The Hero Cycle

 

THE HERO CYCLE

 

Joseph Campbell came up with the hero cycle in 1949 in his book, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces. This cycle is a complex 17 step cycle that brings a hero through a complete change of character.

The first step of the cycle is a call to adventure. This is when a herald appears to the hero and calls them to a journey. The hero is enticed with promises of danger, treasure and travel to a distant land that could be above the sky, below the ground or even in a dream (Campbell).

The next step is the refusal of the call. Only true heroes refuse at first but in order for them to become self-aware in life, they must in the end accept the call and go on the quest (Ubelhor).

Supernatural aid is the third step. In this step, a figure, usually masculine in form and someone living on the periphery of the community, supplies necessary amulets and advice to the hero to help them on their quest (Ubelhor).

The next step is the crossing of the first threshold. The hero comes to a place of magnified power, beyond which is a dangerous unknown. In this step, it looks like the hero dies (Campbell).

The belly of the whale is the fifth step, where the hero is born again and becomes a new person. At this stage in the adventure the rules have changed for the hero (Ubelhor).

The hero must then submit to intolerable acts where they must put aside pride and virtue in the road of trials. Here, dragons must be slain and victories must be won (Campbell).

The seventh step is meeting with the goddess. Here, a young and beautiful woman teaches the hero an important lesson (Ubelhor).

Next comes the woman as temptress. This is where a woman who represents lust and a lack of spirituality tries to lead the hero off the path (Ubelhor).

Atonement with the father is the next step, where the hero encounters a strong male presence that either literally or symbolically kills the hero. This allows the hero to be born again (Ubelhor).

Apotheosis is the tenth step. This is when the hero is exalted into divine rank. After this, the eleventh step is the ultimate boon. The hero who has been prepared by all the previous steps now receives the object of his quest, be it an elixir or a holy grail, etc (Campbell).

Refusal of return comes next. Here, the hero must return to the real world but is unwilling. Magical flight, the next step, is when the hero encounters their supernatural patron. Then comes rescue from without where the world comes to get the hero (Campbell).

The fifteenth step is the crossing of the return threshold, where the hero reenters society. Next the hero has the freedom to live and pass between both worlds. Finally, the hero is the master of both worlds and is the conscious vehicle of the law (Campbell).

 

            A parallel can be made between the hero cycle concept of John Campbell and the intercultural sojourn process, or culture shock. With culture shock, the stages are honeymoon, crisis, recovery, adjustment, honeymoon at home, crisis at home, recovery at home and adjustment at home (Hart).

            The honeymoon stage of culture shock is when the new culture is still new and exciting (Culture Shock). This is like the crossing of the first threshold in the hero cycle. For the hero, the adventure is still new and exciting and the dangerous parts have not yet been reached so it is still fun (Hart).

            The ordeal stage of the hero cycle is similar to the crisis step in an intercultural sojourn. At this stage, a person must face the alien world that they know very little about. In the hero cycle, the hero also faces an unknown land and must struggle through each trial put his way (Hart).

            Recovery and adjustment can be compared to the ultimate boon stage of the hero cycle. In this stage, the hero succeeds in his quest and retrieves whatever it was that he was sent to get (Hart). For the sojourner, this might include learning some of the language and customs and getting into a routine in their new land (Culture Shock).

            When the hero and the traveler have succeeded in their quest, they get to return home. Both, however, usually are unwilling to do this. They have adjusted to their new surroundings and are comfortable where they are. Both find, however that it is imperative to go home (Hart).

            Finally, as master of the two worlds, the hero has the ability to travel between both worlds without trouble. The sojourner finds this is true about themselves as well. They now can travel to either place and feel comfortable and at home. This is the adjustment at home stage of the intercultural sojourner process (Hart).

           

 

Works Cited

Hart, William B. "The Intercultural Sojourn as the Hero's Journey." Mythsdreamssymbols.com. N.p., 2 Feb. 2005. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

Campbell, Joseph. "Part 1: Chapters 1-4." The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1968. 45-226. Print.

Ubelhor, Anthony. The Hero's Journey Defined. Diss. University of Kentucky, n.d. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Uky.edu. Web. 29 Jan. 2014. .

Culture Shock. New Jersey: Rutgers University, n.d. Print.

"The Hero's Journey." Mythologyteacher.com. Hostblitz.com, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014. .