ipl-logo

Hercules: The Hero's Monomyth

689 Words3 Pages

Many know about the idea of the "monomyth," or the hero's journey as an outline for many of our modern books, movies, t.v. series, etc. Joseph Campbell's definition for the hero's journey is, "the quintessential (or best example) of an archetypal myth." The Disney film Hercules is one of the best examples of Joseph Campbell's monomyth. For instance step one of the hero's journey outline is the Ordinary world. Hercules was born the son to Zeus and Hero. He was a God and the two servants of Hades, "Pain and Panic," kidnapped him as an infant from his bassinet in order to kill him without being stopped. Little does Hades know they didn't really kill Hercules, they only turned him into a mortal human. In order not to get caught, they leave him, …show more content…

Joseph Campbell's states, "Not infrequently, the supernatural helper is masculine in form." (59) Which is this case is true. Hercules supernatural aid is indeed a male. When Hercules first arrives, Phil refuses to train Hercules based on his past disappointments and numerous failures as a trainer. Phil wants to be recognized by the gods as a great trainer and his life long failure turned him to retirement. Until Hercules convinces him to come out of retirement and train him because he can prove himself to be a great hero. This is proof of a turning point, Hercules is in desperate need of some direction so he can return to his true home with the Gods. Whatever Phil provides will serve him is his journey, it will give him the strength needed to begin his quest to becoming a God once again. This exhibits the proper explanation of the fourth step of Campbell's definition of the Monomyth. Another significant as well as final step is The Return …show more content…

He is welcomed with open arms by his father and mother to stay and be with the Gods but denies to stay on Earth with Meg, the woman he loves. Hercules is a true hero and now must return home back to the ordinary world of Thebes, a changed man. The journey he faced not only changed him but gained him so much knowledge, faced Hades terrible dangers and even death on more than one occasion. Hercules looks forward to living his new life with Meg as a mortal man. He has a new hope and understanding of who he is as a person. Not only did Hercules change history but he changed many others perspective on life. With hero's journey having ended, he is given his final reward. His father, Zeus, creates a picture of Hercules in the stars in order to commemorate his true heroism. Things for Hercules will never be the same again. In conclusion, countless people know of Joseph Campbell's definition of a Monomyth. We see the hero's journey outline everywhere in our modern books and movies. Hercules, in the opinion of many, happens to be one of the best examples of Campbell's definition of a

Show More
Related

Hercules: An Analysis Of Hercules's Journey

207 Words | 1 Pages

First, Hercules begins his life hated by Juno (Hera) since he was the son of her husband, Jupiter (Zeus), and a mortal named Alcmene, so Juno attempted many times to kill him and create despair for Hercules. Therefore, she maddened Hercules with a temporary spell and during this he killed his Wife, Magara, and his kids which starts his journey. Then he fled to the forest until he decided to go to Apollo’s temple to search for forgiveness. Once the oracle says to him that Apollo believes that he must complete tasks from the cruel king Eurythesus to make up for what he did wrong; thus, he must leave Greece and his adventure begins. Nevertheless, he is not alone during his journey and gains help along his way from gods, such as Minerva who gives

Read More

The Many-Headed Hydra Summary

655 Words | 3 Pages

The book “The Many-Headed Hydra” is set from 1585 forward through potentially today. The reference to “The Lernean Hydra” one of Hercules twelve tasks to atone for the murder of his wife and children. These struggles made Hercules the perfect embodiment of an idea the Greeks called pathos, the experience of virtuous struggle and suffering which would lead to fame and, in Hercules ' case, immortality. While the book is linear (chronological) in its orders and focuses clearly on one subject matter/topic instead of combining major actions/dissension into blocks of specific time; the authors instead attempted to create their historiographical text in the manner of the New Left historians. The book is written in the manner of a Marxist and Hegelian dialectic (I believe it is framed more as a journey and self-development of the idea – if so, then it would be considered more Hegelian in its nature).

Read More

Comparing The Myth And Hercules's Greek Archetype

440 Words | 2 Pages

There are many heroes in this world. They are also many different stories about the same hero. A great example of one of these heroes is Hercules. His story has been told through movies, such as the Disney classic Hercules, and even in a short story forms Hercules the Myth Archetype. Both of these stories are about the same hero, but they both have different goals or their own quest.

Read More

Hercules In The Film 'The Myth Of Hercules'

459 Words | 2 Pages

Hercules has two different greek archetypes; one from The Myth of Hercules and the other from Hercules the movie. What makes him different in the movie and short story is the way he comes across his quest, dragon, tasks, fear, and how his virtue is. Now that everyone knows the actual story about this strong hero, they can see for themselves how he is different in the two

Read More

Jason: A Comparison Of The Greek Hero In Greek Mythology

926 Words | 4 Pages

Mythology is a collection of myths and stories belonging to a particular belief system or cultural tradition. Even though there are a variety of different myths taught around the world, Greek mythologies are more famously known for their fruitful stories and complex relationships. Greek mythologies mostly concern their gods and heroes such as; Hercules, Achilles, Theseus, and Perseus. Of the many Greek heroes, Jason is the most heroic due to the fact that although he is abandoned at a very young age, he is still able to survive, also he proves to Hera the goddess who hated heroes that he is worthy to be favoured by her, and he completes the impossible quest of the Golden Fleece. Jason is born in a very superior family, having a father who is the lawful king of Iolcus.

Read More

Hercules: Is Hercules An Epic Hero?

382 Words | 2 Pages

November 2015 Hercules a Epic Hero Do you know about Hercules? How he is an epic hero? First off all he is one of Zeus sons very strong and powerful. He was a semi god,

Read More

Hercules: The Most Heroic

448 Words | 2 Pages

Hercules’ heroism rises above that of all of the others as demonstrated by his determination to finish every quest that his tyrannical cousin bestowed upon him along with his evident, everlasting

Read More

Importance Of Hercules In Greek Mythology

944 Words | 4 Pages

In this analysis my main focus would be: why Hercules was famous in Greek Myth? , how did he impact the world and its society? and what lessons can be learnt from him? Hercules, the son of Zeus, was very famous in Greek mythology because he slayed the unbeatable nine headed hydra and the famous Nemean lion. When he was a kid he strangled and killed two venomous snakes with his bare hands and also he was the only warrior in Greek myth who was half god and half human.

Read More

Odysseus As A Hero In The Odyssey By Joseph Campbell

639 Words | 3 Pages

Essay Draft In “The Odyssey” by Homer, Odysseus is trying to get his crew and himself home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. On the journey, Odysseus comes across creatures, dead souls, and gods. “The Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell represents many world-wide views of what a hero is. In the article, it tells about many traits that universal heros seem to always exude in different stories.

Read More

Hercules And Theseus Comparison Essay

333 Words | 2 Pages

Though he may be ridiculously unintelligent and emotionally unstable, he had a burning passion for justice and making things right. No matter how many people he had accidently killed, he always made it right by doing more and more good deeds. He was constantly working to become the best man he could. Though he couldn’t think properly, he was a man of his word. Hercules and Theseus both did great deeds, but Hercules just achieved more because of his strength.

Read More

Comparison Of The Movie 'Hercules'

365 Words | 2 Pages

Hercules’ name was actually Heracles named after Zeus’ wife Hera. He had a mortal mother and an immortal father, which meant half-blood. Hercules was very clumsy and had great strength, which caused him to accidently destroy things even though he meant well in everything he did. Heracles lost control of his temper,

Read More

Paradise Lost And The Hero's Journey Similarities

841 Words | 4 Pages

The main character of a story is oftentimes the one who receives the title of the hero, yet the protagonist in this case is Satan. Labeling him as such typically yields controversy, as one side struggles with moral and religious connotation, while the other applies a more literary interpretation. If this is construed as being the character at the center of Campbell’s monomyth, then Satan would be the hero, as his journey greatly parallel’s that of the Hero’s Journey. Therefore, outside of religion, many may agree that throughout this poem, Satan acts as the hero–regardless of one’s standard definition of that word. The separation stage of the monomyth is marked by Satan’s banishment to Hell, and his decision for revenge towards God.

Read More

Hercules Movie Vs Myth Essay

617 Words | 3 Pages

Hercules is in the way of the great evil plan Hades has made. This fits in with the Christian belief of the ruler of the underworld being evil. The western world paint Hades as the ultimate evil of the movie, and they do not question this. The makers of the movie felt like we needed a villain, and they chose Hades. He fit in the box they put all the villains in, so they chose

Read More

Hercules Movie And Book Comparison Essay

909 Words | 4 Pages

In the book he actually does kill his wife and children because he was under the magic of Hera. The book includes other accomplishments of Hercules’ life when the movie only focuses on this one part in his journey. The book also reveals his attempt at suicide and ultimate death. As previously stated, because the movie must be interesting the writers construct it so that Hercules’ can finally overcome his final deed and be set free from his haunted past when in the original story he dies and gets married for the third time to Hera’s daughter Hebe while in

Read More

Harry Potter Hero Myth Analysis

1131 Words | 5 Pages

Campbell writes about the concept that countless myths all share a basic structure, called the monomyth. In this, the hero of the story undergoes a number of steps in his journey, labelled Departure, Initiation and Return (cf. Ahmed, 2012, 4): (1) In the Departure stage, the hero enters a strange world of often supernatural powers and events, after being called to it in the normal world he’s lived in (cf. Colbert, 2008, 208).

Read More

More about Hercules: The Hero's Monomyth

Related Topics

Open Document