The Heroes Journey Vs. the Wizard of Oz

"The Heroes Journey"

The Heroes Journey is a point in one's life that changes a person forever. This journey one undergoes follows a timeless theme called the monomyth. The Hero with a Thousand Faces, by Joseph Campbell, shows that throughout history every culture follows the common myth of the Hero. The key components in the "Heroes Journey" have a major impact on storytelling. The Heroes Journey has 12 basic stages; in which guide on through any certain. The Journey's 12 basic steps consist of , 1) ordinary world 2) Call to adventure3) Refusal of the Call 4) meeting with Mentor 5) crossing the first threshold 6) Tests allies and enemies the come across 7) Approach to the Inmost cave 8) ordeal 9) reward 10) the road back 110 Resurrection and finally 12) Return with Elixir. These timeless patterns have alson helped create the ideas for the most classic movies. The Wizard of Oz has been drastically influence by the major theme of the monomyth in a circular narrative. In Campbell's discovery the ideas of the story is just part of the endless variation of an example of the Heroes Journey.

The story begins in the world of the innocence. Dorothy orphaned as a child, lives on a gray open farmland with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Dorothy's dog, Toto, always toyed around with their neighbor, Ms Gulch, making her unwelcome to this character. After calling the Sheriff to get Toto to stay out of her garden, Toto bites Ms Gluch. Toto is taken away to be put to sleep, and although Dorothy begs and pleads none of the adults help. Here is where Dorothy's call for the quest ties in to place. Soon Dorothy's journey will begin. So overtaken with emotion she flea's her home steals Toto back and decides to come home, as a tornado is approaching. Although Dorothy tried to enter the shed Toto runs in to the home with Dorothy to follow. Here Dorothy accepts her call, the house Toto and Dorothy get carried away to a new land, the Land of Oz. As she awakens she has found a land of the munchkins and Glinda. Glinda her "mentor", as in the Heroes Journey explains to Dorothy that she is " not in Kansas anymore". Dorothy must now find her way home by entering Emerald City to meet the Wizard. Just as compared in the book, Glinda the Guide provides Dorothy with a map and a talisman. The yellow brick road is her map that will lead her to Oz, and the talisman are the ruby red slippers that she has received after dropping a house on and killing the Wicked Witch of the West. These slippers will protect her at all costs. Falling upon the Land of Oz is in reality, crossing of the first threshold. Just as her killing the Witch and saving the munchkins is could be related highly to her first heroic act, although it was involuntary. As Dorothy embarks on her journey she falls upon three new allies/companions each which have the qualities one needs to become a hero. The Lion whom needs the courage, the Tinman whom needs the heart, and the Scarecrow needs the brain. Each in there own way needs the Wizard to give what they most desire. As the four set fourth on there journey to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard they discovery their E new found enemy, the Wicked Witch. Dorothy kills her sister and stole her ruby red slippers. The Witch was ready for revenge. As the journey continued it got much oppressive with the witch always on sight them. As they finally entered to Oz and greet the Wizard they find out that there is a task they must face before receiving their wishes. He explains they must steal the Witch's broomstick and bring it back to him at once. In the journey