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Compare And Contrast The Hero's Journey In The Wizard Of Oz

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When Jean Houston, visionary leader and teacher, asked Oprah this question she was referring to "the hero's journey," the concept that has been the ongoing theme in all the greatest stories and myths ever told throughout history. In particular, she was referring to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, another one of my all time favorite movies. Even as a child I felt that it was so much more than just a children's fairy-tale. I've always felt a deep spiritual message within it, which is why Dorothy's last line in the movie makes me cry - Every single time that I watch it. All the great narratives are basically the same tale. Star Wars, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, all of them have similar components: A "chosen one" who must go on a mission, a wise mentor who teaches them what they need to know in order to accomplish their quest, and loyal companions who will fight to the death alongside them. Being a girl, The Wizard of Oz was influential for me because most of the heroic tales I had read or heard up until that time featured a male protagonist. …show more content…

A Hero goes out to conquer some foe, either an evil force or an actual villain in order to obtain an important object or completely vanquish the villain so that they can re-establish order in their world. It invariably involves a battle between good and evil. The Heroine, however, goes on a quest to find herself. Like Dorothy, her journey is about finding her own strength and value. In other words, coming to the conclusion that she does not need anything outside herself to validate her

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