How to Understand the Hero's Journey (and How to Subvert It)

The Hero's Journey, a narrative structure that has stood the test of time, is one of the most influential storytelling models in modern literature, film, and other forms of media. Coined by mythologist Joseph Campbell in his groundbreaking work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, the Hero's Journey has become a lens through which many stories---especially those in the adventure genre---are understood. Its cyclical structure has resonated with storytellers for decades because it reflects universal patterns of personal growth, self-discovery, and transformation.

While it remains a valuable tool in the hands of many storytellers, the Hero's Journey is far from a rigid formula. In fact, a deeper exploration reveals that it can be subverted in compelling and innovative ways, producing narratives that both honor and challenge traditional storytelling conventions.

This article will explore the core principles of the Hero's Journey and offer insights into how modern storytellers can both understand and subvert this archetypal structure to create more nuanced, unexpected, and original narratives.

Understanding the Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey is essentially a framework for a protagonist's transformation. It's not limited to fantasy or adventure but can be found in nearly every form of storytelling, from classical mythology to contemporary cinema. The journey can be divided into several stages, each representing a key turning point in the hero's development.

1. The Ordinary World

In the first stage, the hero is introduced in their normal life, a world they understand and where they feel comfortable. This ordinary world serves as a backdrop for the hero's transformation, highlighting what is at stake and setting the stage for the journey ahead.

For example, in The Lion King, Simba begins in his peaceful life in the Pride Lands, unaware of the challenges that await him. The Ordinary World serves to establish the hero's baseline existence before they are thrust into the unknown.

2. The Call to Adventure

A defining feature of the Hero's Journey is the Call to Adventure. Something occurs---whether an event, person, or discovery---that disrupts the hero's everyday life and beckons them toward something greater. The Call could be a literal invitation or a metaphorical sign, but it pushes the hero to consider stepping outside their comfort zone.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry receives his letter from Hogwarts, an event that changes the course of his life forever, drawing him into a magical world that will demand his growth and strength.

3. Refusal of the Call

At this stage, the hero may hesitate or refuse the Call to Adventure. This resistance often stems from fear, uncertainty, or a reluctance to leave their ordinary world behind. It's a critical moment in the journey, as it demonstrates the hero's vulnerability and internal conflict.

For instance, in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo initially refuses to take the Ring to Rivendell, feeling ill-equipped to deal with the magnitude of the task.

4. Meeting the Mentor

In many stories, a mentor figure arrives to offer guidance, tools, or wisdom to the hero. This mentor serves as a catalyst for change, helping the hero to overcome their doubts and prepare for the challenges ahead. The mentor is often an experienced individual who has undergone their own transformation.

In Star Wars: A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi mentors Luke Skywalker, offering him the wisdom and tools necessary to begin his journey toward becoming a Jedi.

5. Crossing the Threshold

Once the hero has made the decision to embark on the journey, they cross into the unknown. This is a literal or metaphorical crossing, often marked by a significant change in environment. From here on, the rules of the ordinary world no longer apply, and the hero must adapt to new circumstances and challenges.

For example, in Alice in Wonderland, Alice's fall down the rabbit hole symbolizes her crossing into a fantastical world, where she will encounter strange creatures and face bizarre challenges.

6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies

In this phase, the hero faces various trials that test their resolve, skills, and character. Along the way, they meet allies who offer support and enemies who challenge them. These encounters help the hero grow and gain a deeper understanding of their own abilities and limits.

In The Hunger Games, Katniss faces multiple tests, both physical and emotional, and forms alliances with other tributes like Rue and Peeta, while also contending with the Capitol's oppressive regime.

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave

This stage represents a turning point in the narrative, as the hero prepares to confront their greatest challenge. The "Inmost Cave" could be a literal place---such as a dark forest or enemy stronghold---or a metaphorical one, representing a personal fear, moral dilemma, or inner conflict.

In The Hobbit, Bilbo's journey leads him to the Lonely Mountain, where he must confront the dragon Smaug and recover the treasure that lies within.

8. The Ordeal

The Ordeal is often the climax of the Hero's Journey, where the hero faces their greatest fear or challenge. This is a life-or-death moment, where the hero's survival or success depends on everything they've learned up until this point.

For instance, in The Matrix, Neo's confrontation with Agent Smith serves as a pivotal moment where he must transcend his previous limitations to realize his true potential as "The One."

9. Reward (Seizing the Sword)

After overcoming the Ordeal, the hero receives a reward---whether it be a physical object, knowledge, or a new understanding of themselves or the world around them. This reward signifies the hero's growth and transformation.

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy retrieves the Holy Grail, but it's the lessons learned about faith and humility that are the true rewards of the journey.

10. The Road Back

The Road Back represents the hero's return to the ordinary world, often with new knowledge, power, or responsibility. However, this return is rarely simple, as the hero is still tested by the consequences of their journey and must often confront lingering challenges.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Frodo's journey back to the Shire is bittersweet, marked by the weight of his experiences and the changes that have occurred within him.

11. Resurrection

The Resurrection symbolizes the hero's final transformation. The hero may face one last trial or challenge that tests their newfound abilities, beliefs, or character. This is often a symbolic death and rebirth, where the hero sheds their former self to become something new.

For example, in The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne's return as Batman symbolizes his full acceptance of his role as Gotham's protector, having reconciled his personal demons.

12. Return with the Elixir

The hero returns to the ordinary world, now transformed. They carry the "elixir"---whether it's knowledge, wisdom, or an actual physical object---that can benefit others. The hero's journey is complete, and they have contributed to the greater good.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry's return to the wizarding world after defeating Voldemort represents his completion of the Hero's Journey, bringing peace and a new sense of hope.

Subverting the Hero's Journey

While the Hero's Journey has been a powerful tool for storytelling, it's not without its limitations. Some modern storytellers have begun to challenge and subvert this structure in order to explore more complex, diverse, and unconventional narratives. Subverting the Hero's Journey involves breaking away from the expectations of the traditional structure, offering new perspectives on heroism and transformation.

1. Rejecting the Heroic Archetype

One of the most effective ways to subvert the Hero's Journey is by rejecting the very concept of the "hero" itself. Instead of focusing on a single protagonist who undergoes a transformative journey, the story may highlight multiple characters with their own arcs or emphasize a collective journey over individual heroism.

For instance, in The Wire, there is no singular hero. The show instead presents a complex ensemble cast, each with their own struggles, strengths, and flaws. The story subverts the idea of a traditional hero by showing the systemic forces that shape individual destinies, offering a more nuanced and bleak view of heroism.

2. Deconstructing the Call to Adventure

Many stories subvert the Hero's Journey by undermining the Call to Adventure. Instead of being a grand, transformative event, the "call" could be banal, unremarkable, or even resisted to the point of absurdity.

In Fight Club, Tyler Durden invites the narrator into a chaotic world of anti-corporate rebellion, but the journey quickly becomes self-destructive and deeply flawed. The Call to Adventure is not a heroic leap but a dangerous descent into nihilism.

3. The Anti-Hero

The anti-hero subverts traditional expectations of the hero by embodying traits typically reserved for villains or morally ambiguous figures. These characters often reject the heroic archetype, not only in their actions but also in their attitudes toward the journey itself.

In Breaking Bad, Walter White starts as a chemistry teacher turned drug dealer, an anti-hero whose moral descent challenges conventional notions of heroism. His "journey" is not about noble transformation, but about embracing power, corruption, and self-destruction.

4. The Unfinished Journey

Another way to subvert the Hero's Journey is by leaving the narrative unresolved or incomplete. Rather than providing a neatly wrapped-up conclusion, the journey remains open-ended or even unfinished, forcing the audience to question the value of the hero's transformation.

In Inception, the ambiguity of the final scene---whether Dom Cobb is still in the dream world or has truly returned home---leaves the hero's journey unresolved. The film challenges the very concept of completion in a narrative and emphasizes the subjective nature of the journey itself.

5. Embracing Failure

Subverting the Hero's Journey also involves portraying failure as an essential part of the journey. Instead of focusing on the hero's ultimate success, the narrative may center on the lessons learned from defeat or the hero's inability to achieve their goals.

In The Road, the protagonist's journey is marked by failure, loss, and hopelessness, but his efforts to protect his son are heroic in a different sense---one that embraces the futility of survival in a post-apocalyptic world.

Conclusion

The Hero's Journey has been a cornerstone of storytelling for centuries, providing a universal framework that resonates with audiences across cultures. Its appeal lies in its structure, which reflects the human experience of growth, struggle, and transformation. However, as storytelling evolves, so too does the understanding of what it means to be a "hero." By subverting the Hero's Journey, modern narratives can push boundaries, challenge conventions, and offer deeper, more diverse perspectives on heroism, identity, and transformation.

Whether through the rejection of the hero archetype, the deconstruction of the Call to Adventure, or the portrayal of failure as a vital part of the journey, subverting the Hero's Journey can lead to some of the most compelling and thought-provoking stories of our time. It's in these subversions that new kinds of heroism can emerge---ones that speak to the complexity and ambiguity of the modern world.

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