Lion King - Hero's Journey
The Lion King: A Hero’s Journey
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.
—Joseph Campbell,
The Hero With a Thousand Faces
The statement a hero’s journey can be self-explanatory. One can think of a physical journey traveled by a person. It can also be interpreted as the trials and tribulations that a person must overcome to grow. Joseph Campbell’s theory of “The Hero’s Journey” can be either of those things. It is a basic pattern that is found in many narratives from around the world. Campbell describes this an occurring cycle with three phases: Departure, Initiation and Return. In “The Lion King” Simba embarks on a journey from a lion’s cub to a full-grown lion with many trials in between.
Departure:
Home Culture: Simba is a prince, first in line to take the throne of the pride land. He is groomed by his father, Mufasa, and schooled about the wonderful life he is to continue to lead once his father has passed the throne to him. He is accustomed to his plentiful, happy, loving life in the pride lands as a young cub.
Call to Adventure: Simba has run away with the guilt of his father’s death on his heart, which is implanted by his uncle Scar. While on his travels he meets Timon and Puumba who show him how to live freely and whom he stays with until he is older. When his childhood friend Nala is out searching for help because Scar has taken over pride rock she runs into Simba. When they discover each other’s identity, she tells him he must come back to his home. He needs to take his rightful spot on the throne and reprise himself within his kingdom.
Refusal of the Call: Although Nala tries to convince Simba that pride rock needs him he still refuses to return. He is still embarrassed by his choice to run away years prior and is reluctant to
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.
—Joseph Campbell,
The Hero With a Thousand Faces
The statement a hero’s journey can be self-explanatory. One can think of a physical journey traveled by a person. It can also be interpreted as the trials and tribulations that a person must overcome to grow. Joseph Campbell’s theory of “The Hero’s Journey” can be either of those things. It is a basic pattern that is found in many narratives from around the world. Campbell describes this an occurring cycle with three phases: Departure, Initiation and Return. In “The Lion King” Simba embarks on a journey from a lion’s cub to a full-grown lion with many trials in between.
Departure:
Home Culture: Simba is a prince, first in line to take the throne of the pride land. He is groomed by his father, Mufasa, and schooled about the wonderful life he is to continue to lead once his father has passed the throne to him. He is accustomed to his plentiful, happy, loving life in the pride lands as a young cub.
Call to Adventure: Simba has run away with the guilt of his father’s death on his heart, which is implanted by his uncle Scar. While on his travels he meets Timon and Puumba who show him how to live freely and whom he stays with until he is older. When his childhood friend Nala is out searching for help because Scar has taken over pride rock she runs into Simba. When they discover each other’s identity, she tells him he must come back to his home. He needs to take his rightful spot on the throne and reprise himself within his kingdom.
Refusal of the Call: Although Nala tries to convince Simba that pride rock needs him he still refuses to return. He is still embarrassed by his choice to run away years prior and is reluctant to