Joseph Campbell Heroism

Introduction The concept of heroism is present in many literary works and encompasses various other aspects such as morality, selflessness, unity, peace, among others. Heroes present an image of individuals who sacrifice their own well-being for the greater good. In an attempt to describe a hero, Joseph Campbell asserts that a hero is someone who gives up his or her own life for something that is bigger than one is. However, he introduces the concept of two worlds, the ordinary, and the magical or supernatural worlds. A hero goes to the supernatural world and fights enemies who would otherwise endanger the lives of the community in the ordinary world. Various literary works have brought out clear images of heroes based on Campbell's description.

Knowing what the plant could possibly do, Gilgamesh mentions an old man, whom he would like to eat the plant in order to affirm its effectiveness in restoring one's youth. That, itself, is a gesture of Gilgamesh's selfless attitude, which affirms his loyalty towards his people. According to his reaction, he felt that he had the opportunity to make everyone including himself, immortal. In truth, although he was personally seeking immortality, he also thought about the well-being of other individuals in the community. This explains his dedication to his people especially when he puts his needs aside in consideration of his obligation and responsibility as

As a king, Gilgamesh felt that he owed his people and that this commanded service from him. His character satisfies Campbell's definition of a hero on different aspects. First, Gilgamesh moved from an ordinary world to a special one, which was representative of magical powers and occurrences. Campbell emphasizes this as a pre-condition for assessing the heroic attributes of a character in any piece of literature. Possibly, the reason could be that, when in a special world, an individual faces extreme challenges that are beyond their mortal strength. However, their bravery, courage, and determination, give them the strength or power to fight whatever supernatural forces, which may come their way. As an example, Gilgamesh was able to slay a supernatural being, the Bull of Heaven, after refusing advances from a god,