Monkey, Ape

Monkeys are biologically close to humans, but they are much more primitive (for example, they cannot speak or make fire, expressions of the conscious) and thus become a symbol of the lower parts of our psyche, parts that are not "civilized." The monkey reminds us of our primitive parts, and as a symbol, it often expresses just this (not least low character traits such as greed, vanity, and so on). The idea that the monkey is a reflection of our primitive self, or humanity’s shadow, is reflected in the image of Simia Dei, the "Ape of God" (which is also fittingly associated with the devil).

The monkey is intelligent, curious, and playful, possessing a trickster quality that becomes apparent in many tales and stories from around the world (and in dreams may refer to "monkey business," or "acting like a monkey"). It has a kind of "random awareness" that jumps from one thing to another, imitates humans, is somewhat tameable, and so on.

The monkey sometimes appears in dreams as an image of repressed instincts (see also Animals) that - depending on how it behaves in the dream - are trying to make contact with the ego. It may suggest an instinctual "call" to develop one’s personality along unexpected and let's say natural paths.

According to Jung, the "ape-man" (gorilla) appears in dreams when conciousness increases. This symbolizes the primal human within us and signifies a differentiation between our conscious mind and the inherited unconscious layer. (Visions, pp. 1194–5.)

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