As implied in the previous part of this analysis, the blue box is symbolic of Diane's self, which is the final stage of the process of individuation. According to Jungian psychology, individuation is a process of psychological integration, having for its goal the development of the individual personality. "In general, it is the process by which individual beings are formed and differentiated [from other human beings]; in particular, it is the development of the psychological individual as a being distinct from the general, collective psychology."[a]
'The symbols of the individuation process...mark its stages like milestones', prominent among them for Jungians being '"the shadow, the
Wise Old Man...and lastly the anima in man and the animus in woman"'.[b] Thus 'there is often a movement from dealing with the persona at the start...to the ego at the second stage, to the shadow as the third stage, to the anima or animus, to the self as the final stage. Some would interpose the Wise Old Man and the Wise Old Woman as spiritual archetypes coming before the final step of the Self'.[c]
Individuation is a process of transformation whereby the personal and collective unconscious is brought into consciousness (by means of dreams, active imagination or free association to take some examples) to be assimilated into the whole personality. It is a completely natural process necessary for the integration of the psyche to take place. Individuation has a holistic healing effect on the person, both mentally and physically.[6]
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Diane's persona is represented in her dream by Betty. (When I suggested in part 10 that Betty represents Diane's ego, I meant within the context of her being absent when Rita opens the blue box - this symbolizes the ego submitting to the self.) Louise Bonner represents the Wise Old Woman, and the man behind Winkie's represents Diane's shadow. Actually, it's more correct to say that the person behind Winkie's appears as a man to Dan, but he/she represents a woman for Diane - the shadow is generally same-sex. (Note in the credits for the movie that the person behind the restaurant is played by a woman.)
We will continue to study Diane's process of individuation, and its representation in her dreams, as the analysis proceeds.
a. C.G. Jung. Psychological Types. Collected Works Vol.6., par. 757
b. Jung quoted in J. Jacobi, Complex, Archetype, Symbol (London 1959) p. 113-4
c. John Rowan, Subpersonalities (London 1990) p. 144
