parts of the novel with the characters in it on an archetypal level. It is shown, that the protagonist went through a flat character arc and that his character reflects the image of a sage archetype. Furthermore, this dissertation deals with the existence of other archetypes represented by the characters, mainly the shadow archetype, the anima, the animus, and the trickster archetype along with the syzygy between them.