The Hero's Adventure

For an overview of Campbell's ideas on the Hero, I looked at Chapter V of The Power of Myth.  This book is a conversation between journalist Bill Moyers and Campbell, and was published shortly after Campbell's death.  If you like the book, I would strongly recommend the DVD as well.  It is charming and both men are obviously so fond of each other.  Moyers is rather a fanboy, which is cute for someone of his stature.  It's nice to think that no matter who you are, there's someone you can look up to.

Campbell develops the idea of the hero as an analog for the journey of life.  Moyers asks, "Why are there so many stories of the hero in mythology?" and Campbell replies, "Because that's what's worth writing about."  I think that one of the things we forget, especially those of us who read and analyze literature at a high level, is that, ultimately, the author is trying to convey to us some truth about life, some piece of wisdom.  For me, that is the disconnect of post-modern literature.  Because it sees so little of truth left in the world, it fails to connect to the deep yearning for meaning and understanding.  As Campbell sees it, the hero's journey, whatever its initial purpose, is always ultimately a spiritually transcendent experience.  He refers to childbirth as a heroic journey.  To motherhood as a heroic journey.  Moving out of the known and out of convention in order to undertake a transformative journey.  

One of my favorite Campbell quotes starts this chapter: "Furthermore, we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us.  The labyrinth is thoroughly known.  We have only to follow the thread of the hero path, and where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god.  And where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves.  Where we had thought to travel outward, we will come to the center of our own existence.  And where we had thought to be alone, we will be with all the world."

I hope that as you go through the day, you will find the hero in you.  Whatever your road of trials, know that there is a purpose and, hopefully, an apotheosis as well.  Campbell would say there is no "hopefully" about it.  This is the pattern.  It has been foretold.