The Hero’s Journey

By: Scott Hargis

• Will Turner Will Turner lives in Port lives in Port Royal as a Royal as a blacksmith. blacksmith. He has a big He has a big dislike for dislike for

pirates.pirates.

The Ordinary World

This is the hero's home environment where his friends and family are

located. The story starts here so that the separation   becomes apparent. This is the land of the "mother"

where the hero feels comfortable. Note that this

does not necessarily have to be a safe environment as

long as the hero feels connected to the

land/people/surroundings

Call to Adventure

• Elizabeth Elizabeth Swann, the Swann, the governor's governor's daughter, is daughter, is kidnapped by kidnapped by pirates. Will pirates. Will Turner goes out Turner goes out to find and to find and rescue her. rescue her.

• There is an awakening of the "self to an unknown, unexpected world. The hero becomes aware of a new, unusual, exciting, forbidden, and/or foreign world. • The hero outgrows his old world. The old concepts, ideals, and emotional patterns no longer fit; the time for passing the threshold is at hand. • Sometimes, chance reveals an unexpected world; therefore, the hero is forced to leave (which may cause some anxiety.)

Refusal of the Call

• There is no refusal of the call.

• Often the hero feels that he/she has it "too good" and refuses to give up all that they currently have (often resulting in the hero being forced to move on). • The hero doesn't understand that the refusal of the call means a refusal to move on in life. • The hero views his present system of ideals, virtues, goals, and advantages as fixed and secure, or the hero is waiting for the perfect call. • Often times the refusal will be encouraged by another character. Obviously, the call will eventually be answered but it is important to recognize all the forces working to keep the character at "status quo."

Supernatural Aid

• The pirate Captain Jack Sparrow used to be captain of the ship that Elizabeth is being held captive on, The Black Pearl. Since he knows of the ship Will is forced to help him escape from jail and ask for help from him.

This can come in the form of a protective figure, usually an elder (old crone or old man.) • Provides the hero with something (physical or mental) which will help the hero move forward in his adventure. Perhaps a sword to fight the dragon or a confidence boost to help the hero believe in him/herself. • Supernatural figures represent a benign, protecting power of destiny. • Represent the forces of the unconscious at the hero's side.

Crossing the Threshold

• Will and Jack steal a ship, The Interceptor, and sail out to Tortuga in search of the Black Pearl and Elizabeth

• The hero ventures into an unknown world which breaks tradition, and the hero meets some dangerous presence. • The hero encounters a "threshold guardian" at the entrance to the zone of magnified power. This guardian stands in the way of the hero moving on to the next area. • Beyond the entrance to this zone is darkness, the unknown, and danger (desert, jungle, deep sea, alien land, etc.)

In the Belly of the Whale

• Will and Jack find a crew in Tortuga and set sail for the Black Pearl. Jack wants to take back the Black Pearl and Will wants to rescue Elizabeth. Will is starting to become more like a pirate.

• Once the hero has crossed the threshold, his old world is destroyed (literally or figuratively). He/she moves into a world of darkness (the belly of the whale) and will not come out until he/she is ready to return (so the hero stays in the belly of the whale through all of initiation). Often times there will be a "deepest part" to the belly. • This stage gets its name from the Jonah story. It is a sphere of rebirth, a realm of darkness; the hero is swallowed into an unknown, womb-like darkness (representing the unconscious). • The hero goes inward (into his own mind) in order to be "reborn

The Road of Trials

• With the help of Jack, With the help of Jack, Will is starting to act Will is starting to act more and more like a more and more like a pirate even though pirate even though he doesn’t like them. he doesn’t like them. He helped Jack out of He helped Jack out of jail, stole a ship, and jail, stole a ship, and is going against what is going against what the Commodore told the Commodore told him to do and sets him to do and sets out to save out to save Elizabeth.Elizabeth.

• Hero experiences miraculous tests or ordeals on the road of trials. There are usually several incidents that affect the hero at this point. The hero will appear weak and vulnerable, but he/she will also begin to show growth. • The hero finds parts of himself he was unaware of and assimilates his unexpected self (psyche). • The "item" that the supernatural aid has given the hero will now start to become useful.

The Meeting with the Goddess

• Will finally saves Will finally saves Elizabeth from Elizabeth from the Captain of the Captain of the Black Pearl, the Black Pearl, Captain Captain Barbossa. Will Barbossa. Will takes Elizabeth to takes Elizabeth to The Interceptor. The Interceptor.

• The hero meets a "goddess" that shows him/her what perfection is truly like. The hero witnesses all that can be accomplished and often times, his/her mission becomes much clearer. The goddess encourages the hero to continue. • This goddess may be a physical person or may be some feminine symbol.

The Woman as the Temptress

• There is no There is no Women as the Women as the Temptress. Temptress.

• The hero meets a presence that attempts to destroy the hero's mission. Often the temptress is sent by the evil forces working against the hero in order to try to stop the hero. • The hero is misled into giving up. "This is the easy way out." "Stop now or you will be destroyed." "Join us; you will be happy here."

Atonement with the Father

• Will is no longer Will is no longer judgmental of judgmental of pirates. He learns pirates. He learns that although his that although his father was a pirate father was a pirate before he died, his before he died, his father was also a father was also a good man. He also good man. He also learns that Jack is a learns that Jack is a good man as well.good man as well.

• Father symbolizes judgment; the hero overcomes fear, judgment, and mental blocks that may have been holding him/her back. • This stage shows growth and the ability to take on adult responsibilities. • Movement from the realm of mother to that of the father.

Apotheosis

• Will realizes that Will realizes that since his father since his father was a pirate, so was a pirate, so is he. He doesn’t is he. He doesn’t have a bad have a bad outlook on outlook on pirates anymore.pirates anymore.

• The hero is in a divine, god-like state (ecstasy). The hero goes beyond the last terrors of ignorance. • Hero recognizes the "big picture" (spiritual understanding can be known). The hero finally understands why he/she has been on his/her journey. The journey is not over, but the hero understands what it takes to return. • The hero becomes free from all fear, beyond the reach of change.

The Ultimate Boon

• When Will saves When Will saves Elizabeth they start Elizabeth they start to get closer. They to get closer. They had known each had known each other since they other since they were children but were children but since he is just a since he is just a blacksmith it wasn’t blacksmith it wasn’t proper for them to proper for them to really be friends. really be friends.

• The hero receives the prize that he/she has been after.

• The boon may come in the form a physical rewards (like the dragon's treasure), but will more importantly include a mental/emotional reward (like inner peace).

Refusal of the Return

• There is no There is no refusal of the refusal of the ReturnReturn

• The hero should bring their wisdom back to their kingdom of humanity. The hero often wishes to remain in isolation with his boon. • Hero can refuse a return; attains or experiences a symbolic "death." • Rarely will a true refusal occur, but often times the temptation to refuse a return is evident.

Magic in Flight

• Jack Sparrow Jack Sparrow pretends to be on pretends to be on Captain Barbossa’s Captain Barbossa’s side but then he and side but then he and Will team up against Will team up against Barbossa and his Barbossa and his crew. Elizabeth crew. Elizabeth comes and helps comes and helps Will and Jack kill the Will and Jack kill the pirates.pirates.

• The hero has his reward, now he must return to safety. There may be forces still working against him/her (possibly trying to get the treasure back that the hero has taken). A "chase" ensues. • The hero usually appears as a changed person by this time. Their final chase is characterized by the hero's confidence and bravery.

Rescue from Without

• Although Jack and Although Jack and Elizabeth were set free Elizabeth were set free from the Black Pearl, from the Black Pearl, Will is still held captive. Will is still held captive. Elizabeth and Jack were Elizabeth and Jack were saved by the Royal saved by the Royal Navy. Elizabeth Navy. Elizabeth accepted Commodore accepted Commodore Norrington’s proposal Norrington’s proposal for marriage only if they for marriage only if they save Will. Elizabeth save Will. Elizabeth saved Will herself, saved Will herself, however.however.

• The world may have to come to retrieve the hero. Attaining the boon has drained the hero and he/she needs assistance in returning. • This is sometimes a blow to the hero's ego, but the hero will recover because he sees the big picture and have accomplished a great deed.

Crossing the Return Threshold

• Will is saved, the Will is saved, the pirates (Captain pirates (Captain Barbossa and his Barbossa and his crew) are dead, and crew) are dead, and when Will gets back when Will gets back to Port Royal, to Port Royal, Elizabeth is promised Elizabeth is promised to marry Commodore to marry Commodore Norrington instead of Norrington instead of him. him.

• There is a difficulty in the hero's return; the world has changed and so has the hero. The hero may not be accepted back to his old world. He may feel awkward in his immediate return. • The returning hero must survive the impact of the world; he may not be able to verbalize the wisdom he has gained through his journey. • The hero conquers the difficulty in returning, showing that he/she is able to adapt.

Master of Two Worlds

• Will no longer is Will no longer is afraid to accept his afraid to accept his pirate background. pirate background. Elizabeth tells Elizabeth tells Commodore Commodore Norrington that she Norrington that she doesn’t want to doesn’t want to marry him and marry him and marries Will instead marries Will instead even though he is even though he is just a blacksmith.just a blacksmith.

• Hero has attained wisdom in both the spiritual and material world (conscious world). • The hero gives up completely all attachment to his personal limitations, hopes and fears. • The hero no longer tries to live, but willingly relaxes to whatever may come to pass in him. • The boon that the hero brings restores the world.

Freedom to Live

• Will saves Jack from Will saves Jack from being hung because being hung because of being a pirate. Will of being a pirate. Will jeopardizes himself in jeopardizes himself in order to save Jack. He order to save Jack. He is not afraid of the is not afraid of the consequences consequences because his because his conscience would be conscience would be clear. clear.

• The hero reconciles the fact the every creature lives on the death of another. The hero understands that it was only through the "death" of his/her former self that the new life was able to surface. • The hero learns never to be afraid of the next moment (destruction or change), he has learned "to be" (exist).

The End