Heroes have been praised in every culture throughout the world since the beginning of time. These people rise above the ordinary and set the bar for strength and courage. Joseph Campbell once said,” A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
Joseph Campbell was a well-known author who wrote about the steps of becoming a hero and about the journey an individual goes through in order to become a hero. These steps have been seen in dozens of stories that are known throughout history and many films as well.
Movies such as the Matrix, Star Wars series and the Indiana Jones series, used these steps as a structure for their story. Legends such as the Odyssey, Hercules and others have also been seen with these steps woven into their plots as well.
Campbell’s steps follow the hero from start to finish, allowing us to see the type of obstacles a hero must overcome. Here are only a few of Campbell’s steps to becoming a hero:
THE ORDINARY WORLD: The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress.
THE CALL TO ADVENTURE: Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change.
REFUSAL OF THE CALL: The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead.
MEETING WITH THE MENTOR: The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.
Star Wars is a great example of these steps because of how it follows the steps so closely to the hero’s journey. Princess Leia sends her message to Luke, but he wants to stay on Tatooine to help with the harvest. Luke is later saved by Obi-wan Kenobi from the sand people and Luke is able to escape Tatooine.
These steps are only a few of the hero’s journey from Joseph Campbell’s perspective. If you really want to get his true opinion on a hero’s journey, look at his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces or some of his other works.