«Le Roman de Jaufre»

The thirteenth-century Occitan narrative, Le Roman de Jaufre, is a complex work. While on the surface it is a parody of Arthurian romances, it also contains elements of a more serious nature. On a psychological level, the adventures of the hero can be read as an archetypal journey through the process of individuation. Jaufre first appears in an immature state of identification with the mother, then progresses to a balance of masculine and feminine aspects through a series of confrontations with shadow and anima figures. Jaufre's individual growth becomes a model for his society, an inspiration for others to follow the path of individual growth.