Claire Stemmer
16 March 2015
HUM 115-502
Prof. Streit
SWA 4: Patterns of the Hero Monomyth in Sons of Anarchy
In his renowned work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell defined the essential stages of the Heroic Journey, using examples from a wide range of myths and stories. His objective was not only to establish the framework for hero tales, but also to convey why these elements of the monomyth prevail in so many different works. Campbell’s view states that “the hero myth is really written about every human being: we are all heroes struggling to accomplish our adventure” (Whomsley, 185). From this perspective, it seems justified that these patterns continue to appear in so many stories adventure and heroism; we all want our
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The element of the Hero’s Journey that the show most clearly reflects is the concept of “Atonement with the Father”. Central to the plotline is the relationship between father and son, and the implications are manifold. Clay Morrow fills the role of the mythical father figure, as well as one of the show’s antagonists despite his actual familial relationship with Jax. In Campbell’s analysis of the Hero’s Journey, the father figure plays a huge part in the hero’s transformation process: “His role is to test the hero to ascertain his worthiness” (190). The Father can also symbolize the source of evil that the hero must eliminate: “The hero’s quest, if successful, incorporates the defeat of an ogre or villain who represents the fearsome aspect of the father” (190). The point in the series where Jax ends Clay’s life is a truly pivotal moment in his heroic journey, as it signifies our protagonist stepping into a new position of leadership and responsibility.
In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell delineated the essential features found in myths and stories of heroes and heroic journeys. His purpose in doing so was partly to elucidate the notion that we are all heroes on the course of our own adventures. Looking at contemporary works of fiction through the lens of the heroic monomyth, we are able to make connections between our own heroes and ourselves. Jax
The archetype of the Hero’s Journey holds a prevalent pattern in the works of “Initiation” by Sylvia Plath, “A & P” by John Updike, and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. These works all follow the 17 stages of Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth which are separated in three stages; separation, initiation, and return. The main characters have different characterizations; however, they all follow the basic structure of the Hero’s journey archetype. There are many similarities and differences between the stages that are shown through many context clues and literary devices in each work. The Hero’s Journey archetype expressed in these literary works follow a similar and direct narrative pattern.
Furthermore it is crucial to know of Joseph Campbell and his ideas of the monomyth. The late Joseph Campbell was described as an American mythologist having laid the groundwork in both contemporary comparative mythology and comparative religion. Campbell’s work is extensive and intersects many attributes of the human experience. It is distinctly Campbell’s efforts in generating his monomyth concept which interest many today. The monomyth concept recognizes all myth based works as being a ploy on one form or original story. This is due to common patterns incorporated in a vast majority of myth based works inattentive of time and place of origin. This original story incorporates a hero’s call to adventure, his or hers crossing of a threshold, their dealings within a climax and or final battle followed by their return.
Edward Johnson wrote a bibliography on Joseph Campbell and included Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Edward Johnson explained that the monomyth is, “the underlying uniform structure of the adventure of the hero (which can be mapped on all people attempting to make their way through life).” Think about all the different movies, books, or stories that have been created. Most of them always have a hero, and he or she has to go on a journey. However, each journey has a different path. This journey is called the monomyth or the hero’s journey. The monomyth explains the course every hero takes to be changed and made new. This course is exemplified in more stories then people realize. For example, in the movie Osmosis Jones a
Life is a precious gift, as you only get one chance to become your best self. In life everyone has hopes and dreams to find their calling to potentially make a difference in the world. In literature we are presented with an abundance of epic hero stories, referring to fictional or non-fictional characters that have made a difference in their world. These characters grant the reader with entertaining stories pertaining to historical or fictional events that reflect the hero’s journey to making a triumphant change. Joseph Campbell’s theory that every hero has a similar journey to becoming their best self commences with a call to an adventure. The call to adventure is the first and most important step in Joseph Campbell’s hero monomyth, “A hero with a Thousand Faces.”
Usually, when people think of the word ‘hero’, their mind conjures up several images of Superman, Batman, or Spiderman. Most people think of a hero as a steroid-riddled man in a tight suit and a cape, capable of flying, shooting lasers out of their eyes, or using some other kind of superhuman abilities. But a hero in a classic story is a completely different kind of archetype. Archetypal heroes are far from perfect – receiving supernatural help and making fatal flaws. A hero also embarks on an epic journey in which they face many issues, and are often honored after their death.
The movie “The Odyssey” was an excellent example of how the Joseph Campbell’s archetype should be in a hero’s journey. It follows the steps of how the Joseph Campbell archetype should be. The journey of the Odyssey conforms to the archetype in many ways. It also reflects the values and culture of the Greek society such as strength, bravery, and also intelligence.
But What if there is no cave to look for or, the treasure you seek is not there? The Hero With a Thousand Faces, written by Joseph Campbell, is a book about how ordinary people travel along the path becoming a hero. Comparing the two pieces of work, Mike Phillips in This American Life, and Don Eber in The Tenth of December, show a pair varying hardships each must face. From the impediments both characters face in their stories both could be seen as heros. Although both have gone through the varying paths of a hero, Don Eber is looked on as a hero, while Mike Phillips pales in comparison.
Without darkness, there is no light. Without cold, there is no hot. Without villain, there is no hero. Who and what dictates a hero? People try not to fathom whom they consider a villain, a hero in someone else’s perspective.
Joseph Campbell, an American scholar, defined the Hero’s Journey in twelve separate stages within two halves,
Who knew a young lad obsessed with legends and folklore, would one day grow up to achieve a master’s degree in medieval literature at Columbia University? Then go on to write a collection of legends and folklore called The Hero With Thousand Faces. Joseph Campbell the composer of collage, outlined the term monomyth in this literature. I also remember a wise man once stressed the term monomyth, when reading the classical literatures The Rime of Ancient Mariner, Oedipus Rex, and The Epic of Gilgamesh in English class in the beginning of school year. The sage in my english class furthermore formulated the sequence(or dumbed it down for common man) monomyth: “The hero journeys forth from the light of common day into a world of supernatural wonder…
In focusing on heroes, it is necessary to indulge in a kind of narcissistic fantasy. Reality is complicated. In most circumstances, significant actions occur not because a single, heroic figure overcomes all adversity, but rather through more mundane, less dramatic decisions made by a number of people with various individual motivations. But for the sake of a good story, these realities are condensed into a narrative of heroes and gods who single handedly fulfill their journey. This pattern of narrative was defined by Homer whose tales of heroes and gods exemplify the glorification of the individual, often at the expense of those around them.
The Hero with thousand faces explains a lot about the similar patterns of main character ‘hero’ in almost every fables, stories, and legend. Because this study concerns with heroes, it is important to define what Campbell himself considers a hero. According to Campbell’s criteria, heroes are the persons who succeed where others would either fail or try, and one more important feature of the hero is that they serve their communities as well as themselves. Campbell also makes a different between the universal hero and fairy tale hero. Universal heroes are the ones who bring a change into the entire world.
In “Creating the Myth” Linda seger claims that hero stories are ¨found in all cultures and in all literature,”(309) gaining such popularity by being relatable to the average person.
The idea of heroismhas been traced back to centuries of years throughout history. Greek Mythology is the father of this concept of heroism and this concept has continued to grow and develop through stories, writings, and films over the years. Humans have always been intrigued with the idea of heroism which is why many movies, books, and stories are written after this very idea. In Linda Seger’s “Creating the Myth”, she argues there are 10-points into creating every “hero myth”, using Luke Skywalker in Star Wars as her hero myth example; in the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry follows Seger’s 10-point system of creating a
Civilizations, since the dawn of time, has relied on storytelling to pass down morals and teachings- stories of great heroes and beasts, of damsels and beautiful kingdoms. These tales captured the audience, leaving these souls in various forms of distinct emotion: happiness, sadness, awe. The larger-than-life creatures in these stories defined the belief of each society, their heroes and monsters told a wondrous tale of its golden age. An American mythologist by the name of Joseph Campbell changed the perception of myths, as well as literature, forever when he published one of the most enthralling and influential works of the 20th century, Hero with a Thousand Faces which discusses a concept known as the Hero’s Journey. This analysis of