ON THE SERVICE OF THE SOUL: C.G. JUNG’S LIBER NOVUS AND DANTE’S COMMEDIA

Abstract

Approximately nine years have passed since the publication of Jung’s Liber Novus [New Book]. This event has dramatically changed the study of Jung’s life and work, setting forth an exceptional number of paths to explore within the history of Jung’s thought. Many of these have not been undertaken yet and call for fresh research. Jung’s inspiring understanding of Dante’s Commedia, embedded within Jung’s in-depth fascination for the Middle Ages in Liber Novus is certainly one of these. This paper represents a rst effort to delineate how Jung’s approach to Dante has been crucial to the elaboration of Liber Novus at historical and hermeneutical levels. KEY WORDS C.G.Jung, Liber Novus (The Red Book), complex and analytical psycholgy, Dante Alighieri, visionary works