Carl Jung's Use Of Archetypes In Finding Nemo

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How can archetypes be capable of having such a colossal impact on the meaning of a movie? Although there is not a simple answer to this question, there are, in fact, many factors to be considered. In the movie Finding Nemo, there are several archetypes that resemble universal patterns of humankind. These patterns originate from a few ideas; however, they can be exhibited differently across literature. This idea is best presented by Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist. Jung believes that these patterns are derived from the collective unconscious – the part of the mind that contains ancestral experiences and memories. In this movie, there are three main archetypes present: the hero, father-son conflict, and water versus desert. These archetypes help communicate the underlying message in Finding Nemo – the importance of persevering to achieve a goal and appreciating life. In this movie, Marlin, Nemo’s father, is faced with an unfortunate situation: the abduction of his son. While on a field trip, Nemo and his friends wander off on their own towards an anchored boat. Meanwhile, they start to dare each other to touch this boat. Although Nemo is warned by his father, he did not stop. Suddenly, a diver appears; he traps …show more content…

This collective unconscious resembles the shared experiences of our ancestors. Because these ideas are instilled in a person’s understanding even before birth, they are an excellent tool to advance the meaning of literature. Moreover, people can easily relate to these archetypes since they resemble universal patterns. Although different manifestations of archetypes may be present in literature, the basic idea is the same. In the case of Finding Nemo, there are three major archetypes: the hero, father-son conflict, and water versus desert. These archetypes help convey the message of the movie by stressing the importance of appreciating life and persevering in times of