Hero's Journey Essay

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Joseph Campbell, the creator of the Hero’s Journey, stated in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, "A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man” (Campbell 30). The idea of the Hero’s Journey that Campbell described is evident in Odysseus’s journey, since he leaves his home to go off into the world of unknown and returns with his elixir or newfound knowledge. Through his travels and experiences, Odysseus undertakes difficult tasks, must survive without support from his family, and is able to grow as an individual. “Ulysses” by …show more content…

He starts the poem by stating that it is meaningless to stay at home “by this still hearth”(2) and “with an aged wife”(3) because he would rather wander, discover new lands, and overcome new challenges. Wandering is much more exciting than simply sitting at home dealing with administrative responsibilities. Ulysses states that he “cannot rest from travel”(6), and yearns to live his life to the fullest. Through his travels, he has discovered a new-found self understanding, and believes he has become a symbol for all who wanders: “I am become a name/ For always roaming with a hungry heart/ Much have I seen and known; cities of men/ And manners. Climates…./Myself not least, but honored of them all”(11-15). His adventures and struggles have taught him to see the “delight of battle”(16), “new things”(28) and caused him to “to follow knowledge like a sinking star”(31). He has learned so much about other cities, cultures, people, dangers, who he is and wants to be: “I am a part of all that I have meet”(18). He incessantly desires for new understandings and yearns to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Moreover, he begins to explain that it is quite monotonous to stay in the same place. Remaining stationary means not being able to continuously learn new things. He does not want to live life like his son “Telemachus”—a common man with “common duties” (40). The poem provides a stiff contrast between Ulysses and Telemachus, as Telemachus is more easy-going and more like a common man than Ulysses: “This labour, by slow prudence to make mild”(36). Ulysses only sees Telemachus’ work as a chore that must be completed. It is simply done for necessity and an income. Ulysses, on the other hand, views his own work as his passion, dreams, and goals. He works because he enjoys it, not because he has to. Ulysses explains that he has endured pain, loneliness, anguish, and the disappointment of never

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