The hero's journey, is the common template of a broad category of tales that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, and then comes home changed or transformed. The study of hero myth narratives started in 1871 with anthropologist Edward Taylor's observations of common patterns in plots of hero's journeys. Later on, others introduced various theories on hero myth narratives such as Otto Rank and his Freudian psychoanalytic approach to myth, Lord Raglan's unification of myth and rituals, and eventually hero myth pattern studies were popularized by Joseph Campbell.
Joseph Campbell: The Monomyth
1. Call to Adventure:The hero's world changes, either by an internal or external pressure, causing conflict in the hero.
2. Refusal of Call: At first the hero refuses to leave their ordinary world and life, usually due to resposnibilities or fear.
3. Supernatural aid: The hero meets their future wise mentor, who encourages, teaches / trains them for the adventure.
4. Crossing the First Threshold: The hero accepts the adventure and is now committed to carry out the journey to success in whatever is set out.
5. Belly of the Whale: The hero faces with the first challenge, but comes out alive, which causes them to change their approach and be more thoughtful.
6. Road of Trial: The hero develops and improves on their abilities and skills, often aided by their mentor.
7. Meeting the Goddess: The hero either physically meets with a love interest, giving the hero a boost; or they see potential outcome of a better life in the future.
8. Temptation: The temptation could be 'the Goddess', but is often someone else who rather distracts; however the temptation might not necessarily be a female, could be an offer or opportunity to leaving the quest, join someone else, etc.
9. Atonement with the Father: Conflict between hero and 'father', needs to choose between approval or becoming independent and making their own decision, thus becoming an 'adult'.
10. Apotheosis: A change in the hero, as they become much responsible and are capable of making better and more wise decisions.
11. The Ultimate Boon: The ultimate boon is a direct response to the call to adventure, these two steps are linked; however this does not mean the end of the hero's quest.
12. Refusal of Return: The hero had a goal and sees an opportunity to return home and their previous life, but the they refuses to go back (at least just yet) and they gain a new goal.
13. Magic Flight: Hero faces with the villain, a final battle takes place.
14. Rescue from without: When it seems like the villain has the upper hand and the hero is to be defeated, they receive a helping hand usually from an unlikely source.
15. Crossing the Return Threshold: The hero has won and succeeded in the quest.
16. Master of two Worlds: The hero now is the master of both world, their ordinary and the special world; they have overcome a previous barrier, often their fears.
17. Freedom to Live: The hero has changed, they have a power that could change the world and they have a choice to return to their ordinary world and live their life, prior to the journey; or they could seek out further adventure.
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| Fig 1: The Matrix poster. |
The Wachowskis's (Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski) The Matrix (1999) is an action and sci-fi movie. The film is about Thomas Anderson, a computer programmer, who is also a hacker, going by the name Neo. He always questioned truth and reality, until one day he is targeted by police and contacted by the legendary hacker Morpheus. Morpheus offers Neo a choice; take the blue pill - go back to his boring life - or take the red pill - learn what is the Matrix and the truth. He takes the red pill and wakes up in the real world (a wasteland) and learns the horrifying truth about how the machines took over humanity and they have been living in a computer generated world. Now as a rebel, he and a few other rebels fight to defeat the Agents and the Matrix.
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| Fig 2: The pills. |
2. Refusal of Call: Neo climbs out the window, but refuses to follow Morpheus's instructions further.
3. Supernatural aid: Morpheus is the supernatural aid.
4. Crossing the First Threshold: Choosing between the pills, and takes the red one to see the truth.
5. Belly of the Whale: Neo exits the Matrix and wakes up in the real world.
6. Road of Trial: Neo learns about the matrix and trains to fight.
7. Meeting the Goddess: Trinity is the potential love interest.
8. Temptation: Oracle telling Neo he is not the one.
9. Atonement with the Father: Neo understands Morpheus's teaching.
10. Apotheosis: Neo is the one.
11. The Ultimate Boon: Beats Agents and improves on his ability to controlling the Matrix.
12. Refusal of Return: In the subway Neo could run but chooses not to.
13. Magic Flight: Neo fights and being chased by Agent Smith.
14. Rescue from without: Trinity brings Neo back to life by kissing him in the real world.
15. Crossing the Return Threshold: Neo returns to life as the One and sees the Matrix.
16. Master of two Worlds: Controls both worlds.
17. Freedom to Live: Neo's phone call to the Machines, saying he will help people see the Matrix.
List of Illustration:
Figure 1: The Matrix poster. [online poster] At: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/The-Matrix-1-2-3-MOVIE-Fabric-poster-17-x-13-Decor-05/32693640932.html (Accessed on 28.09.2017)
Figure 2: The pills. [Film still] At: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-best-way-make-decisions-james-kademan (Accessed on 28/09/2017)
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