Draft:The Double Archetype/Soul Figure

Double Archetype/Soul Figure

The double archetype is a concept drawn from Analytical Psychology, introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. It refers to an inherited, unconscious twin figure within the human psyche that plays a role in identity formation, interpersonal relationships, and inspiration. In Jungian psychology, this figure is sometimes described as a soul figure, serving a function comparable to the anima and animus—archetypes representing the unconscious feminine and masculine aspects of the psyche in heterosexual men and women, respectively. Some interpretations suggest that, for homosexual individuals, the double archetype functions as a parallel soul figure.[1]

Jungian Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious

In Jungian psychology, archetypes are universal symbols and recurring motifs found in mythology, literature, and art. They are believed to originate from the collective unconscious, a theoretical psychological domain that contains inherited patterns of thought and behavior common to all humans. Jung distinguished between the personal unconscious, which consists of individually acquired experiences and is associated with the shadow, and the collective unconscious, which stores archetypal structures.[2] Jung identified several major archetypes, including the self, shadow, persona, and anima/animus. These archetypes are thought to influence personal development and contribute to common themes in myths, religions, and storytelling traditions across different cultures and historical periods.[3]

Historical Background

The concept of “the double” has appeared in various intellectual traditions. In social philosophy, W.E.B. Du Bois introduced the term double-consciousness in The Souls of Black Folk (1903) to describe the psychological duality experienced by African Americans in a racially segregated society.[4] In psychology, Otto Rank (1926) was one of the first to analyze the double through a psychoanalytic lens, linking it to themes of narcissism, fear of death, and the desire for immortality as they appear in literature.[5]

Anima, Animus, and Soul Psychology

Jung proposed that men and women possess an inner soul figure—an unconscious contrasexual archetype. He termed the feminine soul image in men the anima, and the masculine soul image in women the animus. According to Jung, romantic attraction occurs when these inner figures are projected onto a partner of the opposite sex.[6]

There is ongoing debate regarding how Jung’s anima/animus theory applies to transgender and nonbinary individuals.[7][8][9] Additionally, Jung did not explicitly define a soul psychology for homosexual individuals.[10]

The Double Archetype as Soul Figure

Psychologist Mitchell L. Walker introduced the double archetype as a soul figure for same-sex-loving individuals in a 1976 issue of the Jungian journal Spring.[6] The double archetype is described as an internal companion that serves as a source of inspiration and personal development. Within this framework, for gay men and lesbians, the double archetype—infused with homosexual eros—functions as a soul figure, analogous to the anima and animus.[1] In this model, the double archetype complements the anima or animus to form a psychological whole. For instance, in a man’s psyche, the anima is associated with maternal, sisterly, or romantic feminine images, while the male double represents paternal, fraternal, and romantic male figures. A parallel structure is proposed for women, incorporating both a female double and the animus.[11]

Alternative Interpretation: Male Anima in Gay Men

Some scholars suggest that the anima in gay men may sometimes manifest as male, rather than female. This interpretation challenges gendered classifications of Jungian archetypes, arguing that the anima can take different symbolic forms beyond traditional human gender constructs.[12] According to this view, the male anima in gay men still fulfills the functions of a soul figure and symbolizes their sexuality.[12]

The Double in Mythology, Literature, and Film

The double archetype appears in numerous myths, literary works, and films. Examples include:

In Mythology and Ancient Texts:

The Epic of Gilgamesh (Gilgamesh and Enkidu)

The Iliad (Achilles and Patroclus)

The Bible (David and Jonathan)

In Literature:

The Prince and the Pauper (twin identity theme)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Huck and Jim’s bond)

The Lord of the Rings (Frodo and Sam; Merry and Pippin; Legolas and Gimli)

In Film:

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Elliot and E.T.)

Star Wars (Jedi duos such as Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, as well as the twin bond of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia)

These narratives frequently depict the double as a transformative relationship in which both figures influence each other’s personal growth.[1][11][13]

Variations of the Double Archetype

The double archetype does not always manifest as an identical counterpart. Variations include mentor-protégé relationships, where an older figure serves as a teacher or initiator to a younger counterpart. This dynamic has historical precedents, such as the pederastic traditions of Ancient Greece, and appears in modern storytelling.[1][6] Examples include:

In Literature:

The Lord of the Rings (Frodo and Gandalf)

In Film: Star Wars (Luke Skywalker with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda)

Dark Aspects of the Double

Like all archetypes, the double has both positive and negative aspects. Potential darker manifestations include:

The Competitor – A rival figure that seeks to overshadow or challenge the ego.

The Puer Aeternis – The “eternal youth,” which can lead to immaturity and an inability to develop.

The Senex (Old Man) or Crone – The wise mentor archetype, which can also take on a cynical or repressive quality.

The Repressed Double – A double archetype that is rejected by the ego, potentially falling into the unconscious or shadow personality, particularly in cases where it evokes homosexual themes that are socially stigmatized.[1][6]

References

1. Walker, Mitchell L. (1976). The Double: An Archetypal Configuration (PDF). Spring: A Journal of Archetype and Culture: 165–175.
2. Edinger, Edward (1972). Ego and Archetype. Boston, Mass.: Shambhala Publications. p. 3. ISBN 0-87773-576-X.
3. Papadopoulos, Ed., Renos (2006). The Handbook of Jungian Psychology. Routledge. pp. 66–67. ISBN 1-58391-148-0.
4. Pittman, John P. (2024). Double Consciousness. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2024 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.).
5. Tucker, Jr., Ed., Translator, Harry (1971). Double: A Psychoanalytic Study. The University of North Carolina Press. pp. xiv-xvi (introduction). ISBN 0-8078-1155-6.
6. Hopcke, Robert (1989). Jung, Jungians & Homosexuality. Boston, Mass.: Shambhala Publications. pp. 116–118. ISBN 0-87773-472-0.
7. Molay, Jack (August 27, 2012). The Other Side of Your Transgender Soul. Crossdreamers.
8. Downs, Myles (June 1997). Transgenderism and the Archetype of the Androgyne. Myles Downs, LMFT.
9. McKenzie, Susan (July 2006). Queering Gender: Anima/Animus and the Paradigm of Emergence. Researchgate.net.
10. Walker, Mitchell L. (1991). Jung and Homophobia (PDF). Spring: A Journal of Archetype and Culture. 51: 55–70.
11. Sellner, Edward C. (2013). Male Eros, Friendships, and Mentoring: From Gilgamesh to Kerouac. Maple Shade, NJ: Lethe Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 1-59021-314-9.
12. Hopcke, Robert (1990). Men’s Dreams, Men’s Healing. Boston, Mass.: Shambhala Publications. p. 127. ISBN 0-87773-561-1.
13. Kaufman, Roger (2006). How the Star Wars Saga Evokes the Creative Promise of Homosexual Love: A Gay-Centered Psychological Perspective (Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise and Critics, ed.). New York: Peter Lang Publishers.