Fear of engulfment and the problem of identity

Centuries ago, our ancestors had already intuited that death anxiety is unequivocally linked to introspection and the search for identity. In mythology, the image of heroes being engulfed by monsters was often used symbolically to describe the potential dangers associated with such search. The author gives an overview of hero-myths and legends with engulfment motifs and presents a critical appraisal of Carl G. Jung's interpretation of its symbolism and relationship to heroism (that is, mental health). The prophet Jonah is also studied to highlight another type of hero rarely alluded to by Jung. Finally, parallels are drawn throughout with the fear of engulfment as seen in psychotherapy.This paper is based on a series of lectures on Jonah delivered at the Chicago Theological Seminary during the fall of 1982. Request for reprints should be addressed to the author at Lutheran General Hospital.