MAYURESH MORE

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REFLECTION PAPER (HS 201: WORLD CIVILIZATIONS)

In this paper, I’ll provide an argument about the Power of Myth - Hero’s Adventure by

Joseph Campbell and how it has to do with everyone’s life. I’ll also attempt to explain how the

myths play a part in the smooth functioning of society and their importance.

The Hero’s Adventure is a symbolic script of everyone’s life. I believe that the Hero’s

Journey is portrayed in every culture as something extraordinary to draw the people’s attention

towards it. Human beings created civilizations after the came together as a society. We have

discussed it in class as to how primitive humans formed small societies because of common

interest. However, these societies saw their own problems. As human beings grew more conscious,

there was a need to understand the environment – an innate curiosity that demanded to be

quenched. There were also problems that an individual face relating to his existence. An individual

was indecisive of his life or is unable to overcome the hurdles in his life. Thus, an individual finds

himself troubled by his thoughts and cannot live his life to the fullest. A society is formed from

individuals and for the smooth functioning of a society, it requires its individuals to be

psychologically fit. In this scenario, it is very difficult to provide answers to the individual’s woes

as also it is important to attend to them. This is where, the need for a myth arises. If we enquire

into the propagation of a myth, we see that a myth is usually an age old story that is passed on by

our ancestors and that glorifies a certain hero.

Campbell and Jung identified certain characteristic structure to a Hero’s Journey. I noticed

that it had certain elements that concern our lives as well and that these elements were simply the

exaggerated, symbolic versions of elements in the Hero’s tale. The Hero, as Campbell puts forth,
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is a symbolic representation of our self who is ready to take a journey, and adventure into the

unknown. I view this as the person who is on the brink of exploring himself and who has been

riddled by the questions of his own existence. The Hero’s journey is an outward journey to

unexplored places. In an individual’s case, however, it is an inward journey to his own unconscious

that brings up new attributes (treasures) and a sense of realisation. It gives the individual a stable

state. However, this means that a Hero has to go through a hard path in life. These stories told to

us by the society appeal to us to go through a similar hard path as the Hero to achieve the peace of

mind. It encourages us to go walk the hard path as the Hero did. Surely, everybody wants to be a

Hero. Everyone’s stable state of mind is different and hence it cannot be shown to an individual

but he/she has to find it.

An important element of a Hero’s Journey that Campbell missed upon and which is

highlighted by many folklore is that of “destiny”. Campbell talked about the choice to undertake

an adventure and how one can reject undertaking an adventure. As we have established that an

adventure, although a tough path, leads to the emergence of a better self. Thus, it is on the part of

good to encourage individuals to undertake that journey. To facilitate this, the myths usually have

a sense of “destiny” wherein individuals are made to feel that they are the “chosen ones” and that

the higher powers themselves are aiding them in their task. All these myths related to a Hero’s

adventure are thus a symbolic representation of the transformation of self.

The myths surrounding a Hero’s tale are guiding stones in case of moral crises when an

individual might find himself/herself at crossroads and worry too much of the questions. It also

serves as an explanation of the inexplicable of which the individual and the society as a whole will

be convinced about and will thus refocus on the more important things in life. Humans are anxious

creatures – evolution has made sure of that. To relieve them from this anxiety, the myths are
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developed. We find ourselves troubled by uncertainties in life. In such a case, a placebo puts us on

track. The fear of the unknown is thus reduced by telling them ambiguous truths which they

comply to. Thus, myths put an end to anxiety and make a truth appear more digestible.