Explanation of Josephy Cambell’s Hero’s Journey

Let’s review the hero’s journey…

Think of the journey as an adventure story. There must be a main character and that character has a specific task to accomplish. The journey begins when the hero is compelled to go out and conquer; this is his call to adventure. Many times the hero is reluctant when he first acknowledges the yearning or call to adventure but the desire to proceed wins out. The point the hero is completely committed to the journey is when he leaves the safety of his own home/ land; known as crossing the threshold. The crossing of the threshold is a symbolic representation of the unknown world- deep undersea, dark forest, outer space, etc. The hero will encounter many trials and tribulations-both mentally and physically. Each time the hero conquers a monster (trial) he gains confidence in himself. This confidence is tested throughout the journey. The most important test comes at the lowest point of his journey; the belly of the whale. It is at this stage that the hero is on the brink of failure or death.

The hero begins his transformation right about the time he is about to give up. At the very lowest point of despair the hero must reach inside himself and work through his deepest, darkest, fears of failure and death. The introspection, or insight, is the apotheosis- the hero’s revelation about his ability to overcome and succeed. The hero now recognizes the fact that he has the mental, physical and or spiritual toughness to succeed in his journey. The apotheosis and the new confidence give balance to the hero and he is now at one with himself- he is at the stage of atonement!! Now a master of the underworld, the hero must return to master the known world.

Of course, an adventure story wouldn’t be entertaining without a temptress to pull the hero off his course. And once off the course the hero will need some supernatural help, by meeting the goddess the hero is pulled back on track. The hero should also bring something back to his family and community. This new gift or power is not always necessary but it is an attribute of the adventure hero and the monomyth hero. All and all, the hero’s journey consists of a dynamic archetypal pattern: (1) Separation, (2) Struggle/ Initiation, (3) Return/Reintegration.