Research Catalog

Title

Persephone returns : victims, heroes and the journey from the underworld / by Tanya Wilkinson.

Author

Wilkinson, Tanya, 1952-

Publication

Berkeley, Calif. : PageMill Press, ©1996.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xii, 249 pages; 21 cm

Summary

Using myth and fairy tales, Dr. Tanya Wilkinson adds insightful commentary on the individual dynamics and cultural patterns which contribute to the deep schism between "victims" and "heroes" in our society. In modern life we sympathize only with the blameless victim, and cling to the image of a "heroic ideal"--That is, if we are only good enough or strong enough, bad things will not happen to us. But bad things do happen to good and strong people, as well as to people who are not entirely blameless. Dr. Wilkinson moves beyond the debate of "who's at fault." Using the Persephone myth and four fairy tales, the author instead illustrates the deep archetypal forces at work in victim experiences and encourages us to search for the emotional and spiritual maturity which may be gained from them.

Subject

• Adjustment (Psychology)
• Psychic trauma
• Victims > Psychology
• Self-defeating behavior
• Jungian psychology

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

Ch. 1. The Battle of Opposites: Story as a Middle Way -- Ch. 2. Victim as Betrayed Innocent -- Ch. 3. Victim as Redeemer -- Ch. 4. Victim as Seeker -- Ch. 5. Victim as Pariah -- Ch. 6. Victim as Trickster -- Ch. 7. Persephone Returns: Transforming Victim Identities -- Ch. 8. Persephone on Oprah: The Cultural Significance of Victim's Descent.

ISBN

• 187929009X
• 9781879290099

LCCN

96019832

OCLC

• ocm34824020
• 34824020
• SCSB-2092119

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library