Ghosts and the animus in Marie Hay’s The Evil Vineyard

Abstract

This chapter, which concerns C. G. Jung’s interest in Marie Hay’s The Evil Vineyard , begins by analyzing and critiquing statements about the animus in the novel made by both Jung and Barbara Hannah. Hay indeed wrote a novel about the animus but in fuller ways than has been previously acknowledged. Particular reference points for the analysis include Mary Latimer’s dream, frequent references to the shadow, the Swiss castle where the Latimers live, and a story about a young man who gets killed by a bear. The chapter also considers how the ghost narrative not only functions as metadrama but also makes The Evil Vineyard a novel about levels of consciousness, especially the dichotomy between Latimer’s conscious rationality and Mary’s numinous experiences. The chapter concludes by suggesting that Mary’s future is more positive than Jung and Hannah foretell.