The 12 Stages Of The Hero's Journey In The Odyssey

How would you handle a journey which seems never-ending? In Gillan Cross’s interpretation of The Odyssey, we notice several events that have had a domino effect upon each other. As the story went on we noticed how certain events categorize themselves into different parts of the Hero’s Journey (12 stages). Then as the story progresses we see archetypes that reinforce the idea that The Odyssey is a monomyth.

Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus goes through difficult obstacles and decisions. However, these events fit into the 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey. Also, it helps the reader understand the position Odysseus was in. We know he gets recruited to fight in the Trojan war alongside the other kings. Although Odysseus is clever and valuable he

‘’With a heavy heart’’ (Cross 10). is an example of refusal of the call, although he refused he still ended up fighting in the Trojan war. Additionally, by attending the war, it will advance the story and reach the other stages. Another stage is entering the threshold, Odysseus leaves his home and enters the dangerous water and land controlled by the Gods. ‘’...Odysseus called his soldiers together and prepared a fleet of ships’’ (Cross 10). Again, Odysseus prepares for the Trojan war and is clueless about the events following it. While on his voyage he is not met with a welcoming response and then goes through the tests, allies, and enemies. Unfortunately, he angers the cyclops who calls Poseidon, his father, and Poseidon creates chaos and utter destruction for Odysseus. ‘’...calling out to the god Poseidon, who was his father’’ (Cross 45). In addition, now Odysseus must face the wrath of the God Poseidon along his voyage. He now dedicates himself to ruining all chances of Odysseus getting back to Ithaca. After several years of perseverance, Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca only to

A variety of different archetypes play a significant role in The Odyssey. Initially, we see the ally role come into play when Aeolus gives Odysseus and his men a boost. He gives them wind that would take their ship back to Ithaca smoothly without any trouble. ‘’The gentle west wind that would take the ships home to Ithaca’’ (Cross 52). We can see Aeolus being an ally because he gives them a substance that could potentially take them back to Ithaca. However, this wind came with one request which was to not open the bag which Odysseus understood and did as he wanted. Whereas it was the men that decided to open the bag and disobey the orders. Additionally, they were sent back to Aeolus and he wasn’t so welcoming this time. ‘’I’m not going to help a man they hate’’ (Cross 55). Aeolus refused to help them again and once again prevented them from getting to Ithaca. It should be noted that Aeolus was one of the characters who changed archetypes, at first he was an ally but then became a threshold guardian. Almost following these events, the men met a woman named Circe. They were intrigued by her beauty and kindness as well as their starvation. Then, Circe invites them into her home for a meal. Compelled by their hunger the men do as she says and feast greedily. What they don’t know is that Circe has added a drug-like