Why the Journey?
Something as common and as simple as a character's journey can be overlooked. I chose the archetype of the hero's journey or quest because I found throughout the course that the journey is not always as obvious as physically getting from point A to point B. The archetypal journey can involve a physical or internal quest. There is so much more to the archetypal journey and I had never really noticed the common thread of elements. I was interested in the archetypes ability to shape and create quests for the hero that was fitting to his/her society and culture. Some of the overarching characteristics of Gilgamesh's journey in The Epic of Gilgamesh and Odysseus's quest in The Odyssey, are similar to those in modern day hero journeys. The journey of a hero is what evolves the hero into a hero. We often overlook the complexity of a hero's journey because it is expected or sounds familiar. Every hero is different and their journey is created to cultivate their divine purpose. When thinking of the characteristics of an epic hero or even a current hero, there are various things one must embody. It is only because of the elements of the hero's journey, does the audience realize that he/she is indeed a hero. The archetypal journey is just as, if not more, important than the hero!