The Power of The Power of Myth and The Myth and The HeroHero Cycle Cycle

Mono-myth (as coined by J. Joyce in Mono-myth (as coined by J. Joyce in Finnegan’s WakeFinnegan’s Wake) – one story for ) – one story for humanity, as represented through humanity, as represented through the hero cyclethe hero cycle

The HeroThe Hero

More modern stories might include a More modern stories might include a heroine, but traditionally the hero-story heroine, but traditionally the hero-story includes a male hero. includes a male hero.

Self-achieved submission Self-achieved submission Must “die” to the world, be reborn, and Must “die” to the world, be reborn, and

return to us transfigured to teach what he return to us transfigured to teach what he has learnedhas learned

The Hero: The Hero: BirthBirth

The hero may be an orphan.The hero may be an orphan. Supernatural / mystical forces may have Supernatural / mystical forces may have

impacted his birth. impacted his birth. Quite often he is at odds with his father, Quite often he is at odds with his father,

even from birth.even from birth.

The Bad Guys…The Bad Guys…

The tyrant / monster hoards the general The tyrant / monster hoards the general benefit – the hero must release this benefit – the hero must release this flow of life again into worldflow of life again into world

Nemesis—personally hates the hero in Nemesis—personally hates the hero in an intimate, private way an intimate, private way

Arch-enemy—still an enemy, but there is Arch-enemy—still an enemy, but there is a healthy respect; not a personal a healthy respect; not a personal grudgegrudge

The Hero Cycle:The Hero Cycle:1. The Call to adventure1. The Call to adventure

Direct or indirect (as in a blunder) Direct or indirect (as in a blunder) The herald (Alice’s white rabbit, etc.)The herald (Alice’s white rabbit, etc.) Produces anxietyProduces anxiety Refusal? Refusal?

““Hero” becomes a victim to be saved. Sometimes this is done Hero” becomes a victim to be saved. Sometimes this is done reluctantly. reluctantly.

Why me? I can’t go to war, I have to stay on the farm…I’m Why me? I can’t go to war, I have to stay on the farm…I’m done with that cause…I want to make a fortune…etc.done with that cause…I want to make a fortune…etc.

Series of stronger signs cannot be denied.Series of stronger signs cannot be denied.

Refusal prepares the hero – introspection / introversionRefusal prepares the hero – introspection / introversion

The Hero Cycle:The Hero Cycle:1. The Call to adventure1. The Call to adventure

Supernatural / mystical aidSupernatural / mystical aid provision of amuletsprovision of amulets

Southwest Am. Ind.’s Spider Woman, Dante’s Southwest Am. Ind.’s Spider Woman, Dante’s Beatrice, fairy godmothers, Christianity’s Holy Beatrice, fairy godmothers, Christianity’s Holy Mother’s various apparitionsMother’s various apparitions

The Hero Cycle:The Hero Cycle:1. The Call to adventure1. The Call to adventure

crossing of the threshold from known crossing of the threshold from known world to unknown world – i.e. a “birth”world to unknown world – i.e. a “birth”

belly of the whale imagery – transit past belly of the whale imagery – transit past the 1the 1st st threshold (“rebirth” from a womb) threshold (“rebirth” from a womb)

The Hero Cycle:The Hero Cycle: 2. The Quest2. The Quest

self-discoveryself-discovery a fight for his peoplea fight for his people seemingly insurmountable seemingly insurmountable

goal to achieve goal to achieve

2. The Quest:2. The Quest:PartnersPartners

Two varieties:Two varieties: older sage – “back at the lab” older sage – “back at the lab” underling, sidekick, or crew (younger and more underling, sidekick, or crew (younger and more

impulsive or even foolish)impulsive or even foolish)

The Hero Cycle:The Hero Cycle:3. The road of trials / 3. The road of trials / teststests

dream landscapedream landscape purified, cleansed and purified, cleansed and

humbled by trialshumbled by trials resistances are broken resistances are broken

downdown realizes what is necessary realizes what is necessary

to save the people (elixir)to save the people (elixir)

The Hero Cycle:The Hero Cycle: 4. The Showdown4. The Showdown

might be a final battlemight be a final battle

fights his nemesis or arch-enemyfights his nemesis or arch-enemy

woman as temptress (Cosmic Mother woman as temptress (Cosmic Mother image becomes Queen of Sin image)image becomes Queen of Sin image)

4. The Showdown: 4. The Showdown: Atonement w/ PapaAtonement w/ Papa

many times the showdown = struggle vs. many times the showdown = struggle vs. father (or a father-figure)father (or a father-figure)

hero must face the father and understandhero must face the father and understand must find “at-one-ment” w/ fathermust find “at-one-ment” w/ father when hero wins, he can assume his father’s when hero wins, he can assume his father’s

place as creator / destroyer place as creator / destroyer Luke Skywalker and Darth VaderLuke Skywalker and Darth Vader

The Hero Cycle: The Hero Cycle: 5. Apotheosis 5. Apotheosis (deification / glorification)(deification / glorification)

hero becomes more than he washero becomes more than he was becomes teacher or leaderbecomes teacher or leader gains elixir of life to return to his peoplegains elixir of life to return to his people

The Hero Cycle: The Hero Cycle: 6. Return6. Return

refusal of the return vs. magic flightrefusal of the return vs. magic flight journey only half over - crossing the journey only half over - crossing the

return threshold return threshold

The Hero Cycle: The Hero Cycle: 6. Return6. Return

IfIf he lives he lives wiser – must release wiser – must release the boon the boon / life back to the world/ life back to the world a leadera leader rewarded with riches and a pretty wiferewarded with riches and a pretty wife

Has spiritual peace regardless: isn’t a Has spiritual peace regardless: isn’t a

real “hero” if he’s afraid to die real “hero” if he’s afraid to die

Why does this matter? Why does this matter?

““We have only to follow the thread of the We have only to follow the thread of the hero-path…[and] we shall find a god…We hero-path…[and] we shall find a god…We shall [transcend] ourselves…We shall come shall [transcend] ourselves…We shall come to the center of our own existence; where we to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world” (Campbell 25).the world” (Campbell 25).

Why does this matter?Why does this matter?

Just about every culture and religion uses Just about every culture and religion uses the h.c. for its major figures.the h.c. for its major figures.

We apply the characteristics of the epic / h.c. We apply the characteristics of the epic / h.c. to our historical stories.to our historical stories.

The only distinctly American genre is the The only distinctly American genre is the Western.Western.