(III) The Hero’s Journey.
Reward
The reward is largely self explanatory. Here, after the ordeal the hero is rewarded. The reward the hero gains can take many forms and be acquired in many ways.
For example: In the Alchemist, Santiago is rewarded with the location of his treasure, which is actually back where his home is. It’s a symbolic full circle of his journey, leading him back to where he began again. To the same place, but a new man. In Game Of Thrones with Bran, he is awarded many things but one of the more prominent is his ability to skinwalk. It grants him great wisdom and capability on his journey. It helps him overcome his disability and perform great acts in time of need. In Harry Potter, he is also rewarded with many things on his journey. In the Sorceror’s Stone Harry is rewarded for his journey in the form of points for Gryffindor from Dumbledore, securing him and his companions victory in the House Cup! In Princess Mononoke it’s odd, because I believe Ashitaka was rewarded in an odd way. He gained power from the curse, but as a result of his journey - the main things he gained were intangible. In the form of trust from the wolves and companions (San). It’s a beautiful story detailing the delicate balance between man and the natural world.
The Road Back
Here, the hero must re-commit to completing the journey, and accept the road back to the ordinary world. Like crossing the threshold, the road back needs an event that will push the hero through the threhold back into the ordinary world.
The event re-establishes the dramatic question, pushing the hero to action and heightening the stakes. It may be pushing them out of the special world. A ticking clock threatening destruction in the ordinary world. Maybe the villain took the elixir and must be stopped.
Examples from our stories: In the Alchemist, as detailed above — Santiago’s reward actually awaits him back in his ordinary world. Next to the ruins where he used to be a shepherd, so it only makes sense for him to return to retrieve it. An interesting thing about the Hero’s Journey as a process is that it’s not always clear cut. These things can always take different shapes and forms. In Game Of Thrones the destruction of everything he knows forces Bran to return back across the wall, which in his story is the special world, to aid his kind and siblings in their battle against the Night King! In Harry Potter this is an interesting one, because Harry Potter is such a vast story with many steps to Harry’s Journey. He is required to return home from Hogwarts every year of course, out of necessity. BUT he also dances in between this special world of what would be viewed as adult affairs, such as battling against the dark forces at play (Voldemort) and being a normal kid and enjoying himself, falling in love, making mistakes, and just growing up in general. In Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka saves two men, and journeys through the forest. After this he returns to Iron Town, where Eboshi tells him all that has happened - admitting that she is the one who shot the great boar, Nago.
The Resurrection
The hero faces their most dangerous meeting with death. The ordeal shows that the hero has maintained and can apply all that they have brought back to the ordinary world.
The hero is transformed or reborn with the attributes of their ordinary self, in addition to the lessons and wisdom from the characters that they met along the journey.
Examples: In the Alchemist, while digging near the pyramids for his treasure Santiago is beat. He somehow has a conversation with his assailants and they tell him of their dream of treasure near a church that Santiago used to sleep at. I think this is a bit of a resurrection. Without his experience along the journey Santiago would not have been able to transmute the interaction with his assailants into the thing that propelled him to his ultimate reward. In Game Of Thrones, Bran is reborn as the Three-Eyed Raven and holds the knowledge that comes with such a title. Harry Potter is reborn many times on his journey, specifically in the Sorceror’s Stone, after he is knocked unconscious during his ultimate ordeal. Waking to a new world, as previously detailed. In Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka is shot. And revived by the Great Forest Spirit. Gaining the confidence of his new companions and that his actions were true, he is transformed.
Return With The Elixir
The return with the elixir is the final reward on the Hero’s Journey. The true hero returns with an elixir to share with others or heal the land.
The elixir can bring closure to the journey and restore balance to the ordinary world. It may pose questions or ambiguities upon which the journey may continue beyond the finale.
The return with the Elixir completes the cycle of this particular journey. Story lines are resolved and balance has been restored to the ordinary world. The hero may now embark on a new life forever influenced by the journey travelled…
Examples: In The Alchemist, Santiago attains the treasure, and may do with it as he wishes for the rest of his days. In Game Of Thrones, Bran is appointed the new King and has gained great wisdom on his journey. For Harry Potter and his classmates, Harry has grown vastly from his journey. He has gained the familiarity with the special world, which he must face many more times, at the end of The Sorcerer’s Stone. As for Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke, after returned the Great Forest Spirit’s head, he has love. And order has been restored to the normal world in the form of wildlife growing back.
For anyone who has followed, thank you. I hope you have enjoyed The Hero’s Journey.
This is the part where I’m a human again. What a journey. What a world we all live in, all stories unfolding at all times of the day. The highs and lows…
To be a storyteller is a beautiful thing. To be a good storyteller, is a gift to humanity.
I wish you the best of luck on your individual journeys.
Thank you for reading this week.
Stay warm,
dc
(pics from my week below!)
