The Hero's Journey

Joseph Campbell writing defines the similar process used throughout many centuries by many author’s to write a heroic journey. This journey begins with the hero making the decision to begin his journey, taking on many tests and trials. In the end, the hero has grown mentally and sometimes physically, never able to return to his previous life. This process of writing the heroic journey is in many ways similar to the writing process in general. This can be seen in many other writings including Hills Like White Elephants written by Ernst Hemingway and Metamorphosis by Kafka.
In the short story, Hills Like White Elephants, a young couple begins the journey into parenthood. As they sit together on the train, they discuss the pros and cons of pregnancy and the role of being a parent. With their discussions, the couple is beginning their personal journey. The back and forth nature of this discussion is similar to the hero’s call to adventure and refusal of the call, as described by Campbell. In these sections, the hero is forced to make a decision of whether or not to leave his previous life behind and go into the world unknown. The man acts as the woman’s mentor with his attempts to persuade her. He states, “I’ll go with you and I’ll stay with you all the time. They just let the air in and it’s all perfectly natural”. He tries to comfort the woman into feeling everything will be fine. This is only the beginning of couples life together, and the start of the hero’s journey.
Metamorphosis delves deeper into the hero’s journey. In this story, a young man, Gregor Samsa, who works as a salesman is mysteriously transformed into a giant insect. The man becomes worried due to his role as supporter in his family and his now inability to work. He is in the stage of the hero’s journey which Campbell would describe as the belly of the whale. At this time, the hero has left his familiar life and entered into a world unknown. The man has physically been consumed by his new form, unable to perform his usual tasks. When Gregor finally dies, his family is released of the burden brought upon them by their son’s appearance. At this time, the hero has entered a peaceful world, along with providing his family with happiness once again. These various stages of the hero’s journey are evident within the writing process.
The need to protect the environment has become a great concern for many people all over the world. This desire to preserve the planet has made many people heroes in their own lives. About two years ago, I was introduced to the dangers of sonar on marine life. At first, I was a little hesitant on taking on such a project. There is such a wide range of information and views on the subject that the task seemed daunting. This would fit Campbell’s sections, those same sections presented in Hills Like White Elephants. Yet as I thought about the paper more thoroughly, I decided it would be smarter to take the time to write about a subject I feel passionate about. I concluded to start the writing process, beginning my journey. As I began the research, again I became weary of my decision. I had entered a scientific world, one way over my education level. I had entered the world of the unknown. After completing the paper, I have realized that I will never be able to return to my previous life without this new acquired knowledge. My complete outlook on the world of marine science has changed. Although this new knowledge has no impact on my day to day life, it has forced me to think about and recognize the need to protect our planet.
Joseph Campbell depicts the hero’s journey, broken down into sections which can fit almost any heroic tale. This journey can be found also in stories which are not always read as if they were about a hero. This can be seen in the short story Hills Like White Elephants and Metamorphosis. The characters are forced to leave their previous lives, those which they have become acclimated with, and enter into an unfamiliar place. This process can also be seen in day to day life, which as a whole becomes a journey. With the creation of the research paper about the effects of sonar on marine mammals, I had entered an unknown world of scientific and conservation information and came out a well informed citizen. Like the heroes described by Joseph Campbell, I will never be able to return to my previous life without taking with me my new acquired knowledge.