Essay on Life, Death, and the Heroic Archetype - 2880 Words

Life, Death, and the Heroic Archetype The heroic archetype is a creative expression borne of the individuals desire to know and to understand the uncontrollable and often chaotic world in which he lives. In the popular culture of America we can find many reflections of the heroic figure; in writing, in the graphic art of comic books, and most certainly in the aftermath of September 11th, heroes are ever present. Our cultural champions speak to our collective need to make sense of the nonsensical and to establish order in both our external and internal worlds. Indeed it is through the internal world of the psyche and the lens of psychological thought that we may gain a better perspective of the fusion of creativity and knowledge that†¦show more content†¦Throughout history and across cultural divides the heroic figure appears, a symbolic expression of mankinds struggle to at once define as well as challenge the boundaries of existence. The stories of mythological heroes such as Herakles and Odysseus survive today not because they entertain us but because they teach us. Speaking of these mythic figures in the essay, Ancient Myths and Modern Man, Joseph L. Henderson writes, Their special role suggests that the essential function of the heroic myth is the development of the individuals ego-consciousness-his awareness of his own strengths and weaknesses-in a manner that will equip him for the arduous tasks with which life will confront him (112). By looking to the hero we are really looking back into the reality of our own state of being, searching for signposts in the landscape of the mythic that will somehow provide texture and traction as we navigate through the obstacles of our daily lives. Through the heroic figure we gain a better understanding of who we are. It is no coincidence then that in our conscious and subconscious journey of self-discovery we have colonized our popular culture with the ethos of heroic myth. In comic books we find reassurance that even those who appear meek and mild mannered may only be a phone booth away fromShow MoreRelatedHeroism in Denis Tedlocks ´ Popl Vuh1107 Words   |  5 Pagesand Seven Death. Xbalanque and Hunaphu then use deceitful actions in order to attain their ideal goal of defeating One and Seven Death. Xbalanque and Hunaphu are the protagonists who use their intellect in the internal battle which enable them to achieve what they are striving for. This format of the hero’s journey portrayed by Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey, states that a hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs on behalf of others, and perhaps even his own life (VoglerRead MoreVogler ´s Monomyth: Typical He ro 1118 Words   |  5 Pagesand Seven Death. Xbalanque and Hunaphu then use deceitful actions in order to attain their ideal goal of defeating One and Seven Death. Xbalanque and Hunaphu are the protagonists who use their intellect in the internal battle which enable them to achieve what they are striving for. This format of the hero’s journey portrayed by Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey, states that a hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs on behalf of others, and perhaps even his own life (VoglerRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by N.K. Sandars and Braveheart, directed by Mel Gibson1248 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout history, there have been countless stories, legends, myths, and tales featuring larger-than-life heroes that metaphorically or even physically go to the ends of the earth achieving heroic feats and gathering companions along the way, each playing their own role in the heros story. Many of these epics have t he same plot structure and similar character archetypes that make these stories stand out from the rest, giving them a distinct and unique style. The story The Epic of Gilgamesh translatedRead MoreWatership Down Heroic Epic Essay1271 Words   |  6 Pagessuch as Hazel, fit the archetype of a hero; they are all courageous, resourceful, and strong-willed. Most people don’t notice that almost all action/adventure movies and novels are the same. All of their stories fit the archetypal pattern of a heroic quest. A heroic quest consists of twelve steps that the hero completes throughout his or her journey. In this essay, I will be explaining the parallels between Watership Down by Richard Adams and the archetypal pattern of a heroic quest; as well as theRead MoreSimba, A Young Lion965 Words   |  4 Pagesapproach, Simba has trouble getting out. After saving him, Mufasa is unable to climb out and falls to his death amongst the stampede. 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One significant archetype that is used throughout theRead MoreThe Iliad And The Odyssey1317 Words   |  6 Pagesrammed it hard[...](Book 9, 148) â€Å"There was one bellwether ram, the prize of all the flock, and clutching him by his back, tucked up under his shaggy belly, there I hung, face upward, both hands locked in his marvelous deep fleece, clinging for dear life, my spirit steeled, enduring[...]So we held on, desperate, waiting for Dawn’s first light.† This immense act of mental strength further proves that Odysseus is on a mission to return home with his crew and him in one piece. While in The Iliad, AchillesRead MoreThe Hero on Fire624 Words   |  3 Pagesthe Capitol are selected randomly to compete in a televised battle to the death. Katniss Everdeen volunteers in the place of her sister when she was chosen to compete in the games. Throughout her journey she undergoes challenges but her courage, bravery, and heroism help her to survive. For this, Katniss can be analyzed in a myth and archetypical by being the hero in the novel. She takes on the roles of the male archetype but also embodies female archetypal characteristics. Additionally, the fireRead MoreHeros Journey Analysis989 Words   |  4 PagesCarl Jung is credited with developing the concept of archetypes to explain that there were universal patterns in all stories regardless of culture or the historical period (REFERENCE). He believed that part of the human mind contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human species (REFERENCE). Academic, Joseph Campbell refined Jung’s theory of an archetype and applied it to a more specific narrative form. So, what exactly is ‘the Hero’s Journey’? Well, the answer lies in Joseph