Post by Canada Cowboy on Jun 20, 2009 15:53:48 GMT -8
Introduction:
In writing, we often run across characters that exhibit more than one side to their personalities, most likely due to changing events in a story’s plot that makes a character behave differently. While this type of character, better known as dynamic characters, seems prevalent in stories, I will argue that they are just as prevalent in real life. In fact, most, if not all people, go through several stages of dynamism every day, and it’s a matter of whether one recognizes it and continues through with it, or stays static and let life pass them by, with the result being missed chances to further their lives.
In this discussion of what stages one goes through, and the consequences of one’s choices, I will use the first half of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” to highlight the main points in this journey called life. The book is split into two parts: Part One is called “The Adventure of the Hero” and Part Two is called “The Cosmogonic Cycle.” My focus will mainly be on Part One, which will describe how story characters, mainly the protagonist or hero, goes through these stages and becomes the saviour in the end. It involves three main stages: Departure, Initiation, and Return. Each stage has several aspects to it that a character must complete in order to proceed, and I will use the stages to describe what it entails to in real life. Using both real life experiences and a few hypothetical cases, I will demonstrate that, in the end, everyone can play the hero’s role.
Departure:
The first part of the adventure, Departure, discusses what brings about the need for the hero to go on this journey. Campbell starts with a simple premise: most times, the hero doesn’t start the journey voluntarily. A good example to real life is that people don’t just wake up one morning and start going through their lives, examining each bit and start reflecting on how complete said life is. There needs to be something that sparks a person into taking action. Campbell calls this the “call to adventure,” and it brings a character away from their comfortable surroundings and into a new world. For Campbell, this call may be a simple blunder, such as retrieving a lost object in a place one never ventured into before; or it may involve a call from within, such as an “awakening of self” where an event sparks a sudden need for one to rediscover oneself in order to cope. For the real world, the best example is usually an event that affects one greatly, such as the death of a relative, or moving to a new city, or even as simple as getting poor grades on a report card. In all these cases, it can be seen that one is faced with a great challenge, needing to cope either physically, psychologically, or maybe even both. Because of this, this can be considered the best “call to adventure” for everyday folks in our world today.
Facing the call, there are only two choices for the hero: either accept or refuse the call. In cases where the call is refused, Campbell describes a situation where “a dull and unrewarding finish” is expected of the hero. Likewise, for the real world, the case may very well be the same. Should people refuse to adapt or cope, they may be trapped in their own dungeons, built for themselves by a mind incapable or refusing to expand. In an extreme situation, the world may leave them behind, leaving them stalled while progress continues from without. It may very well be that progress for these people will be hard to come by, and it will take quite some time before they can catch up again.
But for those who do answer the call, Campbell explains that there are several steps to take before reaching the final goal. As a character enters this new phase, it is only natural that they are unable to handle things alone, as the challenges brought forth may be too great to handle. Campbell refers this to the notion of “supernatural aid,” where some experienced individual serves as a “protective figure” for the hero. This may be either a supernatural being, or a somewhat unsuspecting passerby that manages to keep the hero in check and under control, just in time for the danger to pass. In real life, these figures are often parental figures, teachers, peers, or friends, each trying to offer help in their own way. While not every piece of advice may be useful, it is part of one’s personal trials to decipher which is important and to be heeded should one carry on with life. The source may be from unsuspecting places, as someone with little connection to one may say something that spark inspiration. After all, sometimes, a person without any connection to the event may provide the most objective thought, giving one the much-needed kick-start to answer the call and proceed with this adventure.
After getting the appropriate advice or protection, the hero then goes through the first trial of the long path, dubbed “the First Threshold” by Campbell. Here, things get a bit ambiguous, as Campbell never truly defines what this means. For different heroes, it can come in the form of different temptations that causes the hero to stray off track, or it may be certain battles that test the hero’s strength. Either way, Campbell summarizes this as the step before crossing “the entrance to the zone of magnified power” where the hero will experience true change for the first time. Campbell emphasizes that there is a “region of the unknown” or a place “beyond the protected zone,” stating that one must cross this barrier before proceeding forward. Campbell also mentions that there is usually great difficulty in this step for the hero to proceed through, as one may not wish to “challenge the watcher of the established grounds,” meaning that one may hesitate in leaving one’s own comfort zone. Yet, it is by removing oneself from one’s comfort zone that one can pass into “a new zone of experience.” By entering the unknown, Campbell theorizes the hero will gain much needed new experience to complete the transformation.
The ambiguity shown in this part is also mirrored in real life, as one is faced with all sorts of situations where this first trial is present. For example, in a case where one achieves poor results on a project or an exam, after seeking the appropriate advice from one’s source, the best way to get to this first step is an understanding of why one has been criticized. By understanding the flaws or mistakes that one has made, one is able to come to terms with them, and face them head on. Or to use a more personal example, when I first moved from one country to another when I was younger, I had to face challenges of not only adapting to a new city, but a new lifestyle. Going to a new school where I had to face total strangers, learning things I had never imagined learning before, and just being with new people, all these pushed me into a path that I had never dared to take before. In other words, the presence of a new world often involves leaving the zone of comfort, as it is human nature to either not want to know about one’s mistakes, or not want to face their challenges in case that it may provide too much hardship or heartache for one. Sometimes the fear of failing to meet a challenge may be too great to overcome, and many people are willing to stick with the status quo, even though they know it isn’t the best option. While I don’t discount the notion of “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t,” I will also emphasize, like Campbell, that an ever-changing world requires one to always be aware of such challenges, and be ready to face them whenever they may appear.
Once this threshold is crossed, Campbell points to a stage where the hero must go through to complete the transformation. He alludes to this process to being in “the belly of the whale” where a rebirth of the character is at hand. These transformations will, in a symbolic way, be “a form of self-annihilation” where the old traits of a character die and a new set of traits emerge. Again, Campbell goes into relatively few details on this, but one can clearly point to this in real life as the part where one realizes why the old life should be discarded, and appropriate steps are taken in order to adapt to the new life of the future. This is likened to finding out what needs to be done to improve on the next test, or what one can do to face one’s new life ahead. By being in this “belly of the whale,” one ultimately goes through a vigorous self-reflection process in order to find one’s new way in life. Here, one must take into consideration one’s former direction and the advice received from those “protective figures” before coming to a conclusion. It is here that one must find the most appropriate future course, and set about achieving it with determination and courage, in order to be reborn as a new being.
Inside this “belly of the whale,” Campbell alludes to a point in time where the hero will go through a “road of trials.” Campbell describes this as a “labyrinth” where the hero goes through to be purified and changed. It is here that one will look back at the past and, upon reflection, take the first step on this new journey. Here, the changes to one’s psyche will most likely dictate the success of one’s journey to be transformed. For one to reach the goal, it may require one to lay down the most precious thing: one’s ego and pride. I will argue that in real life, this is can be defined literally, as often times one may cling too stubbornly to a set of ideals that one is used to. The pride one shows for one’s old ways, even when they are shown to be wrong, may overwhelm the threshold crossing process. It will allow one to enter the “self-annihilation” phase, but will not allow one to proceed any further. While Campbell does not elaborate on this part, it is actually among the most crucial step, as the failure by one to proceed on the “road of trials” may make one regress, pushing one back to the beginning of the journey.
Initiation:
The next part of the hero’s journey is also described ambiguously by Campbell, as he points to a “meeting with the Goddess” once the hero is through the road of trials. He lists several examples, each one different in style and tradition, but all point to a common theme: the hero must now marry their own soul with the so-called higher power. This can be seen as the hero now masters over life, so much so that a form of “apotheosis” can be reached. The hero is deified in a way that expands their consciousness after the foe is finally defeated. Campbell then goes on to describe the roles of the “mother” and the “father” and what roles they play in this marriage, but I will skip over that and head towards the actual application of this into real life.
My personal viewpoint on this part is the actual initiation of the process of not only following through on one’s pledge to better oneself, but constant evaluation of one’s actions to ensure that one does not stray from this path. While Campbell ambiguously points to the hero meeting the divine powers and ultimately slaying foes, many times the battle of the modern-day individual is from within. One must defeat one’s own demons before initiating on this process. Even as one has already decided on one’s path, there may still be obstacles preventing one from marrying one’s own mind to the new goal one set. For example, one may find the unification of soul with one’s goal awkward, even downright uncomfortable as one is forced to act in ways one is unfamiliar to. Or in other cases, one may find one’s old habits hard to break, to the point where it becomes a struggle to maintain focus on the goal. Here, I will argue that this is the elaboration of the battle that Campbell missed out on. While it may be a tough journey just to arrive at the “belly of the whale” for people, it is even tougher to go through metamorphosis and reach the “apotheosis” stage. It is never easy to conquer one’s mistakes, and it will only get harder the longer one has been making these mistakes.
But after all these processes, the apotheosis stage leads Campbell to conclude an “ultimate boon” is at hand. The hero is now “a superior man” and becomes indestructible in a sense. By being elevated to this status, with vanquished foes and a transformed soul, the hero is now at the ultimate level of the journey. It is here that the hero must make an important decision: whether to stay in this paradise or return to the world to spread this knowledge to others. In real life, I have mentioned that it is difficult for many people to conquer their own mistakes. But those who do are usually in this very situation, their minds feeling exhilarated and a new sense of pride complementing their new sense of accomplishment. But it is also here that one must decide on the next move. One may choose to remain at this stage and stubbornly cling to the so-called changes, or one may choose to continue bettering oneself, and serve as the “protective figure” to those around to make them realize their potentials as well. This will eventually lead us to the final stage of the hero’s journey: the return of the hero to the human world.
Return:
The third and final stage of the hero’s journey, the return to the human world, also places the hero in a situation where a choice must be made. Campbell suggests that the hero can either refuse to return, opting to stay in the so-called utopian universe. They do not feel they have a responsibility to share their new knowledge, or achievement, or even treasure, with the rest of the world. Campbell points to various figures in history and mythology, stating all had some doubts regarding whether their findings would be easily accepted by the common folk. Although in real life, I will argue that it is not necessary that every time somebody corrects a mistake that they need to announce their findings to the world. Many people may choose to keep mistakes private, and not say anything to another person making the same mistake in fear of being to critical. But that being said, in some situations, perhaps it is best that the “return” journey be applied here. It may be of the interests to both the “hero” and the “common person” to share their experiences with a mistake, so much so that it will make it easier on someone going through the same phase the “hero” did. After all, life is filled with experiences, and it isn’t out of the question that the “hero” that was protected and advised by sagely figures can turn and serve as the mentor figure themselves.
But for those who do choose to leave their utopian world and return to the human world to spread the new knowledge, Campbell points to what may happen during this time. Here, he claims there are two types of return: the blessed one where those the hero obtained the new knowledge from are supportive, or the pursuit where the hero is leaving with unauthorized information or property. In some cases, the hero may also be brought back via an outside force, as another calling, this time from the human world, summons the hero back. But whatever the case may be, this will be a journey just as difficult, if not more difficult, than the original entrance into the higher realm. This is mirrored in real life, where the decision to approach others to share the information usually means having the original source of trouble be revealed. Many people may be unwilling to do this, as it puts them in an uncomfortable situation of having to relive their painful past. There is a lot of soul-searching needed at this step, and some may choose to end the journey here.
Those who do end up taking the final step through the return threshold will be met with an astounding discovery: the two worlds are actually one. While the hero has gone to the higher realm in search of the goal, in reality the exploration is actually to find a way to better the already existing institutions in the human world. Often times, when the hero returns to the human world, they will find it much different than it was when they originally left. Part of it may be due to the time spent away from the human world, but it is also due to the hero’s changing perceptions of the world. With the new knowledge in mind, it is natural to expect the hero to react differently to human events, to the point where it may be entirely opposite of what the hero would have done in the past. Here, Campbell states that the notion of “mastery of the two worlds” becomes really important, as the hero must understand the works of both worlds in order to spread the new message. The hero must understand the information from the higher realm, but must also remember the ways of the human world in order to convince regular folks of the new knowledge’s usefulness. It is only by reconciling the universal will with individual consciousness that the hero can accomplish the matter and successfully live out life.
This is also where the applicability to real life becomes more important than ever, as it is here that people of everyday life finds ways to identify themselves with the issue. In my personal experience, I know that those who are in need of seeking direction may be confused, even frustrated, by the lack of results. This is when the people with this type of rebirth experience may be of help. This is indicated by the various lectures from people who have been traumatized by personal experiences, but found a new way afterwards and wanted to share it with me. One such lecture happened in my high school years, when a pastor whose son was shot to death a few years back came to talk about tolerance and learning to accept and forgive others for their mistakes. Even though I am not religious, I still found myself agreeing to his many stories and ideas. Likewise, two writers I serve as editor to in Fanfiction.net also had similar experiences, one with a drug addict and the other with a former HIV patient. Both managed to open their eyes to a new world when those former victims lectured on their respective issues to the writers. So here, not only did the real life heroes come to terms with their pasts, they also managed to reconcile it with the journeys they took, and used it as life lessons to be shared with the rest of us.
Here is where I feel the main point must be reiterated: based on all the parts of the hero’s journey that Joseph Campbell discusses, and based on all the applications I raised on how a person may behave in that situation in real life, it can be concluded that the hero can be each one of us. Throughout our lives, we are constantly faced with these obstacles that can put everything we once knew to the test. Just like Campbell’s hero, it is up to each one of us to decide whether we feel we should turn away from these mountains or whether we should climb them. It is true that there will be those who turn away, not wanting to face their past mistakes or are afraid of changing for the future, but for those who do venture forward, they will subject themselves to a long journey ahead. And for those who are changed by the experiences, a new part of life will emerge from them, in which they must decide whether to continue on, spreading this new knowledge to those around, in hopes of inspiring more people to change.
This, I argue, is evident in certain achievements of people, as there is usually some inspiration from a past achiever that causes some to pursue their dreams harder than others. It also motivates some to do more, perhaps to the extent that they take more action towards their goals. While I believe that everyone’s abilities are near equal, I also feel that there are cases where certain individuals do not pull their own weight. Whether this may be due to their lack of understanding on an issue, or the fact that their pride or stubbornness blinds them to the truth, one thing for certain is that it may take more than one “call to adventure” before such people take action. As for those who have achieved, it is important to note that part of the process of giving back by teaching others of their journey is a way of giving thanks to the source that inspired one to change. Whether it is a simple story-telling technique, or actively taking action to make a difference, it should be in every person to not forget where one came from.
Conclusion:
In all, we can see that the hero’s journey is long and arduous, yet this journey is happening all around us. Heroes are made day after day, sometimes in ways that we never imagined before. That’s why, for all of us out there, we should always be aware of every little thing that happens. You never know when one of these moments is our call to adventure, leading us to things that we’ve never considered achieving before.
In writing, we often run across characters that exhibit more than one side to their personalities, most likely due to changing events in a story’s plot that makes a character behave differently. While this type of character, better known as dynamic characters, seems prevalent in stories, I will argue that they are just as prevalent in real life. In fact, most, if not all people, go through several stages of dynamism every day, and it’s a matter of whether one recognizes it and continues through with it, or stays static and let life pass them by, with the result being missed chances to further their lives.
In this discussion of what stages one goes through, and the consequences of one’s choices, I will use the first half of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” to highlight the main points in this journey called life. The book is split into two parts: Part One is called “The Adventure of the Hero” and Part Two is called “The Cosmogonic Cycle.” My focus will mainly be on Part One, which will describe how story characters, mainly the protagonist or hero, goes through these stages and becomes the saviour in the end. It involves three main stages: Departure, Initiation, and Return. Each stage has several aspects to it that a character must complete in order to proceed, and I will use the stages to describe what it entails to in real life. Using both real life experiences and a few hypothetical cases, I will demonstrate that, in the end, everyone can play the hero’s role.
Departure:
The first part of the adventure, Departure, discusses what brings about the need for the hero to go on this journey. Campbell starts with a simple premise: most times, the hero doesn’t start the journey voluntarily. A good example to real life is that people don’t just wake up one morning and start going through their lives, examining each bit and start reflecting on how complete said life is. There needs to be something that sparks a person into taking action. Campbell calls this the “call to adventure,” and it brings a character away from their comfortable surroundings and into a new world. For Campbell, this call may be a simple blunder, such as retrieving a lost object in a place one never ventured into before; or it may involve a call from within, such as an “awakening of self” where an event sparks a sudden need for one to rediscover oneself in order to cope. For the real world, the best example is usually an event that affects one greatly, such as the death of a relative, or moving to a new city, or even as simple as getting poor grades on a report card. In all these cases, it can be seen that one is faced with a great challenge, needing to cope either physically, psychologically, or maybe even both. Because of this, this can be considered the best “call to adventure” for everyday folks in our world today.
Facing the call, there are only two choices for the hero: either accept or refuse the call. In cases where the call is refused, Campbell describes a situation where “a dull and unrewarding finish” is expected of the hero. Likewise, for the real world, the case may very well be the same. Should people refuse to adapt or cope, they may be trapped in their own dungeons, built for themselves by a mind incapable or refusing to expand. In an extreme situation, the world may leave them behind, leaving them stalled while progress continues from without. It may very well be that progress for these people will be hard to come by, and it will take quite some time before they can catch up again.
But for those who do answer the call, Campbell explains that there are several steps to take before reaching the final goal. As a character enters this new phase, it is only natural that they are unable to handle things alone, as the challenges brought forth may be too great to handle. Campbell refers this to the notion of “supernatural aid,” where some experienced individual serves as a “protective figure” for the hero. This may be either a supernatural being, or a somewhat unsuspecting passerby that manages to keep the hero in check and under control, just in time for the danger to pass. In real life, these figures are often parental figures, teachers, peers, or friends, each trying to offer help in their own way. While not every piece of advice may be useful, it is part of one’s personal trials to decipher which is important and to be heeded should one carry on with life. The source may be from unsuspecting places, as someone with little connection to one may say something that spark inspiration. After all, sometimes, a person without any connection to the event may provide the most objective thought, giving one the much-needed kick-start to answer the call and proceed with this adventure.
After getting the appropriate advice or protection, the hero then goes through the first trial of the long path, dubbed “the First Threshold” by Campbell. Here, things get a bit ambiguous, as Campbell never truly defines what this means. For different heroes, it can come in the form of different temptations that causes the hero to stray off track, or it may be certain battles that test the hero’s strength. Either way, Campbell summarizes this as the step before crossing “the entrance to the zone of magnified power” where the hero will experience true change for the first time. Campbell emphasizes that there is a “region of the unknown” or a place “beyond the protected zone,” stating that one must cross this barrier before proceeding forward. Campbell also mentions that there is usually great difficulty in this step for the hero to proceed through, as one may not wish to “challenge the watcher of the established grounds,” meaning that one may hesitate in leaving one’s own comfort zone. Yet, it is by removing oneself from one’s comfort zone that one can pass into “a new zone of experience.” By entering the unknown, Campbell theorizes the hero will gain much needed new experience to complete the transformation.
The ambiguity shown in this part is also mirrored in real life, as one is faced with all sorts of situations where this first trial is present. For example, in a case where one achieves poor results on a project or an exam, after seeking the appropriate advice from one’s source, the best way to get to this first step is an understanding of why one has been criticized. By understanding the flaws or mistakes that one has made, one is able to come to terms with them, and face them head on. Or to use a more personal example, when I first moved from one country to another when I was younger, I had to face challenges of not only adapting to a new city, but a new lifestyle. Going to a new school where I had to face total strangers, learning things I had never imagined learning before, and just being with new people, all these pushed me into a path that I had never dared to take before. In other words, the presence of a new world often involves leaving the zone of comfort, as it is human nature to either not want to know about one’s mistakes, or not want to face their challenges in case that it may provide too much hardship or heartache for one. Sometimes the fear of failing to meet a challenge may be too great to overcome, and many people are willing to stick with the status quo, even though they know it isn’t the best option. While I don’t discount the notion of “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t,” I will also emphasize, like Campbell, that an ever-changing world requires one to always be aware of such challenges, and be ready to face them whenever they may appear.
Once this threshold is crossed, Campbell points to a stage where the hero must go through to complete the transformation. He alludes to this process to being in “the belly of the whale” where a rebirth of the character is at hand. These transformations will, in a symbolic way, be “a form of self-annihilation” where the old traits of a character die and a new set of traits emerge. Again, Campbell goes into relatively few details on this, but one can clearly point to this in real life as the part where one realizes why the old life should be discarded, and appropriate steps are taken in order to adapt to the new life of the future. This is likened to finding out what needs to be done to improve on the next test, or what one can do to face one’s new life ahead. By being in this “belly of the whale,” one ultimately goes through a vigorous self-reflection process in order to find one’s new way in life. Here, one must take into consideration one’s former direction and the advice received from those “protective figures” before coming to a conclusion. It is here that one must find the most appropriate future course, and set about achieving it with determination and courage, in order to be reborn as a new being.
Inside this “belly of the whale,” Campbell alludes to a point in time where the hero will go through a “road of trials.” Campbell describes this as a “labyrinth” where the hero goes through to be purified and changed. It is here that one will look back at the past and, upon reflection, take the first step on this new journey. Here, the changes to one’s psyche will most likely dictate the success of one’s journey to be transformed. For one to reach the goal, it may require one to lay down the most precious thing: one’s ego and pride. I will argue that in real life, this is can be defined literally, as often times one may cling too stubbornly to a set of ideals that one is used to. The pride one shows for one’s old ways, even when they are shown to be wrong, may overwhelm the threshold crossing process. It will allow one to enter the “self-annihilation” phase, but will not allow one to proceed any further. While Campbell does not elaborate on this part, it is actually among the most crucial step, as the failure by one to proceed on the “road of trials” may make one regress, pushing one back to the beginning of the journey.
Initiation:
The next part of the hero’s journey is also described ambiguously by Campbell, as he points to a “meeting with the Goddess” once the hero is through the road of trials. He lists several examples, each one different in style and tradition, but all point to a common theme: the hero must now marry their own soul with the so-called higher power. This can be seen as the hero now masters over life, so much so that a form of “apotheosis” can be reached. The hero is deified in a way that expands their consciousness after the foe is finally defeated. Campbell then goes on to describe the roles of the “mother” and the “father” and what roles they play in this marriage, but I will skip over that and head towards the actual application of this into real life.
My personal viewpoint on this part is the actual initiation of the process of not only following through on one’s pledge to better oneself, but constant evaluation of one’s actions to ensure that one does not stray from this path. While Campbell ambiguously points to the hero meeting the divine powers and ultimately slaying foes, many times the battle of the modern-day individual is from within. One must defeat one’s own demons before initiating on this process. Even as one has already decided on one’s path, there may still be obstacles preventing one from marrying one’s own mind to the new goal one set. For example, one may find the unification of soul with one’s goal awkward, even downright uncomfortable as one is forced to act in ways one is unfamiliar to. Or in other cases, one may find one’s old habits hard to break, to the point where it becomes a struggle to maintain focus on the goal. Here, I will argue that this is the elaboration of the battle that Campbell missed out on. While it may be a tough journey just to arrive at the “belly of the whale” for people, it is even tougher to go through metamorphosis and reach the “apotheosis” stage. It is never easy to conquer one’s mistakes, and it will only get harder the longer one has been making these mistakes.
But after all these processes, the apotheosis stage leads Campbell to conclude an “ultimate boon” is at hand. The hero is now “a superior man” and becomes indestructible in a sense. By being elevated to this status, with vanquished foes and a transformed soul, the hero is now at the ultimate level of the journey. It is here that the hero must make an important decision: whether to stay in this paradise or return to the world to spread this knowledge to others. In real life, I have mentioned that it is difficult for many people to conquer their own mistakes. But those who do are usually in this very situation, their minds feeling exhilarated and a new sense of pride complementing their new sense of accomplishment. But it is also here that one must decide on the next move. One may choose to remain at this stage and stubbornly cling to the so-called changes, or one may choose to continue bettering oneself, and serve as the “protective figure” to those around to make them realize their potentials as well. This will eventually lead us to the final stage of the hero’s journey: the return of the hero to the human world.
Return:
The third and final stage of the hero’s journey, the return to the human world, also places the hero in a situation where a choice must be made. Campbell suggests that the hero can either refuse to return, opting to stay in the so-called utopian universe. They do not feel they have a responsibility to share their new knowledge, or achievement, or even treasure, with the rest of the world. Campbell points to various figures in history and mythology, stating all had some doubts regarding whether their findings would be easily accepted by the common folk. Although in real life, I will argue that it is not necessary that every time somebody corrects a mistake that they need to announce their findings to the world. Many people may choose to keep mistakes private, and not say anything to another person making the same mistake in fear of being to critical. But that being said, in some situations, perhaps it is best that the “return” journey be applied here. It may be of the interests to both the “hero” and the “common person” to share their experiences with a mistake, so much so that it will make it easier on someone going through the same phase the “hero” did. After all, life is filled with experiences, and it isn’t out of the question that the “hero” that was protected and advised by sagely figures can turn and serve as the mentor figure themselves.
But for those who do choose to leave their utopian world and return to the human world to spread the new knowledge, Campbell points to what may happen during this time. Here, he claims there are two types of return: the blessed one where those the hero obtained the new knowledge from are supportive, or the pursuit where the hero is leaving with unauthorized information or property. In some cases, the hero may also be brought back via an outside force, as another calling, this time from the human world, summons the hero back. But whatever the case may be, this will be a journey just as difficult, if not more difficult, than the original entrance into the higher realm. This is mirrored in real life, where the decision to approach others to share the information usually means having the original source of trouble be revealed. Many people may be unwilling to do this, as it puts them in an uncomfortable situation of having to relive their painful past. There is a lot of soul-searching needed at this step, and some may choose to end the journey here.
Those who do end up taking the final step through the return threshold will be met with an astounding discovery: the two worlds are actually one. While the hero has gone to the higher realm in search of the goal, in reality the exploration is actually to find a way to better the already existing institutions in the human world. Often times, when the hero returns to the human world, they will find it much different than it was when they originally left. Part of it may be due to the time spent away from the human world, but it is also due to the hero’s changing perceptions of the world. With the new knowledge in mind, it is natural to expect the hero to react differently to human events, to the point where it may be entirely opposite of what the hero would have done in the past. Here, Campbell states that the notion of “mastery of the two worlds” becomes really important, as the hero must understand the works of both worlds in order to spread the new message. The hero must understand the information from the higher realm, but must also remember the ways of the human world in order to convince regular folks of the new knowledge’s usefulness. It is only by reconciling the universal will with individual consciousness that the hero can accomplish the matter and successfully live out life.
This is also where the applicability to real life becomes more important than ever, as it is here that people of everyday life finds ways to identify themselves with the issue. In my personal experience, I know that those who are in need of seeking direction may be confused, even frustrated, by the lack of results. This is when the people with this type of rebirth experience may be of help. This is indicated by the various lectures from people who have been traumatized by personal experiences, but found a new way afterwards and wanted to share it with me. One such lecture happened in my high school years, when a pastor whose son was shot to death a few years back came to talk about tolerance and learning to accept and forgive others for their mistakes. Even though I am not religious, I still found myself agreeing to his many stories and ideas. Likewise, two writers I serve as editor to in Fanfiction.net also had similar experiences, one with a drug addict and the other with a former HIV patient. Both managed to open their eyes to a new world when those former victims lectured on their respective issues to the writers. So here, not only did the real life heroes come to terms with their pasts, they also managed to reconcile it with the journeys they took, and used it as life lessons to be shared with the rest of us.
Here is where I feel the main point must be reiterated: based on all the parts of the hero’s journey that Joseph Campbell discusses, and based on all the applications I raised on how a person may behave in that situation in real life, it can be concluded that the hero can be each one of us. Throughout our lives, we are constantly faced with these obstacles that can put everything we once knew to the test. Just like Campbell’s hero, it is up to each one of us to decide whether we feel we should turn away from these mountains or whether we should climb them. It is true that there will be those who turn away, not wanting to face their past mistakes or are afraid of changing for the future, but for those who do venture forward, they will subject themselves to a long journey ahead. And for those who are changed by the experiences, a new part of life will emerge from them, in which they must decide whether to continue on, spreading this new knowledge to those around, in hopes of inspiring more people to change.
This, I argue, is evident in certain achievements of people, as there is usually some inspiration from a past achiever that causes some to pursue their dreams harder than others. It also motivates some to do more, perhaps to the extent that they take more action towards their goals. While I believe that everyone’s abilities are near equal, I also feel that there are cases where certain individuals do not pull their own weight. Whether this may be due to their lack of understanding on an issue, or the fact that their pride or stubbornness blinds them to the truth, one thing for certain is that it may take more than one “call to adventure” before such people take action. As for those who have achieved, it is important to note that part of the process of giving back by teaching others of their journey is a way of giving thanks to the source that inspired one to change. Whether it is a simple story-telling technique, or actively taking action to make a difference, it should be in every person to not forget where one came from.
Conclusion:
In all, we can see that the hero’s journey is long and arduous, yet this journey is happening all around us. Heroes are made day after day, sometimes in ways that we never imagined before. That’s why, for all of us out there, we should always be aware of every little thing that happens. You never know when one of these moments is our call to adventure, leading us to things that we’ve never considered achieving before.