The Stages of Hero’s Journey
This essay about Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey explains the universal narrative arc found in countless myths, known as the monomyth. It outlines the stages of this narrative framework, beginning with the Call to Adventure and moving through stages like Meeting with the Mentor, Crossing the First Threshold, and confronting The Ordeal. Each stage is illustrated with examples from popular stories such as “The Lord of the Rings,” “Star Wars,” and “The Matrix,” emphasizing how these elements are embedded in both ancient and modern storytelling. The essay also discusses the psychological implications of Campbell’s theory, suggesting that understanding these narrative patterns can offer insights into personal growth and human psychology. It concludes by reflecting on the transformative potential of the monomyth, not only in stories but in personal development.
Joseph Campbell’s proposition of the Hero’s Odyssey, expounded within his pivotal treatise “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” proffers an enthralling perspective from which to scrutinize both archaic and contemporary narrative craftsmanship. Campbell’s conceptual framework delineates a ubiquitous narrative trajectory that innumerable myths from diverse cultures ostensibly traverse, proffering insights into the psychological substrata of human storytelling. The Hero’s Odyssey, alternatively denoted as the monomyth, encompasses several fundamental stages that protagonists across myriad cultures seemingly navigate in their grandiose chronicles.
The inception entails the Call to Adventure, where the protagonist is summoned to forsake their mundane existence and confront the enigmatic. This summons frequently manifests as a challenge or quandary that disrupts the protagonist’s quotidian life, compelling action. For instance, in “The Lord of the Rings,” Frodo Baggins embarks on his odyssey when he inherits the One Ring, necessitating its annihilation to safeguard Middle Earth.
Subsequent to the call, the protagonist encounters the Refusal of the Call. Here, the protagonist hesitates, grappling with apprehensions and insecurities arising from forsaking the familiar. This juncture is pivotal as it humanizes the protagonist, rendering their tribulations relatable to the audience. A notable instance is in “Star Wars,” where Luke Skywalker initially rebuffs Obi-Wan Kenobi’s entreaty to join the fray against the Empire.
Should the protagonist embrace the call, they encounter the Mentor, who furnishes them with tutelage, counsel, and accouterments requisite for the odyssey ahead. The mentor figure assumes paramount importance as they equip the protagonist for the impending trials, imparting wisdom that bolsters the protagonist’s resolve. Dumbledore in “Harry Potter” epitomizes a mentor, shepherding Harry through his ordeals at Hogwarts.
The protagonist subsequently traverses the First Threshold, immersing themselves in the novel realm and wholeheartedly committing to the odyssey. This transition is often punctuated by formidable trials or thresholds that assay the protagonist’s mettle and prowess. It symbolizes the protagonist’s definitive severance from their familiar milieu and existence.
In the ensuing phase, denoted as Trials, Confederates, and Adversaries, the protagonist encounters a gauntlet of trials that engender growth and prime them for weightier challenges ahead. These experiences impart novel skills to the protagonist and foster a network of allies, notwithstanding the protagonist’s need to surmount adversaries. This is evinced in “The Matrix,” as Neo must decipher his capabilities and discern whom he can trust.
In the approach to the Innermost Lair, the protagonist prepares for the ultimate trial in the unknown. This stage typically signifies a physical or psychological preparatory phase preceding the confrontation of their paramount dread or most formidable adversary. The innermost lair may embody a literal locale wherein the protagonist confronts their ordeal or an internal conflict necessitating resolution.
The Ordeal constitutes the zenith, wherein the protagonist confronts mortality or confronts their paramount dread. Surviving the ordeal culminates in a boon or the attainment of the quest’s objective. The ordeal serves to transfigure the protagonist, who emerges from the crucible fortified. For instance, Simba’s ordeal in “The Lion King” entails confronting and absolving himself for past transgressions, thereby assuming his rightful mantle as king.
Succeeding the ordeal, the protagonist embarks on The Return to their mundane existence, albeit often beset by fresh challenges precipitated by their metamorphosis. The protagonist’s homecoming with the Elixir symbolizes the boon or enlightenment gleaned from the odyssey, often conferring upon the protagonist the capacity to ameliorate the mundane.
Campbell’s Hero’s Odyssey not only reverberates through myriad narratives but also furnishes profound psychological insights into the human condition. The odyssey metaphorically encapsulates the personal evolution and transformation that individuals undergo as they confront the vicissitudes of life. By apprehending this narrative schema, one can better fathom not solely the sagas of protagonists in tales, but also the latent heroism latent within every individual.
The Stages of Hero's Journey. (2024, May 01). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-stages-of-heros-journey/
