Customer Reviews

The Cat: A Tale of Feminine Redemption (Studies in Jungian Psychology, 83)

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Those familiar with Marie-Luise Von Franz's other books on fairy-tale psychology will be thrilled with this analysis of a Slavic fairytale. The tale itself is riveting and strange, dreamlike and fierce. Von Franz's analysis is, on the other hand, clear and precise, rational yet inspiring. She interprets the imagery in the tale on two levels: personal and collective. On the personal level, she is exploring the ways in which the feminine in both men and women has to be allowed to develop,so that the human being could become complete. On collective level, she points how history of nations and of mankind as a whole is shaped by unconsciouss impulses and how the femimine has been wronged in the western civilization.

A deeply insightful book that is enriched with enlightening passages that Maria-Lousie von Franz puts forth as she analyzes this Romanian fairytale 'The Cat.' One passage in particular comes to mind:

"...One should tell that to anybody who joins feminist movements, that when the feminine is liberated... it unites in peace and love with the masculine... In other words, the great hostility between the feminine and masculine principles is overcome."

So it seems that it's not about 'man' and/or 'woman,' but about masculine and feminine principles being at odds. This calls for individuals to responsibly come to terms with their inner images and how they relate as opposed to externally putting the blame onto 'men' or 'women.'

Though in different ways, men and women have equally suffered from the devaluing of the feminine principal by the patriarchal value system that now plagues society.

This is just a small taste of what's offered in the analysis of this wonderful "Tale of Feminine Redemption."

Mel Mathews is the author of several novels, including: LeRoi, Menoupause Man, and SamSara...

Marie Louise von Franz wrote an excellent book based on Jungian psychoanalysis. She uses the archetypal image of the cat to study the development of women's spiritual life. It is valuable not only for a person trying to develop his or her inner life, but for literary critics since the author presents archetypal images that appear in classical and contemporary writers.

Answers why many women married to good (but complacent) men are unhappy and what both can justifably do about that unhappiness.

The book arrived very fast, and in excellent condition.