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The Golden Ass of Apuleius: The Liberation of the Feminine in Man book (based on Lectures) author: M.-L. von Franz in print 1970 ISBN: 1-57062-611-1 Links:

"Today there is much discussion of the liberation of women," writes Marie-Louise von Franz, "but it is sometimes overlooked that this can only succeed if there is a change in men as well. Just as women have to overcome the patriarchal tyrant in their own souls, men have to liberate and differentiate their inner femininity. Only then will a better relationship of the sexes be possible." It is this timely theme that Dr. von Franz explores in her psychological study of a classic work of the second century, The Golden Ass by Apuleius of Madaura. The novel recounts the adventures of a young Roman who is transformed into an ass and eventually finds spiritual renewal through initiation into the Isis mysteries. With its many tales within a tale (including the celebrated story of Psyche and Eros), the text as interpreted by Dr. von Franz is a rich source of insights, anecdotes, and scholarly amplification. Preface to the Revised Edition: This book is neither a historical nor a literary essay. It represents an attempt to elucidate and illustrate the problem of what C. G. Jung called the anima: that is, the feminine aspect of a man's psyche. The book originated in a series of lectures I gave at the C. G. Jung Institute in Zurich in 1966. Instead of using case material, I chose this novel of an ancient author because it illustrated the anima problem in all its depth and in a way which is still valid for modern man. The text of this book has almost suffered the fate of Lucius, the hero of Apuleius' story. In the various former editions, well-meaning editors improved on the style so much that the meaning that I wanted to express got more and more obfuscated and even partly distorted...

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