Into The Wild Hero's Journey Analysis

The first phase of the hero’s journey is “the call to adventure”. The Call to Adventure can be defined as a problem, a challenge. or a request. Which is received by the hero and will require some form of action which takes him off into the unknown. In Into the Wild, Christopher is inspired to travel west and live a self sufficient life in the woods. His emotions incite by his harsh feelings toward his dad for what he has put the family through. In 1984 Winston’s call comes from Julia in the form of her love note. Even though Winston knows the danger of showing to much interest in the note he realizes the note has made an impact on him. In The stranger Meursault’s call is when he starts having an affair with Marie. He chooses not to have feelings

or emotion connected to her, anybody, or anything because he feels that it is pointless.
The second stage of the hero’s journey is refusal of call. Refusal of call may be from a sense of duty, fear, insecurity, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in their current circumstances. In Into the Wild Christopher’s refusal of call is when he returns home and returned to his problems. He did not complete his goals which is to not live a life where he has to depend on the government and influenced by other people’s opinions. In The Stranger Meursault refusal of call is when his mother passes away because he feels more lonely and starts to drink more, those are signs of sadness or a type of depression. In 1984 refusal of call is when julia approaches him and he ignores her even though it is enticing to Winston. He knows that if he gives in to the desire openly the thought police will come after him.