Hercules: From Zero To Hero
Hercules: From Zero To Hero
(A Hero’s Journey)
“All of us start from zero. We take the right decision and become a hero,” Govida.
This is the line that
reminded me of Hercules who is one of the well-known heroes in Greek and Roman mythology.
He is known for possessing extraordinary
strength and great courage. However, behind all these, he encountered many adversaries
in his past which honed him to be the best version of himself. The journey of
Hercules is reflected on The Hero’s Journey Steps by Joseph Campbell in his
book entitled, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.”
It was stated in Step 1 of the Hero's Journey that a would-be hero must first live in an ordinary world before he can enter a special world. Based on Disney’s 1997 film, Hercules was raised as an innocent teenager in a mortal world by his adoptive parents named Amphitryon and Alcmene. He lived as an ordinary "mortal" who was described as clumsy and awkward for he can’t control his god-like strength. Like many other children, Hercules, too, has been mocked and avoided by people around him because of the destruction and mistakes that he made. This pushed Hercules to dream of going far-off places where people would welcome him and make him feel that he belongs. When he learned the truth about himself, he now dreamed of becoming a true hero like her father Zeus. This has lead him to find more of his identity and becoming a “hero”.
Hercules with his adoptive
parents Amphitryon and Alceme
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from:https://i2.wp.com/www.thepurplepumpkinblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/hercules-parents.jpg?ssl=1
When Hercules decided to leave his home to go to the temple of
Zeus, little did he know that the roller-coaster adventure that awaits him has already
begun. This now falls under Step 2 of what Campbell (1949) called the
transition from the ordinary world to the special world. He was up for more journeys
that he absolutely had no idea about. However, the great thing about this is
that, unlike some heroes that I know, Hercules did not refuse to become one,
instead, he was willing to uncover what lies in the unknown.
Hercules
heads to the temple of Zeus
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from: http://sites.psu.edu/wildspiritatheart/wp-content/uploads/sites/21608/2015/04/Fate_Hercules.jpg
Zeus sent Hercules for an adventure
and found a satyr named Philoctetes who had trained many Greek gods like
Perseus and Achilles. Campbell (1949) identified this as meeting the mentor-
magical mentors who are responsible for guiding and teaching a hero. Although
this is Step 5 from Campbell (1949), the story of Hercules met a magical
mentor first.
Philoctetes trains Hercules
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Unfortunately, Phil, was so doubtful of
Hercules and was not willing to train him. However, Hercules insisted because he
was so eager to learn more skills and there was no turning back as he was just
getting started. Phil agreed and trained him for a long time until Phil was
sure that Hercules was skilled and knowledgeable of things. There was a time
when Hercules had his first threshold. He fought with the river centaur who
captured a girl named Megara or Meg.
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This
event is the cross to the first threshold or the point of no return termed by
Campbell (1949). Although he defeated the centaur, Phil was aware and he
realized that he needed to be more trained on how to fight an enemy. This scene
reflects Step 4 where the main character encounters trials, friends, foes
along the journey.
Hercules,
Megara, Phil, and the Pegasus
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As
for the trials, the first one would be his fight with the river centaur named
Nessus and the following would be when he saved 2 enemies disguised as 2 boys
stuck in the cave, and the 12 labors: Hydra, Boar, Lion, Stables,
etc. However, the good thing about these trials is that they just pushed and
tested to achieve his primary goal. Not only did Hercules find a new adventure
but he also found new friends that became his safe place like Meg including the
Pegasus sent by his father Zeus and Phil. The challenges he encountered made him gain more
confidence that he clearly did not have before. He also learned to use his
power which he was ashamed of using before because it seemed to him and to
other people that it was too destructive but now he realized how important that
was to him. Moreover, a hero’s journey
would not be complete without the presence of the enemy like specifically Hades,
who in the first place, was the reason why he was sent to the mortal world. This
is more treacherous than the first threshold. Moreover, Hercules fell in love
with Meg but Meg had already given his soul to Hades just to save his ex-boyfriend
and now Hercules. In order to save Meg, Hercules went to Hades’ crib and dove
in to reach for Meg’s soul. Hades was pretty confident that he can’t survive
but since Hercules is a god he was able to. Hades couldn’t believe it.
Unfortunately, he was thrown to the River of Styx instead. Hercules was able to
survive from the River of Styx not all because of his endurance or strength
that he possessed but rather this action that he was willing to sacrifice his
own life for someone valuable to him.
Hercules dove into the River
of Styx to save Meg’s soul
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His
selfless act proved that he was a true hero for he did not hesitate to trade
his soul for Meg.
Hercules having Meg’s Soul
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This reflects Campbell (1949) Step7 which is the moment of despair that there is an inner power that a hero is not aware of having at first until he realized it. He just begins to discover and self-realize from the actions he takes. Hercules saved Meg and together with the gods, they defeated Hades and the other titans.
Zeus and Hercules
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He achieved his goal to be a hero and a god and
he now had Meg beside him. This event could be the Step 8 that Campbell (1949)
is pertaining to that a hero achieves his object and there is an internal transformation.
Hercules was welcomed to Mt. Olympus, his original home and a place he wanted
to live in when he learned that his father was Zeus. However, he wanted to live
with Meg in the mortal world bringing with him the experiences he
gained from his adventure. Zeus granted his wish to let him go with Meg. Hercules
knows that there is so much more that awaits him. He came back to the mortal world
but this time he has changed. He is no longer a child who was once mocked and
laughed at by people who did not understand his life. His journey proved him what
is like to be a hero and how to be like one. He realized that the measure of a
true hero is not about how powerful you are or how many trials you have been
into. It is about how you sacrifice for people you love without hesitation and
how you selflessly act for the sake of them.
Hercules and Meg
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Hercules is a perfect representation
of being a zero to hero. His decision to take the path and the decision that he
made on his path honed him to become who he is now.
Hercules goes back to the mortal world with Meg and his adoptive parents
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Dewey, A. & Clements, R. (1997). Hercules [Film].
Jeffrey, S. (n.d.). The Heroes Journey: the Ultimate Roadmap to Self-Development. https://scottjeffrey.com/heros-journey-steps/?fbclid=IwAR3bljiJYDpbU4eudF5OvUD7T_GJtS47HnH8BVHDtvLkzyku-UbTAWgGjGg
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