An Analysis Of A. S. Byatt’s Possession From Archetypal Criticism Theory

A. S. Byatt is one of the foremost authors in contemporary British literature. The acclaimed scholar A.S. Byatt is the author of the famous novel Possession. Her best selling novel Possession won the Book Prize in 1990. It is the highest award of British literature. In this novel, A.S. Byatt uses the multiple narrative structure and presents a three layered times including the human beings in ancient times, Victorian times and the commercial society in twentieth century. This thesis analyzes a large number of archetypal images and symbols used in this novel. In order to understand the author’s purpose of writing and her unique insights on the history, society, love and marriage. This thesis tries to discuss and explore the relationship between the characters and the archetypes by using the Northrop Frye’s archetypal criticism.This thesis consists of an introduction, the main body and a conclusion. Its main contents are as follows:This first part is the introduction, which presents the overview of the research on A.S.Byatt and her works as well as the significance and the purpose of this thesis. And Frye’s archetypal criticism plays an important role in the aspect of interpretation which has profound academic value and practical significance.The second part is the main body, which is composed of four chapters:Chapter One introduces the theoretical basis of this chapter, the archetypal criticism theory. This chapter covers the origin and development of the theory of archetypal criticism and mainly focuses on the application of the theory in literary.Chapter Two uses three spatial juxtaposition to show two pieces of unforgettable love stories, this chapter analyzes the myth archetypes and images which depicted in the poem of The Garden of Proserpina. The regeneration archetype of Proserpina is entrusted with human beings are looking for the lost values and regaining the best wishes and happiness vision.Chapter Three mainly analyzes the characteristics and features of archetypes of the hero Ash and the heroine La Motte in Victorian times. Ash’s poem contains the images of archetypes of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve. It implies the secret love affair between Ash and La Motte. La Motte is a central figure in this novel. She represents Byatt’s ideal female image. She borrowed the character La Motte to express her marriage on women’s status, attitude, complex and contradictory psychology of love. La Motte actually incarnated in Christianity the first woman eve. In addition, Melusina is also an important characteristic of the prototype. La Motte and Ash’ love tragedy is a deduction of Melusina and Raymond’s love story in the nineteenth Century.Chapter Four focuses on the behaviors and performances on the central events of scholars of the commercial society in twentieth Century. Among these scholars Roland Michel and Maud Bailey are the central characters that the author tries to portray. Roland is the version of Ash in twentieth Century. In quest for the history of Ash and La Motte’s secret love, Roland produced the spiritual identity with Ash and become the successor of him. Finally he changed his attitude towards life and also became the winner of life. The modern scholar Maud is the descendant of Ash and La Motte. Maud’s attitude to life and love is very conservative and negative initially. Then she has a new understanding of life and society through the cooperation with Roland, when they are seeking the secrets of her ancestors. Roland and Maud are the incarnations of the Christian archetypes of Adam and Eve through the analysis of this thesis.The last part is the conclusion.There are a large number of archetypal images and symbols used in the Byatt’s novel Possession by applying Northrop Frye’s archetypal criticism that draws the conclusion: whether in ancient mythology age, nineteenth Century Victorian times or in modern society, people will give different solutions when they are facing the same problem. In modern society, how to seek the development to adapt to the society. When you are facing the problems of family and career how to make a decision to have your cake and eat it. These answers can draw lessons from the analysis of the novel.