Numinosity in Literature & Literary Theory

Numinosity: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Etymology/Term: The term “numinosity” finds its roots in the Latin word “numen,” meaning divine will or divine presence. Coined by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, numinosity is derived from the concept of the numinous, which refers to a mysterious, awe-inspiring, and transcendent quality associated with experiences of the divine or spiritual realm. Jung introduced this term to describe the profound and transformative nature of encounters with the sacred, emphasizing the deeply emotional and spiritual impact such experiences can have on an individual.

Meanings and Concept:

• Spiritual Presence: Numinosity encapsulates the sense of a spiritual or divine presence that elicits feelings of reverence and awe.
• Transcendence: It denotes experiences that go beyond ordinary, mundane existence, involving a connection with something greater than oneself.
• Mystical Awe: Numinosity often involves a sense of mystical awe, where the individual perceives a sacred, ineffable quality in the encountered presence.
• Transformative Encounters: Jungian psychology suggests that numinous experiences have the power to bring about psychological transformation, leading to personal growth and self-realization.
• Sacred Objects and Spaces: Numinosity can also be associated with sacred objects, places, or rituals that evoke a sense of the divine and inspire a spiritual response.
• Subjective and Objective Elements: Numinosity combines both subjective and objective aspects, as it involves a deeply personal and emotional response to an external, transcendent reality.

Numinosity: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Numinosity, a theoretical term coined by Carl Jung, refers to the profound and transformative quality inherent in experiences of the divine or spiritual realm. It encapsulates the sense of awe, reverence, and spiritual significance that individuals attribute to encounters with the sacred. Numinosity implies a transcendent and deeply emotional connection with a higher, ineffable reality, often leading to personal growth and psychological transformation.

Numinosity: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists:

1. Carl Gustav Jung: As the primary architect of the concept, Jung explored numinosity in-depth, particularly in works like “The Psychology of the Unconscious” and “Psychology and Religion.” He emphasized its role in individuation—the process of integrating the unconscious into consciousness—and its potential for psychological growth through encounters with the numinous.
2. Rudolf Otto: Although not explicitly using the term “numinosity,” Otto’s “The Idea of the Holy” significantly influenced Jung. Otto introduced the concept of the numinous as an experience evoking a sense of awe, mystery, and fascination in the presence of the divine.
3. Mircea Eliade: In “The Sacred and the Profane,” Eliade contributed to the understanding of numinosity by exploring the sacred as a dimension that transcends the profane. He highlighted the significance of sacred spaces and rituals in fostering encounters with the numinous.

Works:

1. “The Sacred and the Profane” (1959) by Mircea Eliade: Eliade’s work provides insights into the sacred, contributing to the understanding of numinosity by exploring the dynamics of religious symbolism, ritual, and the transformative nature of encounters with the divine.
2. “The Idea of the Holy” (1917) by Rudolf Otto: Otto’s foundational work establishes the numinous as an essential concept for understanding religious experiences, laying the groundwork for later elaborations by Jung and others.

Arguments:

1. Archetypal Symbols and Collective Unconscious: Jung argued that numinosity involves encounters with archetypal symbols from the collective unconscious. These symbols, representing universal themes, contribute to the transformative impact of numinous experiences.
2. Psychological Integration: Jungian theory posits that numinosity plays a crucial role in the integration of unconscious elements into consciousness, fostering a harmonious relationship between the individual and the transcendent. This integration is seen as a pathway to psychological well-being.
3. Sacred Time and Space: Eliade’s contribution underscores the importance of sacred time and space in numinous experiences. Rituals and sacred places create a connection to the transcendent, facilitating encounters with the numinous and promoting a sense of the sacred in everyday life.

Numinosity: Major Characteristics

1. Awe and Reverence:
   • Characteristics: Numinosity often evokes a profound sense of awe and reverence in the face of the divine or transcendent.
   • Literary Reference: In The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, the protagonist’s journey through the realms of the afterlife is infused with awe as he encounters the divine mysteries and the sublime.
2. Mystery and Ineffability:
   • Characteristics: Numinous experiences are marked by a sense of mystery and the ineffable—something beyond ordinary comprehension.
   • Literary Reference: Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick captures the ineffable nature of numinosity through Captain Ahab’s pursuit of the elusive white whale, representing the mysterious and transcendent forces at play.
3. Transformation and Individuation:
   • Characteristics: Numinosity is often associated with transformative experiences and the process of individuation, leading to personal growth.
   • Literary Reference: J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series portrays Harry’s encounters with the numinous, such as the transformative experience in the Forbidden Forest, symbolizing his journey toward self-discovery and individuation.
4. Archetypal Symbols and Collective Unconscious:
   • Characteristics: Numinous encounters involve archetypal symbols from the collective unconscious, representing universal themes.
   • Literary Reference: In The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, the One Ring serves as an archetypal symbol of power and corruption, embodying the numinous and affecting characters on a deep psychological level.
5. Sacred Spaces and Rituals:
   • Characteristics: Numinosity can manifest in sacred spaces and rituals that facilitate a connection with the transcendent.
   • Literary Reference: T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land explores the desolation of modern life and the quest for spiritual renewal through ritual, reflecting the numinous potential in sacred practices.
6. Integration of the Transcendent:
   • Characteristics: Numinosity involves the integration of transcendent elements into one’s psyche, fostering a holistic understanding of self and the divine.
   • Literary Reference: In Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, the protagonist’s spiritual journey leads to the integration of transcendent wisdom, symbolized by the river, into his self-awareness.

These literary references illustrate the major characteristics of numinosity, showcasing how writers across different genres and time periods have explored the profound, transformative, and symbolic dimensions of encounters with the sacred or transcendent.

Numinosity: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Numinosity
Psychoanalytic Theory	Numinosity is relevant in psychoanalytic theories, especially in the works of Carl Jung. It aligns with the exploration of the unconscious mind, archetypal symbols, and transformative experiences. Literary characters’ encounters with the numinous can be analyzed through the lens of individuation and the integration of the transcendent into the psyche.
Reader-Response Theory	Numinosity holds significance in reader-response theory as it explores the emotional and subjective responses of readers to literary works. Texts imbued with numinous elements can evoke powerful emotional reactions, providing rich material for studying how readers engage with and interpret sacred or transcendent themes.
Symbolic Interactionism	Within the framework of symbolic interactionism, numinosity plays a role in shaping symbols and meanings in literature. Literary symbols representing the numinous can be seen as socially constructed elements that convey shared meanings, contributing to the cultural and societal interpretation of the sacred.
Postcolonial Theory	Numinosity can be relevant in postcolonial literary theories, especially in the examination of how indigenous cultures and belief systems are represented. The exploration of sacred spaces, rituals, and encounters with the numinous may shed light on the impact of colonialism on cultural identity and spiritual practices.
Structuralist Theory	In structuralist literary theory, numinosity can be analyzed as part of a broader system of signs and symbols within a text. The archetypal nature of numinous symbols and their recurrence across different cultures can be examined in terms of the underlying structures that shape meaning and narrative.
Feminist Literary Theory	Numinosity is relevant in feminist literary theories, particularly in analyzing how female characters navigate and interpret encounters with the sacred or transcendent. Exploring the role of numinosity in shaping female identity and agency adds depth to feminist critiques of religious and mythical narratives.

Numinosity: Application in Critiques

Literary Work	Application of Numinosity in Critique
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri	Numinosity is prominently featured in Dante’s journey through the afterlife, where encounters with the divine realms evoke profound awe and reverence. Analyzing numinosity in this work allows for an exploration of Dante’s transformative journey and the symbolic significance of his encounters, shedding light on the spiritual and psychological dimensions of the narrative.
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville	In Moby-Dick, numinosity is expressed through Captain Ahab’s relentless pursuit of the elusive white whale. This work can be critiqued through the lens of numinosity to understand how the mysterious and transcendent nature of the whale symbolizes both the sublime and the destructive forces of the numinous. Ahab’s quest becomes a metaphor for humanity’s engagement with the ineffable.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien	Numinosity is pervasive in Tolkien’s epic, particularly through the One Ring’s archetypal symbolism. Critiquing numinosity in this work allows for an examination of how the characters’ encounters with the numinous influence their psychological and moral development. The journey to destroy the Ring becomes a quest for individuation, exploring the transformative impact of numinous objects on the psyche.
The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot	Eliot’s poem The Waste Land can be critiqued through the lens of numinosity to analyze the desolation of modern life and the quest for spiritual renewal. The ritualistic elements in the poem, such as the mythical allusions and symbolic imagery, offer opportunities to explore how numinous encounters shape the characters’ perceptions of the sacred and contribute to their psychological journeys.

Critiquing these literary works through the concept of numinosity provides insights into the transformative, symbolic, and psychological dimensions of the narratives. It allows for a deeper understanding of the characters’ experiences with the sacred or transcendent, shedding light on the authors’ exploration of profound, awe-inspiring themes.

Numinosity: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Sacredness	Quality of being sacred; often tied to the divine.
Transcendentalism	Philosophy emphasizing the spiritual and transcendent.
Apotheosis	Elevation to divine status; symbolic transformation.
Immanence	Divine presence within the material world.
Emanation	Flow of divine influence or energy into the world.
Esotericism	Knowledge accessible to a select few; often mystical.
Mysticism	Pursuit of direct communion with the divine.
Sublimity	Quality of being sublime; evoking awe.
Epiphany	Sudden realization of a profound truth, often divine.
Symbolism	Use of symbols to convey deeper meanings, often numinous.

Numinosity: Suggested Readings

1. Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1959.
2. Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. New Directions, 1951.
3. Jung, Carl Gustav. Man and His Symbols. Dell, 1964.
4. Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. Norton Critical Edition, W. W. Norton & Company, 2002.
5. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Scholastic, 2007.
6. T.S. Eliot. The Waste Land. The Waste Land and Other Poems, Harvest Books, 1962.
7. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
8. Otto, Rudolf. The Idea of the Holy: An Inquiry into the Non-Rational Factor in the Idea of the Divine and Its Relation to the Rational. Oxford University Press, 1958.