Joseph CampbellThe Journey of a Hero

Hero Archetypes Hero as warrior : A near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external

enemies Odysseus

Hero as lover : A pure love motivates hero to complete his quest Prince Charming

Hero as Scapegoat : Hero suffers for the sake of others Jesus

Transcendent Hero: The hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall, but not without achieving some kind of transforming realization or wisdom Greek and Shakespearean tragedies—Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth, etc.

Romantic/Gothic Hero: Hero/lover with a decidedly dark side Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre Batman

Proto-Feminist Hero: Female heroes The Awakening by Kate Chopin Mulan

Hero Archetypes Apocalyptic Hero: Hero who faces the possible destruction of society

The Avengers Anti-Hero: A non-hero, given the vocation of failure, frequently humorous

Homer Simpson Defiant Anti-hero: Opposer of society’s definition of heroism/goodness. Unbalanced Hero: The Protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional

deficiencies The Hulk Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The Other—the Denied Hero: The protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison The Joy Luck Club by Amy (Invisible Tan)

Super Heroic: Exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity; frequently has divine or supernatural origins. In some sense, the superhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is nonetheless needed by society. Mythological heroes, Superman, Spiderman

Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey

Campbell’s Hero Journey is composed of three stages:

1. Departure

2. Initiation

3. Return

DepartureThe Call: the hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure.

– a realization of an imbalance in injustice in life.– Someone or something invites the person to

“adventure”– Hero may experience some type of loss

• Something has to be taken – Senses that there is something lacking in life.– Wants to save or restore honor– Something is not permitted to members of society

Departure– The Call continued

• Examples include–  In the Matrix, it’s Morpheus finding Neil, showing him

the matrix and giving him the choice who then asks Luke to join the quest. 

– In detective stories, it maybe the hero being offered a new case. 

– In a romantic comedy, it could be the first sight of that special but annoying someone the hero or heroine will be pursuing/sparring with.

Departure: The Threshold

The Threshold • Once called to adventure, the initiate must pass

over the Threshold.• Threshold Guardians: people, beings, or

situations which block our passage into the journey.– They protect us from taking journeys before we’re

ready – Ex. parents.

Departure: Refusal of the Call

• The hero is reluctant at first.

• Often at this point the hero balks at the threshold of adventure. 

• After all, he or she is facing the greatest of all fears – fear of the unknown. 

Initiation: The Road of Trials

• Hero faces trials and adventures.

• The early challenges are relatively easy. By meeting them successfully, he builds maturity.

• As the journey progresses, the challenges become more and more difficult.

Initiation: The Experience with Unconditional Love

• On the journey the initiate will encounter a helper or helpers.

• Mentor or guide : Most important helper– Helps keep the hero focused– Often appears at most opportune times

Initiation: Challenges

• In stories, testing can include fighting, monsters, battling a brother, abduction, crossing the sea, crucifixion, etc.

• In life, testing can be anything that forces a person to change and grow (disease, grief, job loss, etc)

Initiation

The Ultimate Boon• Greatest challenge of

the journey. – The hero must

overcome all fear and face things alone.

– “Slaying the dragon”

Transformation and Revelation•Hero slays the dragon or otherwise achieves his/her goal.•Similar to a Rite of Passage where the child moves from dependence to independence, from selfish to giving; he accepts the responsibility it brings.

The Revelation

•a sudden, dramatic change in the way one thinks or view life.

•This change in thinking is crucial because it makes the initiate truly a different person.Atonement•The point at which the initiate is “at-one” with his new self and life.•He has absorbed the changes caused by the journey and is fully “reborn”•Hero receives a gift or “boon”

Return

• Hero returns to everyday life

• Hero begins contributing to one’s society.

• In mythology, the person may return as a great hero because she has saved or renewed her community in some way.

Departure

Threshold

Initiation

The Abyss

Transformation & Revelation

Atonement with a gift

Return

Identity in Doubt

(The Call)