Hercules: How to Become a Hero in Joseph Campbell’s Way
Balmaceda, Coline
III-2 BEE
Hercules: How to Become a Hero in Joseph Campbell’s
Way
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| Courtesy of Google Images |
If you’re going to ask a child to what it takes to
become a hero, they will probably answer, “you have to be strong [physically]”,
“you need to save someone or the world”, or even “when you got superpowers”. Personally,
those were also the statements and perceptions I’ve grown up to whenever we talked
about heroes. But, where does heroism really came from?
Courtesy of Google Images
In 1949, Joseph Campbell introduced
the 12 hero’s journey in his Hero with a Thousand Faces. This is an
up-to-now most common narrative and structure of what a hero experiences and
faces. If you’re a fan of Disney, Marvels, or DC, well, I know you know how it
goes. But this blog is intended for 1997 Disney’s Hercules, a demi-god son of
Zeus with special strength. His Hero’s Journey is as follows:
Ordinary World-
Although Hercules was born on Mount Olympus by his parents Zeus and Hera, he
grew up with his foster parents (Amphitryon and Alcmene) in Greece. There, he
lived as an ordinary boy by helping with his father’s job. He’s very useful but he’s
also so clumsy that he always gets himself in trouble.
Call to Adventure-
Wanting himself to be saved from society’s criticism to his special abilities,
he seeks to become a hero after his foster told him that he might be a son of the
gods, for when he was a baby, he had these gold symbols of the gods with him.
Refusal of the Call- No,
not yet. He is determined to become a hero. Let’s go to the fourth stage.
Meeting with the Mentor-
as he was praying to Zeus, the god suddenly appeared and talked to him. For the
first time, they had a father-son conversation. Hercules told him that we want
to be with him on Olympus, but Zeus declined and frankly said he has to become a
hero yet.
Crossing the First Threshold-
challenged and eager to become a hero, he tried his luck and went to Thebes with
his Pegasus to prove himself worthy.
Tests, Allies, and Enemies-
As he entered the new place, he met Phil. Phil trained him, made him discipline
and knowledgeable about the problems and challenges he might encounter. There, he
was also become fond of Meg after saving her danger.
Approach to Inmost Cave-
For wanting to make himself a hero, Hercules faced many challenges, on which in
the Disney movie the 12 labors were skipped. He faced setbacks for he started
to doubt himself.
Supreme Ordeal-
After knowing that Meg was with Hades after all this time, he still wanted to
save her life from the death river, even if it is his own life that was at risk.
The witches cut off the string of his life when they found out that he’s a
demi-god. Hercules was saved.
Reward- Having Meg
saved, he realized his genuine love for her, and Meg did not deny her love for
him anymore. They went to Olympus, he was declared a hero, and now can live up there
with other gods.
The Road Back-
Thinking about Meg, Hercules gave up his throne and chose to live happily with
Meg.
Knowing Campbell’s hero’s journey, made me realize
that it is not necessarily mean you need to have superpowers to be called a
hero. Unlike Hercules, us, the humans, could be a hero by defeating our own
enemies. As they say, the greatest battle is within yourself. To tell you the
truth, facing that will not require you to have every stage that Campbell created.
You can be a hero in a not-so-Campbell way.
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| Courtesy of Google Images |
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