What does it take for someone to be a hero? There is a set of rules that is known as the monomyth, or also referred to as the hero’s journey. The novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson follows the story of a young boy named Jim Hawkins who embarks on an adventure to find a buried treasure. Throughout the story he learns to become independent and survive on his own while on a ship filled with strangers. Some key aspects of the hero’s journey are that they involve a call to adventure, tests, elixirs and more. Treasure Island is a prime example of a story that follows the monomyth, as it contains all of the aspects that the monomyth portrays. The “Call to Adventure” is the part in the hero’s journey where the hero receives their first …show more content…
Treasure Island has a very clear call to adventure near the start of the story in which Jim Hawkins uncovers his signal to cross the threshold. During the prologue of this novel, Jim and his mother finds a new customer visiting their inn. He was a retired pirate who carried a chest with him, he knew he was near death so he gave Jim the key to it. Inside the chest, Jim found a map to a place called Treasure Island where there was supposedly hidden loot. “Mother could there be treasure here? I mean it is a map to Treasure Island” (Stevenson 42). That is when Jim decided to step out of his ordinary world and accept the call to adventure. It was a decision that took courage and bravery, two characteristics that he maintains throughout the rest of the story. This part of the novel clearly shows the call to adventure that Jim Hawkins …show more content…
Another part of the hero’s journey is known as “Tests”, these are challenges that the main character must overcome throughout his/her journey. One of the biggest tests that Jim Hawkins endured was dealing with Captain Long John’s betrayal, he and his shipmates engaged in war on the ship as well as the island and he could have been killed at any moment. “The ship shot another cannon, this one barely missed Jim as he struggled to climb the hill” (156). Another test he had to overcome was his fear of leaving his ordinary world, but throughout the story he was able to become independent and handle tasks on his own, which is something he had trouble doing during the start. “I made a promise that I would be the one to bring this treasure home to my mother, and I’m not going to let someone like Long John stop me even if I have to fight him myself” (107). Therefore, the fact that Jim is able to pass these tests proves that he is indeed a hero. He is the one who sets out on his own to sabotage Long John’s plans while they are at the island and succeeds, he is the reason the supreme ordeal is
One well-known example of “The Hero’s Journey” from popular culture is the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling. In the novel, Harry Potter, the main character, is the chosen one and “The Hero’s Journey” applies to his life from the moment he is attacked by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as a baby. Joseph Campbell calls the initial phase of a hero’s development the “Call to Adventure.” The call is the in... ...
A hero puts other people before themselves and is admired for their qualities, courage, and achievements. A hero obtains knowledge throughout their journey of helping and healing. From Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huckleberry begins his journey with his first dilemma to save a slave, Jim. Huckleberry Finn begins to transform into a courageous hero when he learns the value of a human being.
There were many heroes in the literature that has been read. Many have been courageous and showed their character through tough times. Through these tough times they were forced to make important decisions and this is where you get the real idea of who is deserved to be called a hero. The most influential though of all these was Huckleberry Finn. Through the innocence of childhood he is able to break through the societal pressures that are brought on him and do right.
Before one can be considered a true hero, they must complete a series of eleven steps that put them up to the test. More simply, they must start with departure, then initiation, and finally return home. Harry Potter in Harry Potter the Sorcerer's Stone, courageously completes all of these steps and is therefore considered a hero. He strong-willingly embarks on a journey that challenges his limits and tests his bravery. Without any support from his family, and being the despised child, he defeats his enemy, Voldemort. To push through the worst challenges, and starting from nothing is what makes a true hero. As Joseph Campbell stated, “You enter the forest at the darkest point, where there is no path. Where there is a way or path, it is someone
While the journey’s main aim is quiet obvious, it is possible to argue that there are implicit and explicit goals behind this journey. Explicitly, the idea of pursuing a journey to an exotic island to find a pirate’s treasure is undoubtedly appealing. Indeed, as a child, it offered Jim a chance to escape the inn’s confinements and his mother’s authority. Nevertheless, there are many implicit goals behind this journey. Firstly, it was intended to help him acquire knowledge and experience through nature. Secondly, it aimed to make him realize his own capacities and capabilities. Thirdly, Christopher Parks (2009) argues that the journey’s fundamental aim was to make Hawkins’ fit for his future role in the service of the Empire. Fourthly, it provided him a chance to aid his mother’s as well as his own financial condition. And finally, according to Diana Loxley (2009), imperialism and colonial exploration are what lurks behind the quest for the treasure. Certainly, the characters in the novel are all engaged in an intoxicated pursuit after the treasure in order to transfer it to the Empire, gain their own share, improve their lives and rise up in ranks. Furthermore, Treasure Island has also been regarded as a psychological journey from childhood to adulthood, motivated by the search for a father (Maybin, Haslam & Watson, 2009). However, Hawkins’ voyage concluded with a number of outcomes that changed his life
Even still the unknown beckons forth and the uncertainty of life provides a larger, more enthralling sense of mystery within the Quest journey, and the unsureness every Hero must face creates life-changing decisions and the adornation of peril to path of the Hero sparks the growth in the Hero’s self. Whether it be celestial Thunder speaking of peace beyond understanding, a crazed fortune teller speaking of death, suspicious eyes watching over the, “dead lands” (Eliot, “The Hollow Men” 39) , or a renegade angel choosing to, “Better reign in Hell than serve in Heaven” (Eliot, Paradise Lost 263), no decision is ever made for the hero. The all encompassing Butterfly Effect revels within the decisions of the Hero, yet Fate always seems to throw
All children and teenagers will discover character traits and qualities that they want to possess from the adults they come into contact with. Jim Hawkins is no different. He uses the attributes he learns from Ben Gunn, Dr. Livesey, and John Silver to help mold him into the man he is becoming.
The Hero’s Journey is an ancient archetype that we find throughout our modern life and also, in the world of literature.Whether metaphorical or real, the journey that a character goes on shows not only the incredible transformation of the hero but it also gives them their life meaning. It is the ultimate human experience and it reflects on every aspect of life. Take Logan, also known as Wolverine, from the X-Men movie as an example. His adventure starts with “The Call,” which is the first step of the Hero’s Journey. This step happens due to the realization of imbalance and injustice that the character has in their life. Logan steps into the first stage of the pattern but is hesitant to start his adventure because he does not know what and
Jim Hawkins motivations were primarily to go look for the treasure and find it. Jim Hawkins doesn’t let his young age stop him from going out and adventuring the world. At a young age Jim Hawkins shows a great amount of courage, determination, motivation, and leadership skills. Jim Hawkins showed a lot of maturity when he was faced with physical and mental challenges on his journey to search for the treasure. In the first couple of chapters Jim is described to be an easily frightened boy who is really close to his home and family. After his father dies and he goes on this adventure, Jim starts to think for himself and shows initiative. Jim makes a lot of mistakes, but he learns from them, which shows that he is maturing. He grows up quickly during this trip, starting as the cabin boy but eventually naming himself the new captain after he takes the ship back from the pirates. His tendency to act on smarts and his growing self-awareness also shows that he is caught between two worlds between childhood and adulthood.
Heroes are found everywhere in the world. They are seen in movies, on television, in books, and in reality. A hero can be anyone, from a friend to a fictional character. To be considered a hero, one must make selfless sacrifices, develop and learn, overcome challenges and temptations, and ultimately present their known world with a gift of any kind. Homer’s
Joseph Campbell describes the hero's journey as taking place in a cycle that consists of three most important phases, which are the following: Departure, which is where the hero leaves his/her comfortable and familiar world and endeavors into the unknown; Initiation, where the hero is tried with a series of tests, which he/she must prove their character; and Return, where the hero brings the benefit of his quest bac...
According to Bonnie Tyler, a hero is a man that needs to be strong and fast, straight out of battle, and have a legendary persona about them. Traditionally in mythology, heroes are characterized by their strength, physical prowess, intelligence, cunningness, and success on the battlefield. In addition, most heroes go on some type of quest or adventure, often accompanied by a trusty sidekick to rein them in. The hero’s journey archetype is often divided into three parts: the beginning setup and departure, a period of adaptation and conflict, and the resolution where the hero returns home victorious (Bronzite). Upon this journey the hero will be forced into action, undergo many tribulations, and
There are many stories that follow Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, and tells the tale of a Heroic character. These fables introduces us to heroes that begin their journey in an ordinary place, then receive a call to enter an unknown world full of bizarre powers and peculiar events. These heroes often display great traits, such as bravery or intelligence, that defines their character. One of these heroic's tales is Haroun and the Sea of Stories, telling the adventures of a young man named Haroun. This essay will prove that Haroun from Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie is a hero, because he possess heroic qualities. Haroun shows his heroic qualities by overcoming obstacles, helping his friends, and having good intentions.
Throughout the novel, Jim internally aspires toward the significant and frequently occurring image, courage. From the very beginning he sees "himself saving people from sinking ships . . . an example of devotion to duty, and as unflinching as a hero in a book" (3).
Jim Hawkins in the main narrator in the novel Treasure Island who strives to live. He goes on this journey with Doctor Livesey, and Squire Trelawney, and they hire a crew to help them. The battle between the pirates and Jim’s party that took place once they reach the island showed how people can turn against you in an instant. Treasure Island showed many interesting conflicts, and issues that Jim Hawkins had to solve.