Joseph Campbell and the Hero's Journey

Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey

Myths are the oldest stories in existence; they show us what we once were, and what we are capable of. They give us lessons on life from across the ages. But what is a myth exactly?

Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines the word “myth” as, “A traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief or natural phenomenon.” (Webster’s, pg 785). According to this a myth is an old story, handed down from bygone generations, that holds in it some kind of moral, or lesson of some kind. Under this definition, it could be argued that the works William Shakespeare are myths, as are the tales of the Thousand and one Nights, and Beowulf.

To be honest, I think that a myth is something else. A story, of course, but perhaps a little bit more than just that. I see myths as reflections of ourselves; they are stories that show us our flaws and our good points. They give us something solid to put our backs to in a world where nothing seems like it is. Myths, in short, are stories that teach those who will listen how to better themselves.

It was summed up rather nicely by Wendy Doniger O’Flaherty, in the introduction of the book, Hindu Myths, “… they are symbols in a way that no human being, however �archetypal’ his life story can ever be. They are actors playing parts that are real only for us; they are masks behind which we see our own faces.” (Gaiman, Neil, pg 155).

Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, has his own opinions on the power and purpose of mythology. According to Campbell, the power and purpose of myth is as simple as it is universal. Myths, and indeed all spirituality, are human attempts to search for answers to the questions of, “Where did I come from?” and “where am I going?” (Campbell, Joseph. Mythic Reflections).

Campbell’s reflections on mythology and religion gave him what he calls “The Hero’s Journey” or the Monomyth. Basically, he says that all myths and stories that feature a central character and his trials through life follow a general path in which he starts along the journey and attains his title of King, Emperor, etc.

The first step in The Hero’s Journey is called The Departure; which begins with The Call to Adventure. This can happen in any number of ways, be it intentional or unintentional. Either way, The Call is often assisted by some kind of herald, or mentor, a person or being that tells the Hero something is about to happen to him. This mentor teaches him lessons he’ll need for the trial ahead. In most cases, this Herald is a mysterious figure, someone who the Hero doesn’t know or is unfamiliar with. Either way, the point gets across: the Hero is being called to embark on an adventure away from his natural environment to a place he’s never been before. In the course of the story, the Hero can either accept or decline the Call. If he accepts the Call, the story moves on, if not, the Call becomes more and more insistent, culminating in some kind of tragedy that spurs the hero into action. As the mentor teaches the Hero, the Hero realizes the existence of some kind of supernatural force, some kind of magic or technology that will allow him to outdo his enemies.

When all this has either been realized or has happened, the Hero will take that first step along the Path, “Crossing the First Threshold” as it were. Once the Threshold has been crossed, the Hero begins his descent into a world that is wholly alien to him, a world that he is almost completely unfamiliar with, which eventually culminates with a point of no return, a place where the Hero is in “The Belly of the Whale,” so to speak, and can no longer turn back, even if he wanted to. (Campbell, Joseph, pgs. 49-90)

After the Hero has departed the world he knew, he begins his initiation into this other world. This initiation starts when he begins the Road of Trials. These are tests that challenge the Hero to be the best he can be. They try to make him more powerful, often causing him to develop his skill with the Supernatural Power to overcome his enemies. At some point on the Road of Trials, the Hero will come in contact with a Goddess figure. This is what some would refer to as the “mushy part,” when the Hero meets the princess for the first time and immediately falls in love with her. The woman represents life, and when the Hero marries her, he is showing his mastery over life. As the Hero begins to come into his true potential, he realizes the differences between his world, and the world around him. Sometimes this leads him to be tempted away from the path, and the Hero must bring himself back