You're the Hero! -Kayla Gill
This past week, we discussed the Hero's Journey in class. Now this basic idea in a mono myth that every main character in a story goes through this certain process that in the end, makes the outcome of the story. This idea comes from Joseph Campbell's book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces. Just this title itself caught my eye. When you think about it, everyone's hero is basically the same character. Yes, they act different, they have different characteristics and problems; but they all follow around the same journey to get to where the book takes them.
Something interesting, that never really crossed my mind, was another common factor of all our heroes and all the books we read. We relate them to ourselves. I didn't think I did this when I read, but the more I thought about it, the more I noticed it. We feel for these characters. We try and put ourselves in their shoes. We not only relate to them emotionally but also in our character. We try and understand them. They're not going through the journey alone, because we are right there with them. It makes us get attached to them as a person, rather than a fictional character. We experience this is Gilgamesh. We relate to Gilgamesh during his hard times. (After he stopped acting like a jerk). When he lost his best friend, we felt for him. We understood his fear of death. Having this ability gives us motivation to finish a story. We don't want to just finish the book because it was part of the assignment, we want to know what happens. We are rooting for the hero. It helps us stay interested in the book and keeps us hooked in. Most writers strive for this. They give us personality to latch on to so we will carry out the adventure. One quote that reminded me of Gilgamesh was by John Green. It says, "For me, the hero's journey is not the voyage from weakness to strength. The true hero's journey is the voyage from strength to weakness." Gilgamesh went from having everything he could every want in life to feeling like he had nothing. He lost his best friend and felt scared about not having enteral life.
Even though we follow the character's of our books journeys, we actually have our own. Each and everyone of us have a "Hero's Journey". We have trials and tribulations, long periods of being stuck in one place, and people we meet along the way that help us through. Eventually we all get to our final destination. Which for most of us is heaven. Where are you at in your journey? Are you at the beginning of you journey, just figuring out which path to take? Or are you at a hard time in your life where you feel like you're going no where? This theory really helps you see that things will always work out in the end. You will always make your return back home with your prize. In a Christian view, this could mean you will eventually get to heaven by your salvation and receive your crowns you earned. Let this be a reminder that you can get through anything. James Campbell once said, "The cave you fear to enter, holds the treasure you seek." Keep on going through you journey.
PS: I commented on Zane and Trey's posts
Something interesting, that never really crossed my mind, was another common factor of all our heroes and all the books we read. We relate them to ourselves. I didn't think I did this when I read, but the more I thought about it, the more I noticed it. We feel for these characters. We try and put ourselves in their shoes. We not only relate to them emotionally but also in our character. We try and understand them. They're not going through the journey alone, because we are right there with them. It makes us get attached to them as a person, rather than a fictional character. We experience this is Gilgamesh. We relate to Gilgamesh during his hard times. (After he stopped acting like a jerk). When he lost his best friend, we felt for him. We understood his fear of death. Having this ability gives us motivation to finish a story. We don't want to just finish the book because it was part of the assignment, we want to know what happens. We are rooting for the hero. It helps us stay interested in the book and keeps us hooked in. Most writers strive for this. They give us personality to latch on to so we will carry out the adventure. One quote that reminded me of Gilgamesh was by John Green. It says, "For me, the hero's journey is not the voyage from weakness to strength. The true hero's journey is the voyage from strength to weakness." Gilgamesh went from having everything he could every want in life to feeling like he had nothing. He lost his best friend and felt scared about not having enteral life.
Even though we follow the character's of our books journeys, we actually have our own. Each and everyone of us have a "Hero's Journey". We have trials and tribulations, long periods of being stuck in one place, and people we meet along the way that help us through. Eventually we all get to our final destination. Which for most of us is heaven. Where are you at in your journey? Are you at the beginning of you journey, just figuring out which path to take? Or are you at a hard time in your life where you feel like you're going no where? This theory really helps you see that things will always work out in the end. You will always make your return back home with your prize. In a Christian view, this could mean you will eventually get to heaven by your salvation and receive your crowns you earned. Let this be a reminder that you can get through anything. James Campbell once said, "The cave you fear to enter, holds the treasure you seek." Keep on going through you journey.
PS: I commented on Zane and Trey's posts
I really enjoyed reading this post! Something that every author has to take into consideration when writing a book is who it is intended for. A good author will appease their intended audience, an excellent author will appease every audience. I think Gilgamesh can be applied to virtually everyone because almost everyone has a fear of death, especially when they see someone close die. Because of Gilgamesh's fear of death, we can relate to his character.
ReplyDeleteWe can also relate to Gilgamesh because he has flaws. After Enkidu dies Gilgamesh becomes depressed and hardly sleeps. he does everything he can and fails. Gilgamesh does not succeed in everything he does and that makes him more relatable to us.
ReplyDeleteYou are completely right! I love this post so much and I agree with you entirely. Being able to relate to characters is something that can make or break a story. Humans have a genuine need to feel connection and community, whether that is in real life or in a story. When I was a little kid I remember that all of my friend's favorite Disney princess was the one who looked the most like them. I think this example and yours just reinforces the idea of our basic need to feel accepted.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your unique way of correlating the Epic of Gilgamesh with where a person is in the walk through life or their walk with Christ. Especially since his life took such drastic turns it can appeal to anyone who reads it because it is relatable to someone regardless of what stage they are in. Whether they lost the death of someone close (which everyone does) or are about to start a new journey in their life they can relate to Gilgamesh in some fashion.
ReplyDeleteThis was well stated. Our own journeys can often make us feel like part of some grand narrative or drive us into a secluded place. Gilgamesh eventually took the high road and became the leader his people needed. For us, it is how we face life with Christ as our captive audience that determines the worth of our tale.
ReplyDelete