The hero generally follows a certain series of actions and events in his journey to becoming a hero. These occurrences shape him into the hero that he predestined to be. The hero generally has extraordinary powers from birth, or even conception. ("Transformation" 116). The hero often can claim direct descent from the gods (Austin 110). After his birth the hero must go through three stages in his journey. Each stage contains many sub-stages that not all heroes go through. The three stages of the journey begin with "the departure." This first stage starts with "the call to adventure." In this stage the hero (generally a youth on the cusp of manhood) is called to undertake a journey away from the norm of society and into a new unknown realm (Campbell 52.) The journey may begin as mere blunder, or may be carefully orchestrated. Either way they higher power is strongly involved in the journey at this stage (Campbell 58). Many of the youths called do not wish to embark on the quest. This "refusal of the call" causes the youths life to become meaningless and empty. He becomes "a victim to be saved" (Campbell 59). Once the hero actually begins the journey, He receives "supernatural aid." This aid is usually manifest as a crone or a little old man. This person gives the hero a talisman to help him on his journey. The crone or old man becomes destiny in the flesh (Campbell 69). Once the hero has destiny as his guide, it becomes time for him to "cross the first threshold". At this point, the hero must leap out of the norm of society and into the unknown. Blocking his path are the threshold guardians who attempt to hold the hero in the realm of the norm (Campbell 77-79). The last stage of "the departure" is the rebirth of the hero in what Campbell calls "the belly on the whale." In this stage, the hero is swallowed up in the unknown world, and his old self is dead (Campbell 90).
The second stage of the hero's journey is "the initiation." Within this stage, the hero undergoes "the road of trials." In this part of the journey, the hero overcomes the obstacles that abound, and is transformed. This triumph leads him the second part of this journey where he has a "meeting with the goddess." Here the meets with the goddess (who lives within every woman) and wins her love. This love makes the hero a complete person (Campbell 109-119). The next stage of the hero's journey is his acceptance of humanity and the fact that people are not perfect. It is here that he sees the "woman as the temptress." He must then reject the goddess, because she is not pure, but rather is "the Queen of Sin" (Campbell 120-122). The next stage is the journey is the "atonement with the Father." At this stage the hero believes himself separate from the father, only to discover that they are one and the same (Campbell 147). Next the hero transforms himself in what Campbell calls the "apotheosis". It is here that he discovers that the Immortal is contained within all living things (Campbell 167).
The last part of this stage is "the ultimate boon." In this area, the hero receives a gift of the gods. Sometimes the hero must trick the gods into giving him the gift. In this case the hero becomes the savior of the world (Campbell 182). The last major stage of the journey is "the return." It is part of the journey to return to the world from whence he came. Many heroes refuse this part of the journey. They remain in the realm of the gods, or go to some new place to exist (Campbell 193). If the hero chooses to return to the world of humanity, he is given something to take to humanity to make is whole or better. He embarks on this last part with the good gods support and help (Campbell 196). Sometimes the hero must be brought back from the new realm by someone in the realm of humanity. This "rescue from without" occurs often when the hero doesn't wish to return, but is forced to because he is needed by humanity (Campbell 207). The hero must re-cross the first threshold if he is to return to the world of humanity. It is here that he must discover that the two worlds are in reality one (Campbell 217). It also is shown to the hero that no one cares about what he has discovered. The old ways remain, and he is separated from the world that he must now try to survive (Campbell 218). By knowing that the two worlds are one, the hero fulfills the next part of the journey. It is here that he becomes "the master of the two worlds." He controls his destiny, by choosing to be anonymous and without self-interest (Campbell 236). The last part of the hero journey is the realization that he lives and is part of the world. This allows him to just be in the world and to not worry about what will come (Campbell 243).
Austin, Norman. Meaning and Being in Myth. University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1990. 110.
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New York: MJF Books, 1949. 50-243.
Campbell, Joseph. "Transformation of the Hero." Making of Myth. Ed. Richard M. Ohmann. New York: GP Putnam's sons, 1962. 99-130.