Hero's Journey Essay

Joseph Campbell, the creator of the Hero’s Journey, stated in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, "A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man” (Campbell 30). The idea of the Hero’s Journey that Campbell described is evident in Odysseus’s journey, since he leaves his home to go off into the world of unknown and returns with his elixir or newfound knowledge. Through his travels and experiences, Odysseus undertakes difficult tasks, must survive without support from his family, and is able to grow as an individual. “Ulysses” by

Alfred Lord Tennyson, “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy, and “Telemachus” by William Dickey, all use Campbell’s framework to illustrate both Odysseus’s physical and mental journeys. By wandering, overcoming physical difficulties, and psychological hardships, Odysseus is able to fully mature into a hero, achieving a more complete understanding of himself and his place in the world.
Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses”, describes Ulysses as an old man longing for his past heroic life.

He starts the poem by stating that it is meaningless to stay at home “by this still hearth”(2) and “with an aged wife”(3) because he would rather wander, discover new lands, and overcome new challenges. Wandering is much more exciting than simply sitting at home dealing with administrative responsibilities. Ulysses states that he “cannot rest from travel”(6), and yearns to live his life to the fullest. Through his travels, he has discovered a new-found self understanding, and believes he has become a symbol for all who wanders: “I am become a name/ For always roaming with a hungry heart/ Much have I seen and known; cities of men/ And manners. Climates…./Myself not least, but honored of them all”(11-15). His adventures and struggles have taught him to see the “delight of battle”(16), “new things”(28) and caused him to “to follow knowledge like a sinking star”(31). He has learned so much about other cities, cultures, people, dangers, who he is and wants to be: “I am a part of all that I have meet”(18). He incessantly desires for new understandings and yearns to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Moreover, he begins to explain that it is quite monotonous to stay in the same place. Remaining stationary means not being able to continuously learn new things. He does not want to live life like his son “Telemachus”—a common man with “common duties” (40). The poem provides a stiff contrast between Ulysses and Telemachus, as Telemachus is more easy-going and more like a common man than Ulysses: “This labour, by slow prudence to make mild”(36). Ulysses only sees Telemachus’ work as a chore that must be completed. It is simply done for necessity and an income. Ulysses, on the other hand, views his own work as his passion, dreams, and goals. He works because he enjoys it, not because he has to. Ulysses explains that he has endured pain, loneliness, anguish, and the disappointment of never

fulfilling his hungry heart. Although he has endured so much, his greatest fear is living a useless, stagnant life. He compares himself to the gods who created earth, both having “heroic hearts” (68) and though whittled down from time and experience, both still keep going. The last stanza further exemplifies Ulysses’ fear of living as a common man. He addresses the mariners who are all aging, but still have the determination and potential to do something grand and worthy before “the long day wanes”(55). Ulysses inspires them to keep the adventure alive as “tis not too late to seek a newer world”(57). He agrees that his wandering brought out his heroic qualities, which is why he wants to continue his travels to his “Happy Isles”(63), and sail “beyond the sunset”(60) until his last moment alive. Even though, they are growing old and do not have the same strength that they had in their youth, they are still “strong in will” (69) and are sustained by their resolve to push onward relentlessly: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”(70). Although Ulysses had to endure a lot of psychological stress being away from home and his family, he still appreciates his wandering because it allowed him to travel, experience something new and exciting, and brought out his heroic qualities.
“Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy describes Odysseus’ home and illustrates that one cannot become a hero or show off heroic qualities when staying at home. Cavafy starts the poem by warning the readers of home as a stagnant, lackluster place. Cavafy states, “As you set out for Ithaka/hope the voyage is a long one/ full of adventure, full of discovery”(1-3). Cavafy explains that we must explore, travel, face difficulties and dangers in order for our most heroic qualities to be seen. Through wandering, Odysseus was able to “gather stores of knowledge”(24), “visit many Egyptian cities”(23), and live life with “pleasure”(16). Professor Edmund F. DeHoratius explains “Odysseus as a wanderer, as one eager to learn” as he was always looking for a new challenge to triumph. By traveling, he was able to learn more about his own passions, skills, and gain knowledge from others. Furthermore, Cavafy digs deeper by saying that home is what gives you the drive and motivation to keep going and search the world. Even though you may travel the world, never forget home: “Keep Ithaka always in your mind/ Arriving there is what you are destined for/But do not hurry the journey at all”(25-27). He explains that life should not be wasted in always contemplating the goals or in building up hopes for the future, but instead enjoying the journey. Obviously keep the goal in your mind, as it is a driving force to continue the journey, but do not make it the only focus. Instead enjoy the journey, learn from the experiences, and keep “thoughts raised high”(7). Also enjoy “as many sensual perfumes as you can”(22), value the beautiful things in life, and keep learning from the journey. Once the person finally reaches “Ithaka”, they will have learned so much, “wealthy with all you have gained on the way”(30), and “wise as you will have become, so full of experience/ you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean”(36-37). The journey and struggle is worthwhile because the knowledge gained and experiences withstood can never be outshined.
In William Dickey’s poem “Telemachus”, he explains that Telemachus not only displays what happens after Odysseus’s Hero’s journey but also provides us with a sense of imperfection in the wake of family. The characterization of Telemachus from the speaker is that he is introspective, self aware, longing for his own story, and conflicted as a result of his world. Like all sons of heroic fathers, Telemachus is in a difficult position. He wonders how he can achieve his own unique heroic identity when constantly being compared to his famous father. Dickey characterizes Telemachus as strong, adventurous, gifted, and brave enough to journey through the unknown, much like his father: “You are over six foot yourself, and well set-up. Nothing has been lacking your education….” (11-12). Telemachus seems similar to his father because he takes off on a journey and leaves his home behind. The difference is that his father wandered the world facing and defeating monsters, while he is simply just trying to find his heroic father. Through his journey he is able to find himself and what time of person he is. He realizes this when is able to “sail into another Ocean, outside the possible world…”(47-48). He realizes that he must go on his own journey and face challenges in order to grow and learn. Dickey’s last scene of Telemachus’ mother finding him “hard to recognize”(80), and thinking he was Odysseus just goes to show how much the journey changes the individual. Through Telemachus’ wanderings, he was able to learn more about himself, and thus became very similar to his father in terms of reputation and presence. Because he has changed so much mentally and physically, the mother is unable to recognize him.
All in all, we can see that through the poems “Ulysses” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy, and “Telemachus” by William Dickey, Campbell’s framework of the Hero’s Journey is used to depict both physical and mental journeys, and the impact they have on the traveler.
Works Cited
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1972. Print.
Cavafy, C.P. "Ithaka." Retellings: A Thematic Literature Anthology. By Marlene B. Clarke and
Arlene G. Clarke. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. 259-60. Print.
DeHoratius, Edmund F. "A Modern Odyssey The Intertextuality Of Brian Friel's
Translations And Its Classical Sources." International Journal Of The Classical
Tradition 7.3 (2001): 366. Literary Reference Center Plus. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Dickey, William. "Telemachus." Retellings: A Thematic Literature Anthology. By Marlene B.
Clarke and Arlene G. Clarke. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. 265-67. Print.
Lord Tennyson, Alfred. "Ulysses." Retellings: A Thematic Literature Anthology. By Marlene B. Clarke and Arlene G. Clarke. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. 257-59. Print.