THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES: Joseph Campbell and the STAR WARS Saga

Perhaps one of the things that interests me most about the story of Star Wars is its use of Joseph Campbell?s monomyth. Not only is this template for the mythological hero apparent in both Anakin and Luke?s respective stories, but it is also present in the stories of many of the other major characters. For those interested, I would like to discuss the various phases and stages that the SW characters go through. Where possible I will include a quick primer for each section from The Hero With a Thousand Faces so that anyone that hasn?t read it or those who do not have a copy of the book can still participate. Also welcome is any discussion from Campbell?s other books or lectures and their relevance to Star Wars or the monomyth.

 

Chapter 1: Departure

Stage 1: ?The Call to Adventure?
Stage 2: ?The Refusal of the Call?
Stage 3: ?Supernatural Aid?
Stage 4: ?The Crossing of the First Threshold?
Stage 5: ?The Belly of the Whale?

---

The first stage of the mythological journey?which we have designated the ?call to adventure??signifies that destiny has summoned the hero and transferred his spiritual center of gravity from within the pale of his society to a zone unknown. This fateful region of both treasure and danger may be variously represented: as a distant land, a forest, a kingdom underground, beneath the waves, or above the sky, a secret island, lofty mountaintop, or profound dream state; but it is always a place of strangely fluid and polymorphous beings, unimaginable torments, superhuman deeds, and impossible delight. The hero can go forth of his own volition to accomplish the adventure, as did Theseus when he arrived in his father?s city, Athens, and heard the horrible history of the Minotaur; or he may be carried or sent abroad by some benign or malignant agent, as was Odysseus, driven about the Mediterranean by the winds of the angered god Poseidon. The adventure may begin as a mere blunder, as did that of the princess of [The Frog King] fairy tale; or still again, one may be only casually strolling, when some passing phenomenon catches the wandering eye and lures one away from the frequented paths of man.

? [i]The Hero With a Thousand Faces[/i], p 58[hr][/blockquote]The above passage sums up what Campbell terms the ?call to adventure? in the departure phase of the hero?s journey. Here the would-be hero encounters a guide, or ?herald,? as Campbell puts it, who, at the same time, is both frightening and fascinating, familiar and unknown.

As we see in [i]The Phantom Menace[/i], Anakin?s guide is the venerable Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn. He comes unexpectedly for Anakin (and himself), and ultimately takes Anakin away to become a Jedi. Campbell remarks that the herald may appear to invite the hero to lead the life he is destined to live, or sometimes the herald?s appearance marks the call for the hero?s death at some later date. In the case of Anakin, Qui-Gon summons him to both live and as we see in [i]Return of the Jedi[/i], die.

Luke, in contrast, is summoned to his journey by R2-D2, who incidentally carries within him a very literal call to adventure. What?s more, it?s important that Leia?s message calls out the name ?Obi-Wan Kenobi? and not Luke?s to come to her aid, but that is discussion for another stage of the monomyth.

Finally, I would like to mention one other hero that receives the call, and I think its interesting that his journey is begun at the same time as Anakin?s, and by the same herald no less. Obi-Wan Kenobi receives his call when he meets the ?chosen one.?

 

I own a copy of this book. It's so good and some of his theories and points are really genius. Joseph Campell is so smart!!! The journey of the Hero is truly a cool. George created one of the best and everlasting heroes, Luke.

 

And Obi-Wan.
Let us not forget Obi-Wan.


Great to see this up, Radio.
Busy today, but looking forward to future discussion in here.


-JR

 

...and Obi Kenobi

 

I have to preface this by saying that I completely disagree with Joseph Campbell. There is not one shred of evidence to support his theories. However, his books did influence Star Wars. Check this out, I wrote it a few years ago:

THE OTHER ?HERO?S JOURNEY?

We all know the pattern by heart, like a sacred incantation, a novena to the imagination: The Call, The Threshold (introducing the Mentor), The Challenges, The Abyss, The Transformation, The Return (bearing gifts). It is the ?hero?s journey? according to twentieth century philosopher and storyteller Joseph Campbell. Campbell believed that all of the world?s stories, or myths, belonged to a single ?monomyth? and collectively expressed the journey every human can take if they choose to, their own ?hero?s journey? into the unknown, and possibly, into their own heaven, which Campbell calls simply ?bliss?.

It is a well known fact that George Lucas was powerfully influenced and inspired by Joseph Campbell?s first book ?The Hero With A Thousand Faces? which introduced his concept of the monomyth and universal hero?s journey. Audiences around the world now recognize the Campbellian hero cycle in the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia and delight in identifying the points of correspondence between Campbell?s ?journey? and Lucas?s cinematic epic.

However, when approaching the more recent ?prequel? cycle of Star Wars films, audiences have expressed confusion. The hero?s journey, seen as archetypal by many, appears to have vanished. In its place is a dense, dark, heavily plotted tragedy which is by turns more fantastical and more pessimistic than the original trilogy. Some have remarked that Lucas is no longer retelling the classic hero?s journey according to Campbell and that the prequels will never have the impact of the originals because of this. However, a more careful reading of ?The Hero With A Thousand Faces?, the latter half in particular, reveals a complex and more fascinating take on the heroic formula and serves to deepen the character of Anakin Skywalker, who will soon be transformed into the dark anti-hero, Darth Vader.

Since this is a fan magazine, I assume an intimate knowledge of the Star Wars saga and its central characters (Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala and Obi-Wan Kenobi) on the part of the reader in the following article.

THE COSMOGONIC CYCLE

The ?hero?s journey? as we have come to know it wasn?t the only such cycle that Campbell posited in his book. He classified the former formula as expressing the deeds of an ?animal-titan? or localized hero whose deeds benefit his own people. However, in the so-called ?cosmogonic cycle? Campbell theorizes a hero who serves to regenerate the entire universe. This universe is eternally degenerating and regenerating itself, an unbreakable cycle of cosmic death and resurrection. This is a wilder place than the world of the local hero, ?as in a dream, the images range from the sublime to the ridiculous?, a perfect description of the surrealistic Star Wars ?prequels?. Into this universe steps the hero, Anakin Skywalker.

The entry of this new hero into the story is of special note to Star Wars fans: a ?virgin birth?. Of course, Anakin enters the world this way. This is no ordinary child ? he astounds with his unnatural wisdom, dream-visions and awareness of the other-world. Campbell points out that this child is often an ?exile?abused?the orphan?. Anakin fits all of these criteria. Furthermore, ?the child of destiny must face a long period of obscurity?a time of extreme danger, impediment or disgrace?. In The Phantom Menace, the child-Anakin undergoes one dangerous trial after another: the pod race, the hangar battle, the attack on the Trade Federation control ship. His impediments include: attachment to his mother, his status as a slave, his age and inexperience. Disgraces include: previous failure to win a pod race, mockery by his peers, his own slave owner betting against him and rejection by the Jedi Council. ?Extraordinary capacity is required to face and survive such experi

 

bad radio!!! Now there's a name I've not heard in a long time, a long time.

 

Worth a look see....

http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/StarWars/start.htm

 

To better understand a character?s call to adventure, one must first recognize the bounds which need to be surpassed in order to start the journey.

With Luke it?s pretty obvious what bonds he must break. It?s ironic that Luke clearly wants more, to go off and join the academy, to participate, as it were, in the grander scheme of things. However, when given the opportunity, Luke balks at leaving his current life behind. Spinning around in his Luke?s head is the voice of his uncle. When asked to help deliver Artoo to Alderaan, Luke flat out says he can?t go because he must help his uncle on the farm. Campbell remarks that for a time the hero will try to return to his existing life. ?A series of signs of increasing force then,? Campbell goes on to say, ?will become visible, until . . . the summons can no longer be denied.? In Luke?s case, he runs across a group of jawas who have been murdered, apparently because of their connection to the droids. When Luke tries to return home, he likewise finds his family murdered. It seems Luke?s ties have conveniently been severed for him, and accordingly he decides to embrace his call to adventure.

 

I have read in some sources that Campbell and Lucas were friends and that he called Lucas "his best student."

One of the first lectures I gave at my FanForce was on this topic, so I really enjoy this.

Lucas is very clever in Star Wars, what he does is transpose Campbell's mythic heroes and situations into a scifi settings.

Of the mythic hero and the hero quest, Campbell said that he/she ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won, then the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow men.

I see this as the Jedi cycle partaken by Luke. He came out from the daily grind, into a world of the supernatural until he won the battle and bestowed a boon, the resurgence of the Jedi Knights, to mankind.

Notice also some of the characteristics of the mythic hero that Campbell mentions:

-He is an orphan.
-He is heir to a tradition. In this case, the Jedi tradition.
-He has special powers
-He follows a set of moral guidelines

Looking at this, we see that both Anakin and Luke fit this mold.

The OT is tightly designed around a typical hero quest with precise stages mapped out. Lets look at these.

1. The call to adventure. Mentioned by bad radio. Luke's quest is brought by heralds of news, in this case the droids.

2. The refusal of the call. This is very typical of a hero's quest. The hero doesn't want to take the quest. (Luke's refusal to go with Ben. )When this happens, the hero suffers somehow, and eventually chooses the quest. (Bru and Owen dying)

3. Supernatural aid. Along the way, the hero often encounters a helper, usually a wise old man, who gives the hero both psychological and physical weapons. Obi-Wan anyone?

4. The crossing of the first threshold. The hero must cross the threshold between his home world and the new world of adventure. In ANH we have Mos Eisley, which is the barrier between Luke's world and the adventure beyond.

5.Descent into the underworld. The hero finds himself in a place of darkness where he begins his true adventure, perhaps discovering his true purpose. Both Death Stars are basically underworlds in space.

6. Initiation. Once in the other world, the hero is repeatedly challenged with mental and physical obstacles that must be overcome. Often these take the form of a test, by which the hero improves his skills and proves his worth.
Most of ESB is taken with Luke's initiation.

7. Atonement with the father. The hero may encounter a father-like figure of patriarchal authority. 'Father' and 'son' are often pitted against each other for mastery of the universe. To understand the father, and ultimately himself, the hero must reconcile with this ultimate authority figure. In Luke's case, he has to confront his literal father, Darth Vader. Notice that Luke seeing his own face in Vader's mask in Dagobah fits this nicely also.

There are many other stages of the Hero Quest that can be added here, but right now I need to teach a class.

 

In order to accept his calling, the limits that Obi-Wan must surpass are those imposed by the Jedi Order. One gets the feeling in The Phantom Menace that Obi-Wan is a very by-the-book Jedi. He might have been content to do nothing more than to ?follow the code? and one day earn a seat on the Jedi Council had it not been for the pairing of himself with the free spirited Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. It is through Qui-Gon?s training that Obi-Wan comes to know that perhaps living by the rules and worrying about what others perceive as ?right? and ?wrong? are not the most important aspects of a Jedi?s life, but rather his actions that come from his heart right here and now might be what is really important.

---

God?s initiative is represented in the inborn, sealed-in soul or ?intelligible character? of the individual at birth; and the initiative, the freedom to act, must thereafter be one?s own, guided not by what other people say, have done, or may tell one is God?s will, but by one?s own interior voice; for indeed (continuing to speak mythologically) it is in one?s sealed-in soul, its hidden, God-given difference from all others, that ?God?s will? has been secreted, to be found and shown, like an Easter egg: and not be retreat to a bed of rapture either in darkness or in light, but through action here in this mixed world (why, otherwise, be born?), where nothing is foul, nothing pure, but all, like a magpie?s plumage, mixed.

? Joseph Campbell, [i]The Masks of God: Creative Mythology[/i], 1962[hr][/blockquote]?I will do what I must??

?You must do what you feel is right, of course??

 

Indeed, my friend.

His early thinking is perfectly illustrated in this exchange with his Master, pre-Qui-Gon's death:

---

OBI-WAN : The boy will not pass the Council's tests, Master. He's too old.

QUI-GON : Anakin will become A Jedi...I promise you.

OBI-WAN : [b]Don't defy the Council, Master..not again.[/b]

QUI-GON : [b]I will do what I must.[/b]

OBI-WAN : [b]Master, you could be sitting on the Council by now if you would just follow the code.[/b] They will not go along with you this time.

QUI-GON : [b]You still have much to learn, my young apprentice.[/b]

[i]-- The Phantom Menace, 1999[/i][hr][/blockquote]

-JR :)

 

I know Luke goes through the Hero's Journey in ANH but even though you have that somewhat feel halfway through TPM with Anakin, it is Padme who follows it in TPM

Call to Adventure - Palpatine's hologram disappearing
Refusal of the Call - Padme says her place is with her people
Supernatural Aid - Rescue by Jedi from Battle Droids
First Threshold - Naboo Hangar (Padme transforms from Pacifist Queen to Brave Handmaiden)
Belly of the Whale - Journey to Tatooine

Trials - Putting Trust in Men (Qui-Gon/Anakin/Palpatine)
Meeting of the God(dess) - Meeting Anakin
(wo)man as the tempt(ress) - Palpatine persuades Padme to call for no-confidence
Atonement with the Fahter - Palpatine's nomination
Sacrifice - Sacrificing democracy to get her planet back
The Ultimate Boon - Making the Senate aware

Refusal of the Return - Going to swamps instead of city
Return Threshold - Battle of Naboo (Padme transforms from Pacifist to Warrior Queen)
Rescue From Without - Sabe-Amidala provides distraction for Battle Droids
Master of Two Worlds - Padme is a wiser leader,
Freedom to Live - Naboo Parade

 

I like how Campbell refers to the Hero's Journey as an observation. He doesn't necessarily display the Hero's Journey as a cookie-cutter formula that needs to be followed, but rather he regards it as simply a path that every hero takes.

 

Cryogenic:

good response =)

cant say i have any more respect for Campbell, but your insight put my bias in check

p.s. 10th grade english was my first encounter with Campbell

 

Well, you're allowed your views, but I do think you were doing Campbell and yourself a disservice by dismissing that quotation so spuriously. But I am with you on the flowery language in a sense: you kinda have to read everything four or five times (I do) just to make sense of what's been said. It's not even so much the words, but the way the words are arranged. Campbell seemed to want to use prose in a poetic sense, turning dry analysis into art. But that has a sort of paradoxical effect, rendering the analysis even drier when people can't make head nor tail of it. Rightly or wrongly, however, I really think Lucas has used Campbell to bring depth and cohesion to his story, perhaps increasingly so with every picture. There is a major shift between the OT and PT in this aspect. But that also means the answers, or a great many pieces of the puzzle, are in Campbell's writings.

 

lol, yeah I agree with that. Campbell: love his ideas, hate his writing style!

 

Although this may all just come down to semantics and nothing more, one way of looking at the Hero's Journey is describing the PT as Vader's journey and the OT as Anakin's! In other words, study the films from the perspective of TRIUMPH for both personas. I am talking about them as abstractions of the full psyche of the Chosen One. It sounds perverse, but as Qui-Gon said, your focus determines your reality. In TPM, Vader is farthest from his quest, in AOTC, he begins to succeed but must endure the "trial" of love, and in ROTS, he finally prospers by destroying that love, bringing the "boon" of tyranny to his society / the Empire. In ANH, Anakin is farthest from his quest, in TESB, he begins to succeed but must endure the "trial" of greed (wanting Luke for dominance), and in ROTJ, he finally prospers by destroying that greed, bringing the "boon" of freedom to the Rebellion. Both halves have completed their journey and the Force is balanced. It's an heretical approach, but it may have merit.

 

Thats pretty insightful/boarderline genius =) Sharp as a tack Cryogenic

This in no way validates Joseph Campbell's lack of actual talent, or his blowhardosity(can't help it the guys a hack)

 

I suppose the point can be made in a single sentence, but is that the point? What you are so quick to chalk up to flowery language, the shrewd reader might find, in contrast, that Campbell is simply bringing together the concepts and stories that he has been writing about up to that point. One of Campbell?s main points in his work is to show the commonality and shared heritage of the stories that have been told and those we continue to tell. In the passage I provided, for example, Campbell is taking Wolfram von Eschenbach?s epic Parzival and using it to illuminate the thinking put forward in Arthur Schopenhauer?s The World as Will and Representation. And the language Campbell adopts to do this is the same language used in the two works, which in turn helps the reader make the link between the two.

 

Although I?ve known it was always there, I?ve never really taken the time to consider Padmé?s respective hero?s journey. One thing I find interesting about her journey is that Palpatine is both the herald and her threshold guardian.

 

Anakin?s call is to become a Jedi and fulfill his destiny as ?the chosen one.? Before he can do this, however, the bonds he must first break are the very literal bonds of slavery. Clearly, this is one of the easiest identifiable aspects of the hero?s journey that can be found in Star Wars.

 

i teach high school and in the spring in my oral comm classes i teach The Hero's Journey. I use a lot of campbell and we go thru the steps and we watch lots of movies and read lots of stories. they always amaze me at how hard the material seems to them at the beginning and as we watch/read the lightbulbs begin to click on. granted, they get campbell from me but they still are getting campbell. their test on this is simple. they have to choose a story/movie we havent covered and trace its steps using thj as a guide. no matter what they pick it always works. the best compliment i get is "you ruined movies for me, Mrs. Byrd. i cant watch anything stupid anymore because it's so obviously stupid. i hate you." yep. that's almost as good as a paycheck.