Ellis/Red Book, 8. Death of the Hero

The Red Book early on depicts the killing of the hero, thus symbolising the limitations of the ego. However, as he goes on Jung finds himself re-encountering the heroic through sacrifice, magic and a ‘son’ who apparently represents his work. Jung’s process of killing but also reviving the hero also reflects the Middle Way in that he can’t succeed by merely repressing, nor by idealising, his own ego.