From Innocence to Chaos: Unravelling Jung’s Persona, Shadow, and Identity Fragmentation in Cruella Movie (2021)

Authors

  • Cayla Abielle Johanes MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Jocelyn MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Jessie Queen Miarso MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Leticia Rosemary Simatupang MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Sharren Rose Gani MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Keywords:

Jungian, Psychology, Identity Fragmentation, Shadow, Persona

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to uncover the themes in the story to make it more relatable and comprehensible, and for readers to understand the importance of knowing psychological issues in movies. This study aims to explore the 2021 Disney movie Cruella (2021) through the perspective of Jung’s and persona theory, to excavate the issues of the themes: identity fragmentation, emotional suppression, and psychological conflict represented in the movie. With the Jungian psychological point of view from the book “Researches into the phenomenology of the self” by Carl Jung in 1951, this analysis was finalized. By using a qualitative close reading method, data was collected through the repeated viewing of the scenes and dialogues, and deep observation of the present themes, cinematography, and color symbolism, plot and storyline study based on Jungian psychological concepts. Therefore, the findings show: 1) The transformation from Estella to Cruella represents her unleashing the shadow side, and suppressed emotions she had; anger, rebellion, frustration. 2) The movie's switch in color palette and cinematography visually shows the shift in Estella’s personality, the struggles with her fragmented identity, emotional exhaustion, and internal struggle. 3) Estella was both the ego-personality and mask for the public, whilst Cruella represents her buildup of unleashed “bad” emotions. The primary objective of this research is to reveal themes present in the narrative while making them comprehensible for readers to fully grasp and know the importance of understanding social and mental health issues.

References

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Published

2026-08-31

How to Cite

Johanes, C. A., Jocelyn, Miarso, J. Q., Simatupang, L. R., & Gani, S. R. (2026). From Innocence to Chaos: Unravelling Jung’s Persona, Shadow, and Identity Fragmentation in Cruella Movie (2021). Boanerges: Makarios Education Journal, 4(1), 30–40. Retrieved from https://streamfly.tech/index.php/boanerges/article/view/56

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): BOANERGES

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