Mythologization in Literature & Literary Theory

Mythologization: Etymology/Term, Meanings, and Concept

Etymology/Term:

“Mythologization” is derived from the combination of two key terms: “mythology” and the suffix “-ization.” “Mythology” refers to a collection of myths or traditional stories that embody a culture’s beliefs, values, and cosmology. The addition of “-ization” suggests a process or transformation, indicating the conversion or elevation of something into the realm of myth.

Meanings:

• Cultural Transformation: Mythologization often involves the elevation of events, individuals, or ideas into the realm of mythology, imbuing them with symbolic significance and cultural importance.
• Symbolic Interpretation: It can refer to the act of ascribing deeper symbolic meanings to historical or contemporary events, turning them into narratives that convey broader cultural or societal truths.
• Idealization: Mythologization may involve idealizing figures, turning them into archetypal heroes or villains, shaping collective perceptions of their significance.
• Memorialization: The process of mythologization is sometimes associated with memorializing significant events or figures, ensuring their enduring presence in the collective consciousness.
• Cultural Memory: It pertains to the preservation of cultural memory through the creation of myths, contributing to the identity and continuity of a community or society.

Concept:

Mythologization is a multifaceted concept encompassing the transformation of elements into myths, whether through cultural processes, symbolic interpretations, idealization, memorialization, or the preservation of cultural memory. It reflects the human tendency to weave narratives around significant aspects of existence, giving them enduring meaning and cultural resonance.

Mythologization: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Mythologization is a theoretical term describing the process of transforming ordinary elements, events, or individuals into mythic constructs within a cultural or societal context. It involves the elevation of these elements to a symbolic level, imbuing them with deeper meanings that contribute to the collective identity and understanding of a community. This concept underscores the human inclination to shape narratives around significant aspects of existence, fostering a sense of cultural continuity and shared meaning.

Mythologization: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

1. Roland Barthes:
   • Work: Barthes’ essay “Mythologies” delves into the mythic dimensions of everyday objects and cultural phenomena, exploring how they are elevated to symbolic status through language and representation.
   • Argument: Barthes argues that mythologization involves the naturalization of cultural constructs, rendering them seemingly universal and obscuring their contingent, socially constructed nature.
2. Jean Baudrillard:
   • Work: Baudrillard’s work, particularly “Simulacra and Simulation,” discusses the proliferation of signs and symbols in contemporary society, examining how reality is replaced by hyperreal simulations.
   • Argument: Baudrillard’s arguments contribute to the understanding of mythologization by highlighting how representations can become detached from their original referents, creating a hyperreal realm where symbols take on a life of their own.
3. Joseph Campbell:
   • Work: Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” explores the monomyth or hero’s journey as a universal narrative structure across cultures and myths.
   • Argument: Campbell’s work emphasizes the archetypal nature of mythologization, suggesting that certain themes and motifs are recurrent in the human psyche, contributing to the creation of timeless myths.
4. Mircea Eliade:
   • Work: Eliade’s “The Sacred and the Profane” examines the role of myths and rituals in establishing a sacred, transcendent reality.
   • Argument: Eliade argues that mythologization serves to connect individuals with a sacred, eternal dimension, providing a framework for understanding and orienting oneself within the world.

These theorists collectively contribute to the theoretical understanding of mythologization, examining its cultural, semiotic, psychological, and anthropological dimensions. Their works provide valuable insights into how myths and symbols shape human perception and meaning-making processes.

Mythologization: Major Characteristics

Characteristics	References from Novels and Poems
1. Elevation of Ordinary Elements	In Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” mundane events are elevated to mythic proportions, blurring the line between reality and myth.
2. Symbolic Interpretation	T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Waste Land” employs mythological symbols to represent the post-war disillusionment and societal decay, showcasing symbolic interpretation.
3. Idealization of Figures	In Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” Achilles is idealized as a heroic figure, embodying virtues and flaws that contribute to his mythic stature.
4. Memorialization of Events	Toni Morrison’s novel “Beloved” memorializes the traumatic events of slavery, using mythic elements to convey the enduring impact on characters’ lives.
5. Cultural Memory Preservation	Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” mythologizes Igbo cultural traditions, preserving them in the narrative as a form of cultural memory.

Mythologization: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Mythologization
1. Structuralism	Mythologization aligns with structuralist views by revealing underlying patterns and universal symbols in narratives.
2. Postcolonialism	In postcolonial literature, mythologization can be seen as a tool to reclaim and reinterpret cultural narratives.
3. Feminist Literary Theory	Mythologization may perpetuate gendered archetypes, prompting feminist analysis to deconstruct and critique such ideals.
4. Psychoanalytic Criticism	Psychoanalytic perspectives can explore how mythologization reflects collective desires, fears, and the unconscious mind.
5. New Criticism	New Criticism may focus on how mythologization contributes to the overall unity, symbolism, and meaning within a work.

These literary theories engage with mythologization in different ways, offering diverse lenses through which scholars can analyze and interpret the use of myths and symbols in literature.

Mythologization: Application in Critiques

Literary Work	Application of Mythologization in Critique
1. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot	Mythologization is evident in the poem’s use of mythic symbols (e.g., the mermaids) to convey Prufrock’s internal struggles, elevating his personal dilemmas to universal themes. The poem mythologizes the modern urban experience and the alienation of the individual in a rapidly changing society.
2. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson	In “The Lottery,” the ritualistic nature of the lottery and the blind acceptance of tradition mythologize the dark underbelly of societal conformity. The story uses mythologization to critique the dangers of unquestioning adherence to cultural practices.
3. “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” by Ernest Hemingway	imageryMythologization is present in the protagonist’s introspective reflections on his life’s choices and regrets. Hemingway mythologizes the African landscape and the looming mountain as symbolic of the character’s existential journey and impending death.
4. “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats	Yeats employs mythologization to depict a world in crisis, drawing on biblical and mythic imagery to symbolize the tumultuous events of his time. The poem mythologizes historical and political upheavals, offering a symbolic narrative of chaos and renewal.
5. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman	Mythologization is evident in the protagonist’s descent into madness, with the wallpaper serving as a symbolic and mythic element that reflects her internal struggles. The story critiques societal expectations of women’s roles and mental health, using mythologization to underscore the oppressive nature of patriarchal norms.

These critiques demonstrate how mythologization is employed in diverse literary works to convey deeper meanings, critique societal norms, and explore profound aspects of the human experience.

Mythologization: Relevant Terms

Term	Brief Definition
1. Allegory	Symbolic representation conveying a deeper moral or political meaning.
2. Symbolism	Use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal meaning.
3. Archetypal Imagery	Recurrent symbols or motifs representing universal human experiences.
4. Mythic Realism	Blending mythic elements with realistic settings or narratives.
5. Parable	Brief narrative illustrating a moral or spiritual lesson.
6. Fable	Short story with anthropomorphic characters conveying moral lessons.
7. Analogical Imagery	Drawing parallels between different concepts or situations.
8. Metaphor	Figurative language comparing two unrelated things for symbolic effect.
9. Apotheosis	Elevation of a character to divine status or embodying ideal qualities.
10. Cultural Allegiance	Implicit or explicit loyalty to cultural values reflected in the narrative.

Mythologization: Suggested Readings

1. Barthes, Roland. Mythologies. Hill and Wang, 1972.
2. Baudrillard, Jean. Simulacra and Simulation. University of Michigan Press, 1994.
3. Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press, 2008.
4. Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1959.
5. Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper & Row, 1970.
6. Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” The New Yorker, 1948.
7. Hemingway, Ernest. “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. Scribner, 1987.
8. Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.
9. Perkins Gilman, Charlotte. “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The New England Magazine, 1892.
10. Yeats, W.B. “The Second Coming.” The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, edited by Richard Ellmann and Robert O’Clair, W.W. Norton & Company, 1973, pp. 555-556.