What Are The Four Steps Of The Hero's Journey

Joseph Campbell’s theories about “The Hero’s Journey” can be seen in many pieces of literature including mythological and superhero stories, such as in the movie Spider Man (2002) and in the book Theseus by Plutarch. Spider Man, a well-known and loved modern hero, follows almost every step of the “hero’s journey” exactly how Campbell intended for them to. The Ancient Western hero, Theseus, is also another great hero that follows Campbell’s steps closely. Spider Man, Theseus, and Campbell’s steps share many similarities, such as the “Call to Adventure,” “Crossing the Threshold,” and the “Road of Trials.” Theseus and Spider Man, in my opinion, are two exemplary models of heroes that most accurately represent Joseph Campbell’s steps of “The Hero’s

The final battle is an important and reoccurring part of the “Road of Trials” and other heroic stories. Most heroic stories include this part of “The Hero’s Journey” in them because then it will lead to other parts of Joseph Campbell’s theories like the “Freedom to Live,” which is where the hero is finally free from having to worry about death and is able to live happily because of what he has accomplished. Once the hero gets rid of all of the current threats and villains, it shows the true strength and willpower he has over them, as well as the dedication put into saving lives.

In Plutarch’s book on Theseus, he says that Theseus was brought up under his grandfather, Pittheus. Theseus displayed “not only great strength of body, but equal bravery, and a quickness alike and force of understanding,” which is why his mother, Aethra, decided to now reveal who Theseus’ true father is (Plutarch 5). Aethra brings him to the stone with the sword underneath it and asks him to lift it. Even though the boulder was supposed to be difficult to lift, Theseus did it with ease, proving that he was the king’s son. Once Theseus’ mother asked him to do this task, “The Call to Adventure”