Shadow Archetypes in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Hulk: A Jungian Perspective

Ang Lee’s two most recent films, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and The Hulk (2003) explore a common motif: the internal confrontation of the central characters with the unconscious shadows embedded in their psyches. In the earlier film, the young heroine Yu Jen, with the aid of her two warrior spiritual guides, struggles to free herself from Jade Fox, the personification of her dark shadow. In the more recent film, the brilliant young scientist, Bruce Banner, has to contend with The Incredible Hulk, the green monster that emerges from the young hero’s unconscious self whenever he becomes angry. Both characters have to confront shadow archetypes shaped by evil, manipulative parent figures. The following article examines the manifestation of the evil, second persona that features in these two films