Monsters, battles, gods, and heroes. These ideas are usually only found in fictional stories, but Campbells 12 steps of the hero’s journey can be applied to real life heroes and the conflicts they overcome. Joseph Campbell's idea of the hero’s journey is an archetype that transcends all works of fiction and can even be applied to real life. It tells the story of a protagonist going on an adventure, during which they encounter many tests, allies and overcome great challenges. It is most often found in literature but due to it being so universal, it can be seen in almost anything, even in the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton is best known for being on the ten dollar bill, establishing the first national bank, and being one …show more content…
of the most prominent defenders of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution, which made America what it is today. Although Hamilton has made great feats in the world of politics, he did not get here automatically, he went on a journey. From a past full of death and despair, to fighting in the American Revolution, Hamilton’s life was far from just politics. Considering all that Hamilton has fought through, his life could easily be compared to that of a fictional hero. Campbell’s archetypal epic journey is seen in modern society through the hardships and adventures of Alexander Hamilton, proving that real life can be parallel to fictional works. The life of Alexander Hamilton can be seen as a parallel to the archetypal epic journey, starting with the ordinary world.
The first step of Campbell’s Hero’s Journey is when the protagonist is introduced in his ordinary world. A main component of the Hero’s Journey, as described in Justin Vogler’s article, is that the hero is placed into a strange world that they do not understand, so as to contrast this “you first have to create a contrast by showing him in his mundane, ordinary world” (Vogler). Hamilton’s ordinary world begins after years of death and despair. His father left him, and only a few years later his mother died when he was at the age of 12. After working hard as a manager of a book store, and writing non-stop, he was sent to a preparatory school. He then made it into Kings College in New York, and after graduating, he “rapidly became involved in America's burgeoning war with Britain” (Freeman). This was Hamilton’s ordinary world. Constantly writing against powerful political figures and doing whatever he can to fight for his nation. This wasn’t enough for him though. Despite doing all he could, he still wanted to do more. This draws a clear parallel to the Hero’s Journey. Hamilton is trapped in a mundane world where he wishes that he could do more. Even though he has many things in his life that occupy him, he is still stuck in that Ordinary World that Campbell’s archetype …show more content…
describes. Parallels to the archetypal epic journey continue to be seen in Hamilton’s life as he is called to adventure. The hero’s call to adventure is very straight forward, described as “The hero is presented with a problem, challenge” ( Vogler). Hamilton’s call to adventure was after many of his friends recommended him to the military, he was finally given a job after he caught the eye of George Washington himself. Washington “appointed him an aide-de-camp” (Freeman). This was essentially working as Washington’s right-hand-man. Hamilton was reluctant to assume this position due to his desire to fight in the battles instead of basically being George Washington's secretary. This is where the 3rd step of the Hero’s Journey is introduced, which is the Refusal of the Call. During this step, “the hero balks at the threshold of adventure” (Vogler). This is clearly seen with Hamilton, as he had “ frustration with the powerlessness and inefficiency of the wartime” (Freeman). He wanted to fight, but was pushed to the sidelines, making him less enthusiastic about his position. This further builds on the idea that ideas of literature can be seen in real life, as shown in Hamilton’s history. The connection between literature and the real world becomes more clear as Hamilton is encouraged by a mentor to accept the call to adventure. In this step of the Hero’s Journey, the hero is encouraged by their mentor or wise to continue on their journey. This part of the story is usually introduced to “give the hero a swift kick in the pants to get the adventure going”(Vogler). This step is very prominent in Hamilton’s journey, but is more subtle than in Campbell’s archetype. Hamilton was growing restless at his desk job, working for Washington, he would consistently beg Washington for a job on the battlefield. In the Biography.com article, Hamilton “With Washington's permission, Hamilton led a victorious charge against the British in the Battle of Yorktown” (Biography.com). If Washington had not put Hamilton in command of a battalion for this battle, he would never had started his journey. Washington’s admittance of Hamilton’s request to fight was what sent Hamilton into the next step of the Hero’s Journey, the first threshold. This is the step during which the hero “fully enters the special world of his story for the first time”(Vogler). In Hamilton’s life, this is him fighting during The Battle Of Yorktown. Hamilton is no longer on the sidelines and is fully immersed into the fight against Great Britain, Clearly showing him passing into the threshold, as described in the Hero’s Journey Archetype. The allies, enemies, and tests that Alexander Hamilton faced directly compare to the next step of the Hero’s Journey archetype. During this step, “The hero is forced to make allies and enemies in the special world, and to pass certain tests and challenges that are part of his training” (Vogler). This is clearly seen in Hamilton’s life. After the test of defeating Great Britain in the American Revolution at the Battle Of Yorktown, Hamilton began to further cement his place in the political world. Many enemies are made once one enters the world of politics, and Hamilton is no exception, especially considering his agitating nature. Hamilton would always write what he thought, no matter who it upset, which is what made him such a great writer. It is also what made him so many enemies. In the History.com article, it is stated that “Hamilton’s policies and actions provoked intense opposition, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison” (History.com Staff). The fact that Hamilton made many enemies is made evident through this idea, which continues to prove that the Hero’s Journey Archetype can be seen in real life. Hamilton making enemies in the political world can be seen as parallel to any literature in which Campbell’s archetype is used. While the enemies are not as high-stakes as a giant monster, they still pose a threat to our protagonist. This proposes many tests, considering his now enemy, James Madison, helped him write The Federalist Papers only a few years prior. This caused “division, both within the Washington administration and in the country as a whole” (History.com Staff). This clearly shows that the tests that a fictional hero would get can be present in the real world. The next step of the archetypal Hero’s Journey is seen as Hamilton reaches the inmost cave of his journey. As described in Vogler’s article, this step of the Hero’s Journey is “the hero going into his or her own dream world to confront his or hers worst fears... and overcome them”(Vogler). Hamilton truly does confront his worst fears during this point in his life. He has to face death and his friends turning on him. Hamilton’s eldest son, Philip, challenged another man to a duel after he had slandered his father’s name. Philip was shot and killed during this duel, and it caused a rupture in Hamilton’s family. A few years after this, the election of 1800 came around. The two main candidates were Thomas Jefferson, his enemy whose ideas Hamilton has opposed for years, and Aaron Burr, his friend from the war and sometimes partner in politics. Whoever Hamilton supported during this election would greatly influence the outcome due to his political presence and, “Despite his personal and political dislike of Jefferson, Hamilton was instrumental in securing his victory over Aaron Burr in the presidential election of 1800”(History.com Staff). Hamilton put aside his personal beliefs and ended up supporting Thomas Jefferson in the election, instead of his life-long friend, Burr. This enraged Burr, and led to him challenging Hamilton to a duel. These melancholy events in Hamilton’s life clearly correlate to Campbell’s Hero’s Journey archetype. Hamilton is forced to confront something that has plagued him for all his life, death, which takes the form of the passing of his son. He is also faced with the betrayal of his friends. It is truly the deepest point in his journey. Hamilton is proposed with the supreme ordeal of his journey, drawing closer connections between real life and the Hero’s Journey.
The next step in the journey is the Supreme Ordeal, described as “the moment at which the hero touches bottom”(Vogler). It is the lowest and most suspenseful part of the story. In Hamilton’s case, it is when his best friend who he’s known his whole life challenges him to a duel. Burr challenged him after not getting Hamilton’s support in the election. This truly is when Hamilton touches the bottom. He experienced the death of his son, and now he has to fight his first friend. The connection between literature and life grows stronger as Hamilton’s life reaches the next step of the Hero’s Journey. The next step is when the hero seizes the sword, or finds what he had been looking for on his journey. Hamilton finds what he’s been looking for during the duel between him and Burr. Hamilton is shot and killed by Burr, but not before “Hamilton decided the duel was morally wrong and deliberately fired into the air”(History.com Staff). While it may seem like Hamilton’s journey was cut of short and he never claimed his reward, this is exactly what he was looking for. Throughout Hamilton’s life, he has faced death, war, and many other hardships. Through all of this, Hamilton always did what was right. After his mother died, he kept working to make a better life for himself. After being Washington’s right-hand-man, he knew he was no use on the sidelines, so
he fought. When faced against his best friend, instead of killing him, he threw away his shot and let him live. It cost him his life, but after living through death, death was what finally put him to rest after a life of hardship. The parallel between life and literature is at its strongest here through Hamilton claiming his reward. He was rewarded with peace after going through his difficult journey. The Archetypal Hero’s Journey is clearly seen as parallel to real life heroes, made most prominent through the life of Alexander Hamilton, revealing the ties between literature and life. Many ideas of Campbell’s archetype are only found in fictional stories, but Hamilton’s life is proof that the Hero’s journey can traverse into the real world. Hamilton experienced everything an average hero in literature would experience. He was called to adventure in the military although reluctant, he was sent into the first threshold of the Battle Of York with the advice of his Mentor, George Washington. He came across many political enemies, faced family tragedies, and faced his own friend. He claimed the reward of death after pushing through so many hardships. He had the whole hero’s journey. All of this clearly proves that many ideas in literature, no matter what, can be seen as parallel to our real world.
He accuses Jefferson of being “off getting high with the French” while “we — (being Hamilton and other true Americans, in this case directly associating him with George Washington, who was with Hamilton in the situation referred to here, the siege at Yorktown) — almost died in a trench.” In a final contrast to Hamilton himself, he describes Jefferson as “hesitant” and “reticent.” Hamilton, neither of those things, finishes with the mature “Damn, you’re in worse shape than the national debt is in / Sittin’ there useless as two shits / Hey, turn around, bend over, I’ll show you where my shoe fits.” By that point, the Congress is so involved that they don’t wait for a pause to laugh and they even provide a chanted accompaniment to the last lines before erupting into chaos. It takes George Washington to calm everyone down, and though Jefferson taunts that Hamilton doesn’t “have the votes,” Hamilton walks away from the battle the clear
This is where Hamilton dies, but actually both of the participants were casualties because Hamilton died, but was honored by the people and the government. However, Burr lost everything such as his reputation, and his position. Major mistakes that come from Burr and Hamilton was when Burr betrayed Jefferson when he was running his second term by switching political parties Jefferson's enemy Federalists which made Hamilton to say that he's despicable. Burr is too ambitious and desperate when it comes to politics like Jefferson. Hamilton in other hand was an arrogant. He insults Burr periodically, which made Burr to lose his position and reputation by publicly. In conclusion, by starting with a violent clash between Hamilton and Burr, establishes that the stakes for which these men had learned to debate one another. The end of this chapter did end in violent death, but the reader now understands that the author views these relationships as fiery and passionate although they were flawed by destroying their friendship, lives, and careers by insulting, killing, debating, and betraying one another, but they all failed to achieve their full aspirations due to their flawed
From the meager beginnings of a bastard child born out of wedlock, to one man heralding the power of friendship to the most powerful man in an early republic, Alexander Hamilton proved that what would come to be known as the American dream can be realized by anyone. Native or not; rich or poor; with the drive to realize your dreams, you can achieve them. Hamilton made great advances toward what we know as America today and left behind a legacy that has too commonly become forgotten.
Hamilton cared truly about America and worked diligently to make it a better place financially. Burr on the other hand, seems to me like an opportunist who rose to power but did not seem to care about anything but that power. I believe Hamilton was right when he spoke of Burr as a man who did not care about one thing or another, except profit. Burr saw politics as a game and Hamilton saw it as leading a nation and cared who did it and how it was done. I believe the duel itself also illustrates that Hamilton had more honor in his life. All the way up to the point of the gunfight, Hamilton tried to diffuse the flames, albeit without truly apologizing because of his own stubbornness. I believe his anger at how Burr was with politics made it too difficult for Hamilton to apologize to a man who did not seem to care about anything but profit and having a good
Of the many figures in American History, Alexander Hamilton has proven himself one of the most versatile and influential. His policies and ideals have helped the United States blossom into a prosperous world power. Through his power as secretary of Treasury and his convincing intellectual efforts, he was able to dominate the nations early political environment. Hamilton’s patriotic endeavors have proven themselves to be durable and in the best interests of the United States.
All the presidents in the past have played an important part in shaping our country the way it is today. Either for better or for worse. James Madison is one of the presidents which made a difference for the better and probably did some of the best actions for our country. He did his job with pride for The United States of America and he did his job humbly with efficiency. That is why I look up to this American Hero.
To fully appreciate the significance of the plot one must fully understand the heroic journey. Joseph Campbell identified the stages of the heroic journey and explains how the movie adheres meticulously to these steps. For example, the first stage of the hero’s journey is the ordinary world (Campbell). At the beginning, the structure dictates that the author should portray the protagonist in their ordinary world, surrounded by ordinary things and doing ordinary tasks so that the author might introduce the reasons that the hero needs the journey in order to develop his or her character or improve his or her life (Vogler 35). The point of this portrayal is to show the audience what the protagonist’s life is currently like and to show what areas of his or her life are conflicted or incomplete. When the call to adventure occurs, the protagonist is swept away into another world, one that is full of adventure, danger, and opportunities to learn what needs to be learned. T...
There were many men involved in the establishment of the government, the laws regulating states and people, and individual rights in the construction of the United States of America. Two men stand out as instrumental to our founding principles: Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton was a bastard son, orphan, immigrant, political scientist, soldier, and the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America who transformed not only the country’s banking system but also left a rich legacy that changed America forever. A forgotten founding father, he wrote his way out of poverty at fourteen and later became George Washington’s aide-de-camp and a respected soldier before becoming apart of the first cabinet of the United States. Hamilton not only had a notorious political career, but also personal life, which captivated Americans and heavily influenced his career. Alexander Hamilton’s early life, revolutionary years, years in public service and the cabinet as well as his scandal and devastating
Hamilton was President Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet in 1789-1795. The first task that Hamilton took care of for President Washington, was the problem of public credit. Since the government had taken on so much debt during the Revolution they deeded a plan to pay it all off. When proposing this idea the vow to pay them back was not taken very seriously. Toward the end of the 1780s, the state IOU's, or money borrowed to finance the Revolution, were seen as nearly valueless. Hamilton then issued a bold proposal that the federal government should pay off all the state’s debts at face value. To raise money for this, Hamilton offered to issue new securities bonds. The people who bought these would pay a huge profit.
This book may be aimed towards the audience of adults, but I hope that soon teenagers will soon become interested in History. I have alway been a huge fan of American History, but I do not like to read. This book though I do want to read, because of the amazing explanations of “The Duel.” Ever since this broadway show Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda I have wanted to learn more about the life of Alexander Hamilton,. Whenever I find a book that describes Hamilton’s life I want to read it, and i'm glad I read Founding Brothers. Within this book Ellis uses many quotes from Hamilton and Burr which is personally one of my favorite parts. The quotes of Hamilton is one of my favorite parts of the book because of Hamilton's amazing skills with a paper and pen. Another element of the book I enjoyed is the still problematic conclusion of Hamilton's death. In “The Duel” there were two shots fired, one by Hamilton and one by Burr. There are two hypothesis’ shared in the book on who shot first. This is important to me because the author was not biased and did not only include one option, I feel like in doing this they gave the reader a choice of which conclusion they want. Joseph J. Ellis did not only stay unbiased he also included some fun and interesting little tidbits throughout the story. When I say this I mean when he described the connection between the weapons used in “The Duel.”
It is evident, that Hamilton was backed into a duel that he did not want to fight. He did so only after copious demands made by Burr, but not with the intent of ever harming Burr. It was a reluctant move on his part, which in due course led to his untimely demise. To his last hour Hamilton was indeed a man of honor, and nothing short of a gentleman.
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
“[T]he man on the ten-dollar bill is the father of the American treasury system, a signer of the Constitution, one of the primary authors of the Federalist Papers, and the loser of the infamous duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. Alexander Hamilton's earlier career as a Continental Army officer is less well known. Yet Hamilton's first experience in public service is important, not only because it was the springboard to his later career, but because it also deeply influenced his values and thinking” (Hamilton).
The play Hamilton tells of Hamilton’s prolific writing achievements, his written thoughts about the duel with Aaron Burr, and