StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Evaluating the Hero's Journey of Harry Potter - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Customer Name Instructor Date Evaluating the Hero’s Journey of Harry Potter Myths and legends are now discredited as a misconception or work of creative imagination. Joseph Campbell, a famous mythologist, discovered that myths, metaphors, and heroes are an indispensable part of any story irrespective of its time or culture (Campbell and Moyers 4)…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.7% of users find it useful
Evaluating the Heros Journey of Harry Potter
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Evaluating the Hero's Journey of Harry Potter"

Download file to see previous pages

We instantly feel connected to the ordinary man, who is destined to turn into an epitome of gallantry, because “what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality” (Campbell and Moyers 4). This is why the pattern of a hero’s journey has always been the same in every period. Christopher Vogler and Stuart Voytilla categorized Campbell’s theory into twelve stages. Amazingly, most of the present age literature and cinematic masterpieces fit perfectly on these stages.

To prove this theory, we need to compare a modern example of heroic endeavor with these stages. This paper is an attempt to evaluate the journey of Harry Potter, the ultimate icon of a mythic hero for today’s generation, in the movie “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. “ The first stage introduces us to the hero's ordinary world. Voytilla describes it as “the Hero’s home, the safe haven upon which the Special World and the Journey’s outcome must be compared” (Voytilla 8).

In this stage, a deliberative effort is made by every storyteller to express the hero’s dissatisfaction with his life. In the movie, Harry is an orphan leading a miserable life under the guardianship of his uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley. Their attitude is hostile and harry live inside a cupboard. Rowling describes his life in the book as “the Dursleys often spoke about Harry, as though he was something very nasty that couldn’t understand them, like a slug” (Mulholland 108).

This aspect of a hero’s life is indispensable because troubled life makes the hero stronger, able to rely on himself, and enhances his decision-making power (Vogler 84). According to Neil Mulholland “Harry is a great wizard. However, often, greatness is bred from childhood strife” (Mulholland 89). The second stage initiates the call to adventure which Campbell believed “signifies that destiny has summoned the hero” (Campbell 48). It could be a call in its literal meaning, or just anything that could compel the hero to leave the ordinary world (Vogler 100).

In Harry’s journey, a call comes on his 11th birthday when he receives a “letter from No One” about being accepted in Hogwarts. Later, Rubeus Hagrid appears at the door and informs Harry that he is a wizard and the time has come to join Hogwarts, the school of witchcraft. Third stage implies the hero’s refusal to the call. It happens because of “the fears and insecurities that have surfaced from the Call to Adventure” (Voytilla 8). Harry’s initial response to Hagrid’s proposal is “I think you must have made a mistake.

I don't think I can be a wizard." Hero’s reluctance is natural because fear of the unknown is human nature. The uncertainty surrounding the task, and the mysterious special world offered is what entices the hero, and restrain him from taking the step as well (Vogler 107). Fourth stage involves meeting the mentor. Voytilla explains that “the Hero meets a Mentor to gain confidence, insight, advice, training, or magical gifts to overcome the initial fears” (Voytilla 9). In every tale, there is some guiding factor, most likely a man or woman, who compels, explains, and trains the hero (Vogler 39).

Harry is mentored initially by Hagrid and later Albus Dumbledore, the principal of Hogwarts. They not only enlighten him

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Evaluating the Hero's Journey of Harry Potter Essay”, n.d.)
Evaluating the Hero's Journey of Harry Potter Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/english/1456598-the-hero-s-adventure
(Evaluating the Hero'S Journey of Harry Potter Essay)
Evaluating the Hero'S Journey of Harry Potter Essay. https://studentshare.org/english/1456598-the-hero-s-adventure.
“Evaluating the Hero'S Journey of Harry Potter Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/english/1456598-the-hero-s-adventure.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Evaluating the Hero's Journey of Harry Potter

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: University: Management Accounting and Financial Management: Vodafone Company Introduction Reward systems are critical in organizations and their impact to the quality of life of people within the organization.... The human resource management is among the most crucial functions in an organization....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Interpersonal communication report

It is a matter of fact that feature films, especially their communication and messages have deep and powerful influence on people.... Films are told to be the most popular communication form and the audience is greatly influenced by their story and communication lines (monologues, dialogues), celebrities and musical performance....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

The Hero of American Fantasy: Rebel in Search of Cause

Several aspects are considered like the uniqueness of American culture, its mythmaking tradition, the theory of hero's journey, the modern myth making tradition of American fiction, common… cteristics of the hero character, the heroic character and relation with other character prototypes , the values that The American Speculative fiction represent, and the American legendarium's influence over other traditions....
40 Pages (10000 words) Thesis

The impact of social media on arab spring

In Tunisia, 20% of the blogs evaluating the then president's leadership on the fateful day he made his resignation significantly shot up from 5% from the previous month.... Dejoe (2009) describes that the introduction of social networks improved better ways of interacting with one another and, therefore, taking people to another level that no one… It is, however, necessary to deal with the traditional ways of interruption, which means setting up other social rules....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Post Event Evaluation

However, the events management in the 21st century has had different manifestations from those in the 19th century.... Major events have continued to be practice in the 21st century as businesses… However, nowadays, events have been widely prevalent as people recognize the need for events due to increased leisure time and discretionary spending have led to a proliferation of Businesses increasingly are supporting events to promote their services and products to the market and for charity activities....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

Performance Management System

The author of this paper "Performance Management System" focuses on the system that can be described as all those activities implemented by an organization to ensure that their goals are achieved.... Reportedly, it focuses on the performance with the aim of achieving its intended outcome....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

The Amalgamation of Literature and History in the Story of Beowulf

This anonymous poem has become a classic piece of literature containing the main element of a hero and his journey towards achieving the most elusive immortality.... The author of "The Amalgamation of Literature and History in the Story of Beowulf" paper discusses the statement that Beowulf's allusive and digressive qualities present to view the mass of half-concealed meanings and the allusions that beg explication....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Cultural Awareness - Evaluating the Social and Cultural Implications of the Internet

… The paper "Cultural Awareness - evaluating the Social and Cultural Implications of the Internet" is a wonderful example of an assignment on sociology.... The paper "Cultural Awareness - evaluating the Social and Cultural Implications of the Internet" is a wonderful example of an assignment on sociology....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us