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Joseph Campbell The 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
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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
Departure The 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.
Return Atonement with a gift Identity in Doubt Departure Transformation & Revelation (The Call) Threshold The Abyss Initiation