The Hunger games

WARNING: This Outline will have plot spoilers.

Until recently I knew nothing about the Hunger Games. All I knew was the film was an adaptation of a popular books series with a growing following in the young teens demographic. At first I was a bit weary of such a story since it sounded an awful lot like Twilight. But When I saw the film I came to realize that the Hunger games was a story far more rich in subject and depth then most films today.

The Hunger games takes place in a future dystopian world of Panem where the former U.S once was. Here rules the highly advanced metropolis simply called the Capitol. This region holds absolute control over the rest of the nation with comprises of 12 surrounding districts. To assert their control, the Capitol holds an annual Hunger Game where one boy and girl from each district are selected to compete in a televised death match where only one person can survive.

The story revolves around sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen. She lives in one of the poorest districts of Panem. When her sister is chosen for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and Peeta, the other chosen contestant, are whisked away to the Capitol to be prepared, trained, and compete in the futuristic gladiator games.

Once again as like many heroes, Katniss has an internal and external conflict to resolve. The first more obvious conflict is that she must survive the Hunger Games to return to her family. The more internal emotional conflict Katniss struggles with is retaining her humanity even while she is forced to kill in order to survive.

Ordinary world: The story begins in the poor coal-mining region of District 12. Here Katniss lives with her distraught mother and younger sister, Prim, who she watches over as main caretaker. Katniss is a skilled archer who hunts game to support her struggling family.

Call to Adventure: The time comes for the Capitol to choose its annual Hunger Game contestants from District 12. Katniss and her younger sister, Prim, are put into the lottery. When Prim is chosen for the game, Katniss storms the stage and volunteers.

Crossing the Threshold: Kat boards the train for the Capitol. She leaves behind the poor, dark, colorless world of District 12. There she finds a bountiful feast has been set up for her and her partner Peeta. The food is far more opulent then anything she has been used to back home. The train then arrives in the Capitol which is a beautiful wealthy metropolis inhabited by colorful people.

Mentor: As part of the Hunger Games tradition, the contestants are trained by those who had survived the game. Katniss is instructed by drunken mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, who was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games. At first he is ambivalent that she is worth his time. But he soon sees her potential and works to ready her for the games while drumming up support from the Capitol population.

Training/Road of trails: There are many challenges Katniss must complete through the story. First she must prove her worth to her mentor and then to the people of Capitol city. Without their support she'll have a difficult time surviving the Hunger Games. Then comes the challenges and dangers once she's in the games. Katniss also needs to deal with the fact that Peeta has claimed that he has feelings for her.

First Transformation: In the first stage of her physical transformation, Katniss is cleaned up and dressed up for the game parade where the contestants are shown off to the world. As her training progresses, Katniss undergoes an emotional transformation. She realizes that she needs people to like her in order to survive the games. She becomes more open and personable with others and makes friends with Peeta and wins over the people of the Capitol. These alliances will prove useful in the trials ahead.

Second Threshold: The contestants are loaded into a transport ship and moved to the isolated forest arena. There the games start and Katniss is seemingly on her own to survive.

Shadow figures: There are two forces Katniss must face in the course of her quest. First she must obviously defeat the other contestants of the Hunger Games is she is to be the sole survivor. But Katniss' other more greater foe in the story is the system. The cold calculated forces that control the Hunger games and force kids to kill each other for sport. This enemy is only hinted at in this film but will probably be flushed out further in future films.

Ordeal/Crucifixion&Dismemberment/Rebirth: During the game Katniss is injured many times. These injuries take their tole on her. But every time it seems like the wounds have bested her, her mentor Haymitch sends her supplies to get her going again. She is healed and ready to fight again.

There is also emotional scaring she faces. In the course of the game she befriends a small girl named Rue who reminds Kat of her sister. She tries to protect the young girl but Rue is killed by another contestant.

Belly of the Beast: Katniss and Peeta are reunited again but he is badly hurt. The two resolved to survive together and hide in a deep cave. Katniss tends to his injury and Peeta confronts her about his feelings toward her. There Katniss is confronted with her own feelings for Peeta and accepts them. But are these feeling genuine or is she with Peeta to drum up support from the Capitol audience?

Apotheosis: When the pair exit the cave, they must face their greatest challenge yet. Wild dogs have been released into the arena. Once they escape the beasts, they're confronted by the final contestant. The pair defeat him and seemingly win the game.

Temptation: As Kat and Peeta are the last two contestants of the game, the game announcer orders Kat and Peeta to kill each other. Only one can survive. The pair instead resolve to eat deadly berries rather than kill each other. When the gamemakers realize the two intend to commit suicide, and that two winners are better than none, they announce both Kat and Peeta victors of the Hunger Game.

Ultimate Boon: Kat and Peeta are returned home as allies and heroes. They have overcome the games and, to an extent, the cold unseen shadow figured to control it.

Let the Games begin.

Next up in my films to be reviewed is "The Hunger Games'. I just saw this film in theaters yesterday and really enjoyed it. It was only later when I went home that I started seeing parallels between Campbell's heroes journey and the film. There will be SPOILERS in my outline but its hard to spoil a film when there's a best selling book about it already out.

Casablanca

Casablanca Is one of those classic films you just can't hate. Is it any surprise that this gem of a film also has all the staples of a hero's journey as well?

The film takes place in 1941 during World War 2. The story centers around cynical saloon-owner Rick Blaine who's secret painful past catches up with him. He's a cold man who only looks after himself. However as the story progresses and Rick falls in love again, he softens up a bit. In the end, Rick must choose between love and doing his patriotic duty.

Rick's basic conflict in the film is between selfishly doing whats best for himself or sacrifice for the greater good. There is also the internal conflict of Rick dealing with his past. First he must deal with the fact that Ilsa, the woman he once loved who scorned him, has returned in his life. But Rick must also deal with the fact that he was once an freedom fighter and still has the urge to fight the good fight against tyranny. His encounters with Ilsa's husband, legendary hero Victor Laszlo, rekindles Rick's idealist nature. Both Ilsa's return as well as Laszlo's influence help bring about change in Rick's life and his persona.

1) Ordinary world: Casablanca, Africa in 1941. During World War 2, The Nazi Shadow force threatens the security of the whole world. It was in this climate that refugees from Europe flood into the African city looking to escape to America. In Casablanca, Rick makes a decent living running his popular nightclub. He's a cold secretive cynic of a man who looks after himself only.He is an anti-hero who's cynical shell protects his broken heart, his inner conflict.

2) First Call to Adventure: (Journey of the Higher Cause) Rick's associate Ugarte, a black market trader, gives him stolen visas for safekeeping. These rare items are sought after by the Nazis and local police who arrest Ugarte before he can recover them from Rick.

3) Herald/Mentor: Rick is approached by his friend Captain Louis Renault who notifies rick of the coming Czechoslovakian resistance leader, Victor Laszlo and his beautiful wife. Renault acts as Rick's mentor in a way. He's an ideal model for being cold and unsympathetic as Rick tries to be. Also he see's Rick for who he really is. An sentimentalist. He warns Rick not to get involved with Laszlo.

4) Refusal of Call: Rick agrees not to get involved with Laszlo or help him escape Casablanca

5) Accepting the call: Rick eventually dons become involved with Laszlo's cause against the Nazi's and helps him escape Casablanca.

6) Second call to Adventure: (Journey of the Heart) Laszlo wife Ilsa turns out to be Rick's former lover from Paris who abandoned him. Rick encounters Ilsa and he fights to hide the well of emotions her arrival sparks.

7) Refusal of the Call: Rick pretends that Ilsa's arrival does not bother him.

8) Accepting the Call: Rick realizes that he still loves Ilsa and wants her back.

9) Belly of the Beast: In a darkened room Rick drinks his sorrows away. There he realizes his greatest fear, that his past has caught up with him.

10) Ordeal/Crucifixion&Dismemberment/Rebirth: In a flashback we see the Paris romance between Ilsa and Rick. The two plan to escape Paris before the Nazis invade but Ilsa abandons Rick at the train station with nothing more than a goodbye letter. This experience is what caused rick to go from an idealist freedom fighter to a cold-hearted cynic.

11) Road of Trails: (Journey of the Higher Cause) Through the film, Rick's decision to not help Laszlo and Ilsa escape Casablanca is challenged and weakened. First Rick is pressure from the Nazi's helps Rick see the danger Ilsa, Laszlo, and himself are in. But the real trial comes when Laszlo confronts Rick to buy the visas. In this moment Rick not only see's that Laszlo is a good man who love Ilsa dearly, but has the flames of his inner freedom fighter stoked by Laszlo's passionate words. In this scene Laszlo becomes Rick's mentor in the ways of being a true hero. Laszlo even asks him to use the visas to escape with Ilsa in order to ensure her safety. Rick is moved by this noble sacrifice. With each one of these trials, Rick gets closer and closer to returning to his idealist roots. Laszlo is soon arrested and Rick must choose what to do next.

12) Road of Trails: (Journey of the Heart): As the film progresses, Rick tries to win Ilsa away back. However at every try she refuses him. But finally when she is forced to decide whether or not to kill Rick for the visas to save Laszlo, she breaks down. He finally confesses her love for Rick and explains why she left him in Paris. With this Rick is finally able to forgive the past pains but is now faced with a hard choice about what to do next.

13) Temptation: With Ilsa's confession of love, Rick is tempted to run away with her and leave Casablanca, Laszlo, and the troubles of the world behind. Whether or not Rick will give into that temptation is a mystery to the vary end of the film.

14) Apotheosis: After Laszlo's arrest, Rick acting as a shape shifter convinces Renault to release the freedom fighter. That night at the cafe Renault attempts to rearrest Laszlo but Rick intervenes wearing acting as the Hero finally. He demands the safe passage for Ilsa and Laszlo to the airport.

At the airport Rick decides to make his own noble sacrifice and sends Ilsa away with Laszlo. He realizes that they must all accept the call to the higher cause. Without Ilsa's support and love, Laszlo cannot fight the evil Nazis.

15) Ultimate Boon: Ilsa and Laszlo escape Casablanca and Rick is redeemed as a hero and patriot.

70 Years and still so Good

I figured with the 70th anniversary of Casablanca coming up that maybe I should pay homage to one of the greatest films of all time. So this week I'll be giving Rick the hero's treatment with a hero's journey outline of his own. Planning to have it up online sometime Saturday.

All in Good Time

Sorry for the delay in my posts. My own hero's journey has been a bit hectic lately. In the future I'll try to be diligent with getting outlines online.

Anyways.. onto the next film. In Time


As mentioned in an earlier post, the story takes place in 2161 where genetic alteration has allowed humanity to stop aging at 25. However people are required to earn more time after turning 25 or die within a year. In this future time is money and society has been split between two vastly different class systems. Those poor who work constantly just to add mere hours to their lives and those rich who live forever without having to work at all. The film revolves around character Will Salas who is born in the ghetto working just to survive another day. When he is given the chance to leave his meager existence and live among the rich, Will discovers the injustice in society and decides to rebel against it.

This isn't the most deeply philosophical film besides the interesting reflection of the economic divide in our society. However, like most films, there are two key conflicts present in the film. One external and one internal. The external conflict being Will versus the system. Will feels outraged by the huge class divide in society and fights to disrupt the system. The internal conflict is with Will's motives. Is he robbing the rich for his own profit or the profit of his people? Will's motives flip-flop through the film until the end when he has to decide to survive or sacrifice himself for the cause.

1) Ordinary World: 28 year old Will lives a meager life in the ghetto of Dayton. He lives with his mother and works as a poor factory employee who only about a day left on his time clock until he dies.

2) The Call to Adventure/Mentor: Will meets 105 year old Henry Hamilton in a bar. The stranger has nearly unlimited time on his clock which makes him a target in the ghetto. Will saves Henry from nearly being time robbed and the two take refuge in an abandoned factory. There Henry reveals the truth to Will saying, “For few to be immortal, many must die.” He continues stating that there is plenty of time to go
around and that no one needs to die. That night Henry transfers over all his remaining time to Will, killing himself in the process.

3) Refusal the Call/Accepting the Call: At first Will doesn't think much of what Henry has told him and sees the extra time added to his clock as a bad thing likely to get him robbed/killed. But when his mother runs out of time and dies, Will decides to take the extra time given to him and put it to good use.

4) Crossing the First Threshold: Will leaves his poor Dayton toward his new life in the big city. On the way he must pass through several boarder check points that tax his time. Finally he reaches his destination of Greenwich city. This city populated with the wealthy and immortal is a total opposite of Will's Dayton.

5) Road of Trials: Will has several challenges to test his skills and resourcefulness. First there's the poker game against millionaire Weis where he bets all his time, risking his own life, in order to win a huge pool. Then there are his numerous escapes from both timekeeper police and gangs trying to steal his time. Finally there are the bank robberies where Will takes time and gives it out to the poor in a very Robin Hood sort of way.

6) Crucifix- Will's 'scarring' comes at the point in which Will is captured by Timekeeper Leon and gets his time confiscated by the police. In a scene they strip him of his life leaving his at the brink of death once again. It is after this encounter that Will is reborn into a life devoted to fighting the system.

7) Temptation: While As Will and his partner Sylvia rob time banks and amass a vast amount of time they contemplate running away together and living forever. However they would have to abandon their mission of fighting the status quo. They continue fighting the system and instead give the time away to those who need it most.

8) Apotheosis: Will and Sylvia pull off a daring robbery of 1 Million years. Pursued relentlessly by Timekeeper Leon and with their time clocks running out, they manage to get the time to the ghetto and selflessly give it out to the people. On the brink of death with their lives ticking away to zero, they are captured by the Leon who holds them at gunpoint. However his time clock runs out first and he dies immediately. Will and Sylvia make a desperate run for it and are barely able to find time to keep themselves alive another day.

9) Ultimate Boon: With the surge of 1 million years floating around the ghetto, the poor are able to rise up. Factories shut down and people begin leaving the ghetto for Greenwich. The wide divide between the classes has been taken down and the system destroyed. Will and Sylvia have survived the ordeal, won a huge victory for their goal, and now head to rob yet another bank.

Gunslinger Journey

Unforgiven is a story of revenge and one man's struggle to overcome the darkness within. The story revolves around Will Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after he had hung up his guns and turned to farming. After many years of bloodthirsty killing, Munny was reformed by his late wife who 'cured him of drinking and wikedness'. Now in his old age Munny is forced again to kill for money in order to save his struggling pig farm.

The film centers around two conflicts. First there's the outer conflict of Munny's gang versus the Cowboys and Little Bill. Then there's the inner conflict of Munny struggling to deal with his shadow self. He main quest through the film is to complete the task of killing the cowboys without reverting back to his wicked ways or forgetting the lessons of his wife.

1) Ordinary world: 1880, Wyoming. Will Munny is a pig farmer and father who lives the simple life tending to his struggling pig farm. He honors the memory of his late wife by holding fast to her lessons of morality and 'right living'. He resolved long ago to leave his old life of killing behind.

2) The Call to Adventure/ Herald: One day Will is visited by a young gunslinger calling himself The Schofield Kid. This Herald speaks of Will's past sins and calls him to join in a quest. A prostitute in a town called Big Whiskey was attacked and cut up by a pair of cowboys. The kid seeks revenge and payment by killing the cowboys.

3) Refusal of Call: Will refuses the kid's offer on account of his reformed ways. He claims he no longer kills for money.

4)Accepting the call: Munny realizes that his struggling family needs the money from the killing job. Alone in his room, Will puts away his wife’s photo (representation of her lessons) and pulls out his old pistol (representation of killing and his old ways).
Crossing the First Threshold:Will leaves his home.

5) Road of Trails: Munny and his gang undergo many trials. First Will must convince the kid to allow his partner Ned to join the quest. Then he and Ned test the kid's eyesight. Then there's the ordeals of killing the two cowboys.

6) Crucifixion&Dismemberment: When the boys enter the saloon at Big Whiskey, Will, stricken by the flu, is confronted by the threshold guardian and shadow Sherif Little Bill. He is beaten to near death and kicked out of the saloon.

7) Temptation: when Will finally heals after his beating, he's offered a 'free one' by one of the prostitutes who feels sorry for him. Seeing that this would go against the lessons of his wife, Munny refuses the offer.

8) Second Crucifixion&Dismemberment: While going through their trails and ordeals Munny's gang are traumatized by murdering. In a way each man is emotionally crucified. Ned leaves the quest realizing he can't bring himself to kill anyone anymore only to be captured and murdered by Little Bill. The Kid makes his first kill but is sickened by it. And Will draws closer and closer to his shadow self with every kill he partakes in.

9) Apotheosis: When a prostitute herald comes to pay Will for the killings she notify them of Ned's capture and death. With this news Will embraces his shadow self and allows it to overcome him. He rides into town and guns down Little Bill and his gang.

10) Ultimate Boon: In the epilogue we learn that Munny returns to his farm with the money and the family moves to San Francisco where they prosper in selling dry goods. From that we can assume that Will was able to purge himself of his shadow and return to his family life. Furthermore, Will's move to San Francisco suggest that he was finally able to let go of his wife's memory and live his own life.

One more Time

Another film I'll try to get to this week is the recently released dystopian science fiction thriller 'In Time'. The story takes place in 2161 where genetic alteration has allowed humanity to stop aging at 25. However people are required to earn more time after turning 25 or die within a year. In this future time is money and society has been split between two vastly different class systems. Those poor who work constantly just to add mere hours to their lives and those rich who live forever without having to work at all. The film revolves around character Will Salas who is born in the ghetto working just to survive another day. When he is given the chance to leave his meager existence and live among the rich, Will discovers the injustice in society and decides to rebel against it.

Unforgiven

Next film up.. my favorite western and favorite Clint Eastwood film. Unforgiven. A film bout revenge and its effects on those who seek it.

Hero with a Whip

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a story about the rough-around-the-edges hero named Indiana Jones. Indy is a seemingly average 1930's college professor who doubles as an archeologist and 'obtainer of rare objects'. He travels the world facing danger and the unknown in the hopes of obtaining fortune and glory.

In this first installment of the series, Indy is out on a quest seeking the legendary Ark of the Covenant which housed the Biblical Ten Commandments. His story is one of three quests. On the surface is the quest to find the Ark before Hitler and his Nazis claim it and use it as a weapon of mass destruction. Besides that there are two other internal quests Indy struggles with. First there is his quest to go from a sceptic to a believer in the supernatural. And lastly there's his quest for love which nearly every hero faces in their journey.

Interestingly Raiders begins with a brief quest which introduces Indy's character the the world he lives in. I'll outline it quickly and move on the the bigger story.

1) Ordinary World: Indiana Jones and his allies search for a golden idol. The locations are exotic and Indy is a rugged fearless leader.

2) First threshold: The team trek through the deep dark jungles of South America. Its a foreign land few ever visit and return from.

3) Magical Guide: Indy uses an ancient looking parchment map to guide his way. One of the clues he's discovered in his quest for the idol.

4) Shape shifters: Sometimes those who seem like allies may actually turn out to be enemies to the Hero as so can enemies become allies. In the opening of Raiders, Indy's companions all try to double cross Indy in an attempt to claim the idol.

5) Road of Trials/Threshold Guardians: As Indy enters the idol ruins, he must traverse past many obstacles to reach his prize.

6) Apotheosis: When Indy claims the idol, the ruins begin to collapse. Indy races out of the tombs to escape certain death.

Ok now onto the full story outline...

1) Ordinary world: Indy is a seemingly mild mannered college professor newly returns from his recent adventure in South America.

2) The Call to Adventure/Mentor Guide/Heralds: Once day after class Indy is approached by longtime friend, mentor, and curator of the local museum Marcus Broody. Brody is there on behalf of the U.S Army Intelligence who wish to speak to Indy. In the meeting, the two government agents/heralds inform Indy of the Nazi plot to find the Staff of Ra and use it to locate the Ark. They entrust Indy with the task of intercepting the Staff and finding the Ark before Hitler can.

3) Crossing the First Threshold: Indy travels to Tibet to locate his old mentor Abner Ravenwood who was the last known owner of the Staff of Ra.

4) Road of Trails: Indy faces many tests throughout the film. First he must confront his ex-lover Marian Ravenwood and convince her to help him in his quest. Then he must battle the nazi forces who constantly get between him and his goals. And finally Indy must use the Staff of Ra to locate the Ark's resting place right under the nose of the Nazi archeological excavation.

5) Cave Threshold/More Threshold Guardians: When Indy discovers the location of the Ark he and his allies descend into the dark cave of the unknown. In many myths to enter a cave represent facing ones greatest fear. In Raiders Indy suffers from Ophidiophobia and is deathly afraid of snakes. The Ark cavern just happens to be filled with deadly Egyptian asps.


6) First Crucifixion&Dismemberment: Indy is pretty roughed up through the course of the film. In one scene alone as he battles the Nazi forces for control of the Ark he gets beaten up, dragged by a truck, thrown through a glass windshield, and even shot in the arm. Once Indy and Marian are finally safe from the nazi threat, they share a moment alone where Indy licks his wounds. Marion comments, “You're not the man I knew ten years ago.” pointing out Indy's fatigue. Indy responds, “It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.”

7) Temptation: When the Nazis capture both the Ark and Marion Indy is faced with a dilemma. He decides to choose his quest for love over his quest for the Ark. Indy attempts to barter with the Nazis. He threatens to destroy the Ark if they don't free Marion. The Nazis call his bluff and tell him to destroy the Ark. For a moment Indy is tempted to do so in order to keep it from Nazi control. However he is unable to destroy such a priceless artifact.

8) Apotheosis: The Nazis string up Indy and Marion as sacrifices to the Ark. The Nazi leaders attempt a Jewish ritual where they try to harness the power of the Ark. However it backfires killing everyone there except for Indy and Marion who humbly shield their eyes from the Ark and its immense power. Indy finally comes to see the supernatural in the world and only survives the ordeal through his yielding to that power.

9) Ultimate Boon: Indy claims the Ark and takes it to the U.S. There the government takes control of it. Indy doesn't get the fortune and glory he seeks but obtains other goals of his quest. He has a better understanding of the universe and has found love.

Moving on..

This week I'll be blowing up the blog with a number of films to analyze. First up... Raiders of the Lost Ark! I've been a huge fan of the Indiana Jones films ever since I was a kid so I'm really looking forward to this thread.

Oh one more Star Wars post!

I forgot to mention these great images I found. They were ads for the History Channel's Star Wars:Legacy Revealed special I posted on earlier last week. They show how some of the more iconic images of the Star Wars universe evolved from historical imagery and myth/religious symbols. Take a look.

Star Wars Archetypes

Today we'll be closing the Star Wars posting with an brief look at the different characters within the Star Wars Universe. They all fit into different mythological archetypes that have been used and reuses many times.

An archetype is defined as a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated. The categorizing of archetypes for psychological purposes was advanced by Campbell's predecessor Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. He noted many different archetypes. Here are some of the main ones.

-The Child
-The Hero
-The Martyr
-The Wise Old Man
-The Great Mother
-The Damsel in Distress
-The Trickster
-The Devil

So let start looking at the characters of Star Wars and see what archetypes they fit into.

Princess Leia- Leia represents the feminine in the male dominated Star Wars Universe. Primarily she's the protective caring nurturing mother but takes on many forms in the various films. In the First film she's the classic damsel in distress when she's captures by the empire and has to be rescued by Luke and Han Solo. She then reveals herself to be a bit of a female warrior as she fights her way off the Death Star. In the second film she takes on a more military leadership role but also a romantic lover role and she and Han Solo begin a relationship. In the final film it is revealed that she is the twin sister of Luke. As such she becomes his female counterpart with all the same potential and strength he has.

Han Solo- Han is perhaps the most beloved character in the Star Wars Universe. Mainly because he's a bad boy and everyone loves a bad boy. To be more formal, he the cynical anti-hero and also a bit of a cowboy relying on guns and sheer ballsy courage to get him through situations. He is strong and independent as his name SOLO suggests which highlights the journey this hero must. In the first film Han is a shape shifter, a character who the hero isn't sure he can trust. A man who's intentions and true loyalties are hidden. Han doesn't want to care about the rebellion or fighting the empire. He only cares about himself and dealing with his own problems. But he comes to care about Luke and his mission and ends up joining the rebellion. And so Han's overall quest is to learn to care about others more than himself. In the second film this journey continues as Han the warrior must learn to love. He and Leia begin a shaky relationship which leads him to sacrifice his life to protect her and his friends. In the final film Han is fully realized. He is the lover to Leia and a respected general in the rebellion. Not too shabby for a once scruffy smuggler.

Chewbacca- Chewie represents the animal companion. Many times the hero befriends a beast who helps them along their journey. They help remind the hero of his connection to the natural world.

R2-D2/C3P0- These two droids are part comical relief and part everyman. They act and react in their universe much like we would too if we were thrown into the Star Wars films. They are the fools who cower and run but also are heralds who issue challenges and announce the coming of change in the hero's life.

Vader/Emperor/Boba Fett- These character are the Shadows of the Star Wars story. The representations of darkness in the hero's life. They are nearly always the road block in the way of the hero completing their quest.

Yoda- Like Obi-Wan, Yoda is the basic Old man mentor archetype. However he has other roles too. When he first meets Luke he' a trickster pretending to be a senile swamp creature. Then we discover he's actually a threshold guardian. In this role, Yoda protects secrets and wisdom from the hero until the hero proves himself worthy for such gifts. This wisdom is not just the ways of the Force but also the truth about Luke's family and father's downfall. He is also an oracle who can see beyond the present and into future possibilities.

Anakin's Downfall and Redemption

Today I'll be looking at another Hero's Journey within the Star Wars Universe. The journey of Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader. His story is reminiscent of his son's but different in that it takes the form of a classic tragedy. His is a hero's journey that leads to failure and loss.

He begins as a small innocent slave boy with incredible potential. Anakin was a virgin birth much like many spiritual leaders of myth and religion. This strange circumstance marked him as destined to become a Jedi Master who defeats the dark side of the force. Realizing his powers, the boy is adopted by the Jedi who raise him to be a strong and honorable warrior.

However his inner darkness, fear, pride, and passions get the best of him as he slowly drifts from the Jedi. First he is tempted to go against the Jedi ways of celibacy when he falls in love and marries. Then the evil Sith Lord seduces Anakin with the promise of power and manipulates him to do evil. Eventually Anakin becomes powerful but the very evil he swore to defeat. As a result he loses everyone he ever loved as well as his own humanity. He becomes Darth Vader; the cold robotic symbol of authority and fear throughout the galaxy.

Anakin's tragic story is also reminiscent of Lucifer's downfall in Milton's Paradise Lost. Both are good honorable spirits who turn to evil due to their own pride and lust for the power to accomplish their goals. Its interesting to see how such a goodly messiah figure could turn to the very definition of evil and oppression.


1) Ordinary world: Anakin Skywalker is a small slave boy living with his mother in the desert planet of Tatooine. His life revolves around fixing parts for a local mechanic and fantasizing about exploring the galaxy.

2) The Call to Adventure/ Magical Guide: Anakin come across the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Realizing the boy's virgin birth was a sign of great potential, Qui-Gon helps free the boy and takes him as a pupil. When Qui-Gon dies, his student Obi-Wan becomes Anakin's master and trains the boy to be a Jedi.

3) Refusal of Call: When first confronted with the call the hero often sinks back and refuses it. It seems like too much for them to handle. They doubt their own skills and abilities to tackle such a task. As it comes time for Anakin to leave home, he stops a run back to his mother afraid to leave her.

4) Crossing the First Threshold: This is the Hero's first step on their adventure. The moment when the hero leaves his old life and enters a new and unfamiliar world. For Anakin this moment is when he leaves his home planet and arrives on the industrial city planet of Coruscant. This planet is vastly different from his desolate desert home world. Here he begins his new lifestyle as a student of the Jedi.

5) Road of Trails: Series of tests the hero must face to complete their quest and undergo their transformation. For his trails, Anakin is challenged throughout his quest from his first Pod Race for Qui-Gon to the Clone war. Each conflict brings him closer and closer to becoming a Jedi Master.

6) First Crucifixion&Dismemberment: Along the journey the Hero is oftentimes scared. These injuries represent the tole the journey takes on the hero. They cause him to grow as an adult, become stronger, but may also corrupt as the emotional scarring leads to rage. The first scaring Anakin goes through is when he encounters the Sith Lord Count Dooku. In the battle the Sith Lord cuts off the young Jedi's arm leading Anakin to get his first mechanical appendage. In the Star Wars world, the motif of mechanical limbs represents the loss of humanity. To Anakin this injury leads to resentment and anger toward the Sith Lord which fuels a lust for revenge; first steps toward the dark side.

7) Battle with the Father: A major theme in many mythological stories is the conflict between father and son. In Anakin's story his conflict is with his faster father and mentor Obi-Wan. Their relationship evolves and disintegrates throughout the story. First they are Master and Student, then Friends, and finally bitter enemies when Anakin finally turns to the dark side and against Obi-Wan's teachings.

8) Temptation: Throughout the story the hero deals with temptations and distractions which the hero must abandon in order to continues his or her quest. With each temptation, Anakin gets farther and farther away from his goal of becoming a Jedi Master. First he falls in love with the beautiful Padme. He marries her despite this action going against the Jedi way of life. The Jedi are sworn to celibacy and not allowed to marry. But in doing so, Anakin has taken his first step against the Jedi order. When Anakin has a vision of his wife dying, the evil Sith lord uses his fears to manipulate him. The Lord promises Anakin the power to save his wife but only if Anakin becomes his pupil. Anakin abandons his Jedi teachings, makes the faustian bargain, and turns to the dark side.

9) Second Crucifixion&Dismemberment/ Rebirth: After his decent into darkness, Anakin is confronted by his former master Obi Wan who seeks to redeem his friend. However Anakin is resolved to keep his power and obedience to the Dark side. The two battle and in the ensuing fight, Anakin is crippled, burned, and left for dead by Obi-Wan. As his body is consumed in flames, Anakin is filled with rage and hatred toward Obi-Wan and the Jedi order. In this moment he becomes the evil Darth Vader who dedicates his life to hunting the Jedi and ruling the galaxy with force and fear.

10) Apotheosis: The hero faces death either literally or figuratively and comes to a new state to knowledge and being. For Anakin, this comes in the final Star Wars film when his son Luke confronts the Evil Emperor. When Anakin is faced with the realization that his son surely die at the hands of the Sith Lord, Anakin decides that he must intervene. He turns on his dark master, kills him, and saves Luke. In the process he is mortally wounded and dies soon after.

10) Rescue from Without: Oftentimes the Hero needs a guide to bring them back to the ordinary life, especially if the hero has been wounded or weakened by the quest. For Anakin this is Luke reminding him of his noble Jedi roots and the love he felt for his wife and children. Anakin was weakened by the dark side which clouded his mind and weakened his spirit. In reminding Anakin of his fatherly love, Anakin is redeemed and returns from the dark side. This is represented in the scene when dying Anakin has Luke remove his black mask. In a way Luke is removing the last but of darkness separating himself from his father and the two can finally see each other face to face for the first, last, and only time.

11) Ultimate Boon: Here the hero achieves his quest. Although he dies, Anakin is redeemed and defeats the dark side just as the prophesy said he would.