“Buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, ‘cause Kansas is going bye-bye.
Buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, 'cause Kansas is going bye-bye.
WRITTEN BY DR. MICHAEL BEAU O’NEILL ON OCTOBER 22, 2022.
While reading Joseph Campbell’s, A Hero with a Thousand Faces, I experienced an epiphany. It felt as if I had read this book many times before. Though it was my first time through it, the familiarity was extraordinary. Why did it feel so intimate? Was this a spiritual reaction? A coincidence? Déjà vu? Should I be looking for white rabbits while reading this eye-opening chronicle? Or perhaps there’s a common theme in this storyboard succession that parallels thousands of classic movies and books I love. The latter befitted the verdict after concluding the reading.
Campbell’s book navigates a journey familiar to modern-day readers and movie viewers. Though it focuses on the hero’s journey and a theme that unites many stories of mythology, the overall premise is recognizable in countless ancient and modern narratives. One of the draws of this unique exposition is its relatability. It has been duplicated for centuries and continues to provide a proven template for many historic masterpieces. The theme and cycle of experiences have a profound impact on both the hero and the reader, with each stage of the monomyth.
The storyline is set in motion when the main character, the ordinary hero, faces a mystifying message or tribulation and is uncertain of the future. At this stage, the hero may be considered more of a victim and has not yet earned their heroic title. The plot thickens when the hero encounters a challenge or an invitation to pursue a divine adventure of self-discovery. As the hero progresses through several formulaic events, he unlocks the next phase of self-awareness, ultimately leading to a complete transformation.
Many legends, folklores, novels, and movies follow the hero’s exact monomyth model, varying only in minor details to attract their target audience. Most share a wise or unique character, such as Yoda from Star Wars, who assists the hero before the unknown journey. Next, the hero takes a leap of faith, initiating the adventure. In the first Matrix movie, Morpheus (the wise character) describes this phase of the hero’s experience cycle famously to Neo (the hero): “You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
Campbell meticulously outlines each step in the hero’s journey with precision. The uncertain yet dedicated hero ventures into the unknown, relying on resilient faith and diligent execution. Small victories build the hero’s confidence as he prepares to confront his greatest fears. Everything points towards success for the hero until an unexpected disaster strikes. The plot shifts suddenly, causing the hero to lose momentum. He falls short, confusion sets in, and he lies seemingly defeated and on the brink of death. The hero feels disoriented as if regressing in his journey. His confidence is shattered, and the future appears incomprehensible.
In this moment of despair, the hero realizes he has overlooked something crucial. He recalls advice given earlier in the journey and understands that his lack of self-awareness has been his greatest impediment. Humbled, the hero discerns the truth and surrenders completely to his destiny. A transformation occurs as he sheds his old self. The story reaches its climax as the hero is resurrected, overcoming the most challenging obstacle in Campbell’s model. Returning to his former life transformed, the hero is no longer bound by his previous limitations. He has emerged triumphant, his title now truly earned.
The story of the hero’s journey never seems to lose its awe and wonder. Campbell brilliantly expresses a heroic theme and outlines a model that will continue to inspire storylines forever. Whether it's Rocky Balboa or Jesus Himself, the hero epitomizes greatness and moves individuals to better themselves and reach a divine state of consciousness.
While Campbell’s model captures the essence of heroism, the Bible presents the ultimate hero in the figure of Jesus Christ. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection embody the truest form of the hero’s journey. He faced the ultimate trials, endured suffering, and emerged victorious, offering salvation and eternal life to humanity.
As it says in Philippians 2:6-11:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus taught us more than any hero ever could. He lived by faith and was the ultimate example, and his story of heroism transcends all others, inspiring countless generations to follow in his footsteps.
References:
Wachowski, L., & Wachowski, L. (1999). The Matrix. Warner Bros.
Ibid.
Philippians 2: 6-11
Tags: #DLGP01, Campbell, Hero's Journey
