Application Project - Hero Journey

A hero is a universal archetypal individual with a unique characteristic and a major flaw who is considered the founder of something new. A hero in Greek mythology is Atalanta, “…who loved adventure as much as the most dauntless hero, and who could outshoot and outwrestle, too, the men of one of the two great ages of heroism” (180). She was the first female hero.

The hero is considered universal, which means that he or she is representative of every person. Like every person, Atalanta was once a baby, “and the baby grew up thus into an active, daring little girl” (181).

The hero is also unique, which means he or she has a characteristic that sets them apart from every other person. Bears raised Atalanta. “A she-bear took charge of her, nursed her and kept her warm” (181). Also, “she could hunt and shoot and wrestle” (184).

The hero is special, but also has a major flaw, something that makes he or she imperfect. Atalanta was a little cocky, and “declared that she would marry whoever could beat her in a foot race” (184).

The hero is given a goal or a quest in the call to adventure. Atalanta experienced her call to adventure at a young age, when her father “had the tiny creature left on a mountainside” (181).

The hero experiences initiation when he or she leaves the familiar world behind, entering the strange and unknown. Atalanta experienced her initiation when “two centaurs…caught sight of her when she was alone and pursued her…She stood still and fitted and arrow…A second arrow followed. Both centaurs fell, mortally wounded” (181). It was at this time that Atalanta realized her abilities.

The hero’s journey is the road of trials, battles and obstacles a hero encounters. Atalanta’s journey consisted of “the famous hunt of the Calydonian Bear” (181), a wrestling match where she conquered the young man who was the father of Achilles (182), and multiple foot races where she outran young men who came to marry her (184).

The hero has many companions and friends that provide support for him or her. Atalanta was friends with Meleager, “who fell in love with her at first sight. But, we may be sure, Atalanta treated him as a good comrade” (181). Another companion is her future husband, Melanion, who “used his head as well as his heels” in the foot race (184).

The supernatural guides to the hero provide information, magic, weapons, or charms. The she-bear could be considered a supernatural guide, as well as Aphrodite, who was “always on the lookout to subdue wild, young maidens who despised love” (184).

The ultimate battle is the hero’s final test. Atalanta’s final test occurred when Melanion came to race her with his enchanted golden apples. The apples caused people to chase after them. “Then the third sphere flashed across her path…she saw the gleam…and could not resist it” (184).

In the transformation, the hero is altered in some way in the final battle. Atalanta was forced to give up her life as an unmarried woman. “She was his. Her free days alone in the forest and her athletic victories were over” (184).

The hero undergoes death and rebirth in an out with the old, in with the new transformation. Atalanta and Melanion, for some undocumented reason, “are said to have been turned into lions” (184).

The boon is something a hero gives that is shared. Atalanta gave the idea that women cannot long be free of men, and “bore a son, Parthenopaeus, who was one of the seven against Thebes” (184).