AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies, Volume 10. Number 3. August 2026 Pp.219 -237
Department of English Language and Literature, College of Languages and Translation
Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
This study examines Harry Potter’s relationship with Lord Voldemort in J. K. Rowling’s (1997–2007) Harry Potter series through Carl Jung’s theory of the shadow archetype. It argues that Voldemort represents not only an external antagonist but also an internal, unconscious projection of Harry’s psyche, revealed through his dream sequences. This approach addresses a gap in literary scholarship, which often treats Harry and Voldemort as simple moral or social opposites without considering their subconscious connection. Using a qualitative, interpretive methodology grounded in the Jungian amplification method, the study analyzes Harry’s dream sequences from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The findings reveal that Voldemort appears as the shadow archetype in three main symbolic forms: indirect possession, a faceless haunting presence, and a serpent-like beast. Each form aligns with mythological and cultural representations of the shadow. The study concludes that these dream sequences reflect Harry’s psychological progression toward integrating his shadow, and it recommends expanding this Jungian framework to other relationships and unexamined dream sequences in the series.
Alghamdi, N. A. (2026). The Jungian Shadow Archetype in the Dream Sequences of J. K. Rowling’s (1997-2007) Series of Harry Potter. Arab World English Journal for Translation & Literary Studies 10 (3): 219 -237
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Dr. Nada Ali Alghamdi holds a PhD in English literature from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University and is currently pursuing an MA in Translation at King Saud University. Her research interests include literary theory, translation studies, and the relationship between literature, psychology, and culture. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1572-8875