Hero

December 2021
Hamilton, New Zealand

What is a hero?

The word hero literally  translates to "defender" or "protector" and is commonly meant to describe a person who is admired for great acts or fine qualities (1). Many different kinds of heroes have existed throughout history.

Mythic heroes, such as Gilgamesh, Sun Wukong, and Beowulf often aimed at classical goals such as riches, glory, and honour. Gilgamesh was a hero of ancient Mesopotamia, a demigod of superhuman strength who was "two thirds divine and one third mortal" (2). Sun Wukong, the "Monkey King," was a hero of China, a monkey possessed of supreme strength, speed, and fighting skill who acquired the 72 Earthy Transformations, which encompased 72 unique powers, such as the ability to morph into other animals and objects (3). Beowulf was a legendary hero of Old England who was boastful, manly, strong, and possessed great courage, which often resulted in him confronting monsters more powerful than himself and slaying them in interesting and innovative ways (4).

Historical heroes, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Erwin Rommel, tended to be in the "right place at the right time" (or wrong place, wrong time depending how one looks at it), caught within a larger event over which they had little control. King was an American Baptist minister and hero of the civil rights movement, a man who chose to advance his cause through nonviolent protest and civil disobedience (5). Rommel was a German general and national hero of World War II, a man known for his chivalry on the battlefield and implicated in the 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler (once discovered, he was given the choice of committing suicide or being disgraced in a public trial and execution; he chose the former) (6).

Superheroes, such as Superman and Captain America, are fictitious heroes with superhuman powers who perform selfless acts for the greater good. Superman is a man alienated on a different planet (as his own planet was destroyed) who wears an eye-catching costume, emblazened with a symbol, and uses his extraordinary powers for the benefit of humanity (7). Captain America is a man alienated in time (having been trapped in ice for half a century) and enhanced to peak human abilities by a serum which, combined with his pre-existing tactical abilities, sense of morality, and refusal to back down from any fight, allows him to engage (and often defeat) more powerful opponents (8).

Gilgamesh, the prototypical mythic hero.

Martin Luther King Jr., the prototypical historical hero.

Superman, the prototypical superhero.

Of all these heroes, the mythic heroes have exerted the most profound influence on the shaping of cultures and societies.

Hero's Journey

The monomyth of the hero's journey is a common narrative pattern expressed by many myths from a variety of cultures around the world (9). In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (10), American literature professor Joseph Campbell analyzed numerous stories involving mythic heroes, and found the hero myth marrative tended to share a series conssiting of 3 acts, with the acts separated into 17 stages.

The first act, Separation, concerns the hero's origins. The would-be hero, who lives in a distant place, receives information interpreted as a Call to Adventure, so he heads into the unknown. Often, for a range of reasons, there is an initial Refusal of the Call. But once the hero commits to the adventure, he is provided with Supernatural Aid in the guise of a magical guide or assistant, which may represent the power of the unconsciousness, Mother Nature, and destiny itself, all of which support the endeavour. The next stage is The Crossing of the First Threshold, where the hero first leaves the known limits of his previous world, entering the unknown. Finally, there is The Belly of the Whale, the final separation of the hero from their previous world (and self), which represents the hero's willingness to undergo a metamorphosis; this stage can involve a minor danger or setback.

Campbell's book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (10).

The second act, Initiation, concerns the bulk of the hero's quest. The quest starts in earnest with The Road of Trials, a series of tests that must be completed for him to undergo his transformation; there are usually three such tests, and the hero may initially fail one or more of the tests before eventually passing them. Then, there is a Meeting with the Goddess, where the triumphant hero's soul must win a boon, or love itself, from a remarkable woman. The next stage is Woman as the Temptress, during which the hero faces a series of sensual temptations (which are not necessarily represented by a woman) that may lead him to abandon his quest. And if the hero passes this stage, the next is Atonement with the Father, with the hero confronting and being initiated by some sort of "ultimate power" (which is not necessarily a male figure, just an entity with indefatigable power), which must be overcome. If the hero conquers this entity, there is an Apotheosis in which greater awareness and wisdom is achieved. Finally, there is The Ultimate Boon, a stage whereby the ultimate goal of the quest is realized; it is usually an item or some aspect of knowledge that extends or trascends life itself.

The third act, Return, concerns what happens after the hero's goal is achieved. First, a Refusal of the Return - with the hero having found enlightenment in the other world, he often does not want to return to the ordinary world. There may be a Magic Flight as he escapes from the other world with his boon, which others may also covet. There may also be a Rescue from Without, with a guide or assistant aiding the hero as he may have been weakened by his ordeal. Once he has returned, the hero faces The Crossing of the Return Threshold - he must retain the wisdom gained on the quest; not only that, he must figure out how to share it with the rest of the world. The next stage is Master of the Two Worlds as the hero finds the balance between worlds, which may represent a balance between material and spiritual worlds. The final stage is Freedom to Live, with the hero now freed from fear of death, thus now free to live in the moment, neither regretting the past nor worrying about the future.

According to Campbell, there are 3 acts comprising 17 stages in the hero's journey (11).

This is the monomyth of the hero's journey, a story passed down through countless generations and cultures.

Hero's Solace

If one reads more about the examples and stories provided above, it will become apparent that the hero's journey rarely confers any immediate benefit upon the hero himself. For even if the quest is completed, the hero is forever changed, and often irrevocably damaged in some way. There is no changing this fact; the hero accepts it as one of the many costs of his journey.

Many would-be heroes do not realize this fact before setting out on their journey. Whatever the initial reasons for embarking on the quest may have been, in the end, the hero rarely finds the solace they were seeking.
​
But sometimes, he finds it for everyone else. Sometimes, even for all of life itself.

​Solace.

References
(1) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero.
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgamesh.
(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_King.
(4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf.
(5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.
 (6)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Rommel.
(7)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman.
(8) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America.
(9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey.
(10) Campbell. 1949. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Pantheon Books.
(11) https://www.yourheroicjourney.com/rethinking-campbell-when-stages-are-not-stages-2/.