Monomyth
17 stages
Mythology is the study of myth. A myth can be defined as a traditional tale or story, which is spoken or written down which are passed down by generation. These stories help recall events that have happened in past and create lessons cultures live by. These tales also contain hidden significance, which help cultures understand life lessons and explain the unknown and teach them through the stories. Finally myths create a connection between the past and present by establishing a basic pattern everyone can relate to. This pattern was discovered by Joseph Campbell and is called monomyth. Campbell proposes that, “all myths are essentially hero-quest stories, each of which rings a unique change on a universal pattern…” Campbell analyzed a number of myths and discovered that every hero travels through the same journey. These journeys consists of three main steps the departure, initiation, and the return which breakdown into 17 stages. These stages have been used in both ancient and modern day stories. After watching The Matrix it is clear to see that Joseph Campbell’s 17 stages of monomyth was used in making this film.
The Call to Adventure
Joseph Campbell describes this stage as the beginning of the journey. It is at this time where the Hero is summoned and asked to leave everyday life. “Destiny has summoned the hero and transferred his spiritual center of gravity from within the pale of his society to a zone unknown” Campbell. In The Matrix the theme of The Call to Adventure is very strong. This connection is shown throughout the movie by the phone call that is used to bring them in and out of the matrix. This is more of a literal use of the theme Call to Adventure since they could only enter and leave the matrix by a phone call. Another use of this theme starts at the beginning of the movie. We see Neo the hero living everyday life until one day he sees the phrase “follow the white rabbit” come up on his computer screen. Two seconds later someone is at
Mythology is the study of myth. A myth can be defined as a traditional tale or story, which is spoken or written down which are passed down by generation. These stories help recall events that have happened in past and create lessons cultures live by. These tales also contain hidden significance, which help cultures understand life lessons and explain the unknown and teach them through the stories. Finally myths create a connection between the past and present by establishing a basic pattern everyone can relate to. This pattern was discovered by Joseph Campbell and is called monomyth. Campbell proposes that, “all myths are essentially hero-quest stories, each of which rings a unique change on a universal pattern…” Campbell analyzed a number of myths and discovered that every hero travels through the same journey. These journeys consists of three main steps the departure, initiation, and the return which breakdown into 17 stages. These stages have been used in both ancient and modern day stories. After watching The Matrix it is clear to see that Joseph Campbell’s 17 stages of monomyth was used in making this film.
The Call to Adventure
Joseph Campbell describes this stage as the beginning of the journey. It is at this time where the Hero is summoned and asked to leave everyday life. “Destiny has summoned the hero and transferred his spiritual center of gravity from within the pale of his society to a zone unknown” Campbell. In The Matrix the theme of The Call to Adventure is very strong. This connection is shown throughout the movie by the phone call that is used to bring them in and out of the matrix. This is more of a literal use of the theme Call to Adventure since they could only enter and leave the matrix by a phone call. Another use of this theme starts at the beginning of the movie. We see Neo the hero living everyday life until one day he sees the phrase “follow the white rabbit” come up on his computer screen. Two seconds later someone is at
Cited: Campbell, Joseph. "From One Pattern, Many Stories." Monomyth. Web. https://ysu.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tabGroup=courses&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fcontent%2FcontentWrapper.jsp%3Fcontent_id%3D_255147_1%26displayName%3DLinked%2BFile%26course_id%3D_5393_1%26navItem%3Dcontent%26attachment%3Dtrue%26href%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.as.ysu.edu%252F%257Esaleonard%252FCampbell%252520notes.html The Matrix. Prod. Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski. Dir. Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski. By Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski. 1999..