The hero cycle, something that seems to be used in every single film or book in existence. Spanning from 1987 to present day, it seems that the Hero’s Journey is more that just a simple template we learn in grade school. Since this is the case, there has to be a reason this cycle is so important in literature and story writing, and that is what I would like to discuss.
The first part of why the journey is so important, is the simplicity. This is a template that anyone can follow. Take a look at any major action or adventure film, for the most part, the hero closely follows the journey’s cycle . This easily accessible cycle has paved the way to many well written stories that are still prevalent today.Many people can say that it’s overdone, but human kind as a whole enjoys the oddly relatable way the cycle works. It is an almost hopeful idea people try to sympathize with. If this man can start at nothing and go through a whole journey to be better than he started, why can’t I? Most of our journeys will be less dramatic but we can still experience some sort of cycle.
Joseph Campbells “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” want his readers to understand that the reasons so many stories have the same guidelines is because it brings magic and hope to those that read it.” It has always been the prime function of mythology and rite to supply the symbols that carry the human spirit forward, in counteraction to those other constanthuman fantasies that tend to tie it back. In fact, it may well be that the very high incidence of neuroticism among ourselves follows from the decline among us of such effective spiritual aid”(Joseph Campbell). His final analysis of why this cycle was so over used is because it brings meaning into our lives from the story telling we read. This cycle has been around for so long, in mythology and continues to be in our lives now, is because it works so well and gives the readers sense of purpose.