The hero's daughter

the long version

In this unique and fascinating look at a pervasive, though unexplored, issue, Jungian therapist Maureen Murdock at last reveals the unspoken truth about daughters and the immense power the fathers they idealize have over them. As Murdock demonstrates in The Hero's Daughter, these exclusive relationships can be more harmful than supportive - the emotional enmeshment is so complete that the relationship is difficult to untangle. Every aspect of a woman's life is affected - from fearing commitment to recklessly choosing a mate, among a host of many other professional and personal problems. Yet, separating from a father means sacrificing the privileges of a favored daughter, a position most women wish to maintain. With revealing case studies, and through explorations of hidden truth in myths, dreams, and fairy tales, The Hero's Daughter makes clear that the rewards for this separation are great - as a woman will learn to take herself seriously, reclaim the authority she projects onto men, and establish a healthy, balanced sense of herself as a woman.