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The Myth of the Birth of the Hero: A Psychological Interpretation of Mythology (Forgotten Books)

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This is apparently the first (1909) edition. Rank published a much enlarged edition in 1922, translated into English and published (Johns Hopkins U. Press) in 2004. More on this important psychologist at www.ottorank.com and see also: The Myth of the Birth of the Hero: A Psychological Exploration of Myth

This is a revolutionary little book, albeit in pre-revolutionary form. Otto Rank is now well known for revolutionizing his mentor Freud. The layout of this book is very simple, accessible and elegant. There is a short introductory essay (roughly 10 pages), then a summary of 15 different Hero myths (roughly 50 pages, 2-4 pages each), finally a 30 page interpretative essay.

Otto Rank will much later (1924) argue that the Freudian Oedipus Complex is not the primary causal factor in psychological growth and character development. Later still this becomes the bases of the Oedipus Project or how to maximize individuation (drive of Eros) within a secure sense of belonging and connection within community, culture, and nurturing personal relationships (drive of Agape).

In the interpretative essay of this book, the reader can interpret Rank as being well on his way to challenge Freud's Oedipus Complex as the primary causal factor of psychological growth and character development. However, Rank does not in this book make these later developments explicit.

The reader will also find a highly accessible and innovative interpretation of some classic myths. The very brief summaries of the myths will also be of interest to many readers. Rank is selective in his summaries to underscores the common themes of the hero myths he finds important in the interpretative essay.

There is also implicit in Rank's interpretative essay a challenge to the Jungian interpretation or meaning of myth made so very popular by Joseph Campbell. Again this challenge is retrospective based on Rank's future developments and a revolutionary innovation in psychoanalysis and socio-psychology more generally.

The reader who will enjoy this book will be someone interested in a brief, general, and highly selective introduction to, and an interesting psychological interpretation of, classical myth (general reader). The historian of psychological thought will find this book stimulating and important for numerous reasons (a couple reasons alluded to above). Finally, students of Rank and social theorists more generally will find the interpretative essay stimulating reading, anticipatory of Rank's later theory, but also a highly novel approach toward the importance of myth for psychology and social theory.