The Four Stages of Anima in the Short Stories of Khālid Saeed

خالدسعیدکےافسانوں میں تصویرِزن کےچارمدارج

Abstract

Woman represents the very essence and creative spirit of the universe an indispensable force without which existence remains incomplete. Endowed by nature with biological, emotional, and psychological attributes that mirror those of her masculine counterpart, she embodies a unique harmony of balance and contrast. Within this framework, Carl Gustav Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious introduces the concept of the Anima the feminine image within the male psyche manifesting in four progressive stages of development. This study critically explores Khalid Saeed’s short stories through the lens of Jungian psychology, particularly the four stages of the Anima. It argues that Khalid Saeed not only internalizes his Anima but also artistically externalizes it through his female characters, each representing different aspects of feminine evolution. His fiction portrays diverse dimensions of womanhood ranging from physical beauty and romantic idealization to sensual expression, spiritual insight, and intellectual wisdom.

Through textual analysis, this research highlights how Saeed’s narratives transcend traditional gender portrayals, presenting womanhood as both a mirror of male consciousness and a symbol of universal equilibrium. His stories thus serve as a metaphorical dialogue between the masculine and feminine principles, reflecting an inherent desire for psychological and creative wholeness. Ultimately, this study situates Khalid Saeed’s work within the broader discourse of gender representation in Urdu literature, illustrating how his depiction of Anima contributes to a nuanced understanding of identity, balance, and human completeness.