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The Jante Laws warns people that they should not try to become individuals and Sandemose's creation of the laws in the novel was done as criticism for the types of societies that produce these kinds of principles that make collective efforts the norm and the only acceptable way to be in society. "The gulf between an individual and his unreachable goal expresses itself in the form of an inferiority complex." Espen's jealousy and consequent murder is symbolic of his own lack of individuality as he sees this other man as being better than he is since he was able to steal something that he loved so dearly. This was Espen's way of making sure that he was not put into a lesser position (subordination) whether it was only for the sake of his ego or other. But while Espen definitely seems to be on a higher plane of awareness than the rest of the inhabitants of Jante, he is still unable to really detach himself from the Jante way of thinking, which may be the warning Sandemose is sending loudly and clearly.
Alfred Adler emphasized the importance of equality in preventing different types of psychopathology. Adler's most famous concept, of course, is the inferiority complex and part of this concept is the idea that every individual has feelings of inferiority that they cannot deny. He posited that those feelings of inferiority are what lead to a striving for superiority. Adler believed that striving for superiority would lead to neurosis and crime and that it drives people into useless directions (Durbin 1986).
Examining Adler's ideas about inferiority complexes is interesting when juxtaposed with Jante Law. While Adler believed that equality was important in preventing types of neurosis in individuals, inferiority complexes work not for...
The workers of Jante are in a kind of 'perfect prison' where they self-monitor themselves, and one another's behavior for deviation. Deviance, social unrest, resistance to authority -- even challenging the factory owner who oppresses them -- is seen as getting too big for one's britches and a violation of Jante Law. A true Marxist would hope that a worker would be outraged at the behavior of the factory
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