“The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us…The hero journey is a symbol that binds …. (Phil Cousineau).” Mattie Ross learns this in True Grit, by Charles Portis, when she experiences the death of her father. She says, ”…Tom Chaney shot my father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas and robbed him of his life and his horses and $150 in cash money plus two California gold pieces that he carried in his trouser band(11)”. Frank Ross, Matties’ father, who was shot to death, by a man named, Tom Chaney. Mattie Ross is just 14 years old in the 1870’s, she states, “Nothing is free in this world except the grace of god, you must pay for everything.(pg?)” Personal growth often comes at a great expense. She is in beginning of the separation stage in a hero’s journey, which consists of the call and threshold. Harris and Thompson define the call as, “…invites the initiate into the adventure, offers her the opportunity to face the unknown, an imbalance or injustice in her life”(50). Her father getting killed and Mattie getting vengeance, is her invite. This is followed by, the threshold, known as the jumping off point. She states, “We hit the river running…we came out some little ways down the river.”(107) She has now made it into the Choctaw Nation to assist in the pursuit, in the unknown world, “a different world full of dangers and challenges (Harris and Thompson 50)”. Next, is the initiation and transformation then, the return to the known world. You can see, Mattie encounters her call when her father was killed.
According to Thompson and Campbell, the call is, “…realization of an imbalance of or injustice in her life…the initiate has had something taken from...
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...he final stage of her journey: her return to everyday life…but find[s] that her message is rejected…(52 Harris and Thompson).” The people of Dardanelle have shown that they reject her when they talk about what she has done with Roosters body when he passed. In the end, Mattie truly experiences her statement, “You must pay for everything in this world, one way or another. There is nothing free except the grace of god(3) . “ Not only does Tom Chaney pay, but as you can see Mattie pays several times and also looses her arm. In the abyss, Harris and Thompson say, “There is always the possibility that the initiate is not ready or has a flaw in his character, and the challenge beats him…[she] will become dissatisfied and bitter( 51).” Her greatest challenge of her journey and failing to do it on her own, seems to be a result of her ending. Remember nothing is free.
How many times do different people come together for one equal cause? In quest stories, such as True Grit by Charles Portis. All three main characters put their differences aside, and team up for one cause, which is to get Tom Chaney, dead or alive. Mattie Ross, the hero, Rooster Cogburn, the wise old man, and LeBoeuf, the helper guide, all make up the essential characters for any good quest story.
If you went off on a quest would you come back a changed person? “The Hero’s Journey isn’t just a pattern from myth. It’s the pattern of life, growth, and experience for all of us”(Harris and Thompson 49). Charles Portis is the author of True Grit, a western novel that takes place through the Indian Territory in Arkansas. In the novel True Grit, the character Mattie Ross, shows an interesting example of “The Hero’s Journey.”
Mattie Ross possesses the characteristics of a quest novel hero in True Grit. For instance, A hero in a quest novel has a call to their adventure, an awakening of sorts. The call or herald will compel the hero to accomplish a goal. The hero has the impulse to create a dire change, and will do anything to make this change possible. Mattie Ross has this characteristic, making her a quest novel hero. After the tragic death of her father, she travels to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to tend to his business. Upon her arrival, Mattie realizes that the apprehension of her father’s murderer, Tom Chaney, is not the sheriff's first priority. Tom Chaney shoots her father in cold blood and escapes the scene easily as bystanders flee. Not one soul thought to achieve justice and capture the murderer, but instead they selfishly “scattered like poultry” (17) as Chaney escaped. Mattie expected officers would be on his trail immediately after the incident, but she was displeased to learn “how little had been done toward the apprehension of Tom Chaney. They had not even got hi...
Mattie might not look like a hero to the people in her community, but she is a hero to herself for going out to avenge her father’s blood and she is a hero because she has experienced all the stages and steps within of the hero’s journey. “Even if the characters aren’t real, the journeys they take and challenges they face are reflections of the real journeys and challenges we all face in life” (Harris and Thompson 52).Although she is not real and maybe in today’s world her challenges are not what we would face, it still shows us that we all have challenges we face in life. “There are no shortcuts on the road of life. Not a single one.”
The first major step is a call to adventure. In this step, there’s something in the hero’s life that requires them to do something or go somewhere and take some type of action. Second, the hero must enter the unknown. This step sends the hero into a new world, entering something unfamiliar to the hero. By entering unfamiliar territory, whether it’s a place, an event never experiences, there are challenges and temptations the hero must face. With every new world comes new challenges. Dealing with new people or being alone.
Mattie is disappointed that when her father was murdered, the U.S. Marshals are not doing anything to imprison Tom Chaney, the man who killed her father. When she approaches the Sheriff she is dismayed to, “.learn how little was being done toward the apprehension of Tom Chaney” (25). Realizing this, Mattie decides to take things into her own hands. She hires Rooster Cogburn, a U.S. Marshall, and decides to go into Choctaw Nation to avenge her father’s death. Another way that Mattie illustrates the hero is that, Quest heroes almost always obtain the courage and determination to follow their goal and go through with the quest.... ...
Do you think you would be able to persevere through many difficult obstacles wihout giving up? In True Grit by Charles Portis, Mattie Ross a 14 year old, her father was murdered by a man named Tom Chaney. Throughout the book she has to overcome many hardships and get through many obstacles to avenge her father’s death.
In James McPherson’s novel, What They Fought For, a variety of Civil War soldier documents are examined to show the diverse personal beliefs and motives for being involved in the war. McPherson’s sample, “is biased toward genuine fighting soldiers” (McPherson, 17) meaning he discusses what the ordinary soldier fought for. The Confederacy was often viewed as the favorable side because their life style relied on the war; Confederates surrounded their lives with practices like slavery and agriculture, and these practices were at stake during the war. On the other hand, Northerners fought to keep the country together. Although the Civil War was brutal, McPherson presents his research to show the dedication and patriotism of the soldiers that fought and died for a cause.
exis Hanson Professor Dosch English 101 3 May 2016 title In “The Downside of ‘Grit’: What Really Happens When Kids Are Pushed to Be More Persistent?”, Alfie Kohn; an author and lecturer, claims that not everything is worthwhile especially when going at a task for an extensive amount of time. He asserts that ‘grit’ (the passion and determination when pursuing long term goals) is becoming less persuasive and credible. Kohn states that grit can cause serious issues that have real consequences.
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, both pride and excessive pride influence the characters throughout the play. Pride is a sense of one's dignity and worth. Excessive pride is being overly confident of one's own self worth. Throughout, pride influences the actions, reactions, and emotions of the characters in such ways to establish the outcome of the story. Three characters are impelled by their pride. Hale, who takes pride in his ability to detect witchcraft; Elizabeth Proctor, whose pride makes forgiving her husband difficult; Proctor, whose excessive pride causes him to overlook reality and the truth.
The call of adventure is the first step of the hero’s journey. Annie is offered to be her best friend’s maid of honor. Lillian tells Annie that she is now engaged and regardless of Annie’s relationship status, she accepts the offer. This is an example of the call of adventure; where the hero is presented with a voyage. Annie is introduced to some of Lillian’s acquaintances and she realizes that they have a different life than hers. All of them can afford what she can’t. This is where the hero starting to show limits and has to overcome to truly begin the journey. This will be the threshold of the hero’s journey. Annie meets Helen who is much more beautiful, skillful and wealthier than her. ...
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
“The Hero’s Journey.” Ariane Publications, 1997. Course handout. AS English I. Dept. of English, Woodside High School. 26 October 2013.
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself ” (Moyers 1). The Hero’s Journey consists of three major parts: the separation, the initiation and the return. Throughout a character’s journey, they must complete a physical or spiritual deed. A physical deed involves performing a daunting and courageous act that preserves the well-being of another person. A spiritual deed calls for action that improves another individual’s state of mind. While fulfilling their journey, a hero must undergo a psychological change that involves experiencing a transformation from immaturity into independence and sophistication.Campbell states that these events are what ultimately guides a hero into completing
Joseph Campbell calls the initial phase of a hero’s development the “Call to Adventure.” The call is the in...