Heracles: A Primary Example of Joseph’s Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Essay

THESIS STATEMENTHeracles favorite of the Greeks is a primary example of Josephs Campbells heros journey, proven by all the actions that Heracles has done during the span of his Life. PURPOSE STATEMENTThis paper is to show that Heracles is the prime example of a heros journey through his actions and the struggles that he faced during his life until he was about to die but instead of death, his father, genus Zeus, saved him and he conquered the mortal realm, to become a god. INTRODUCTIONThe story of Heracles that comes to lots mind is not what Heracles had to do during his life. Throughout the life of Heracles, he has shown that he deserved to be remembered as a great hero, through the encounter that he faced from the husband of Zeus, the king of the gods, wife, Hera, because he was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. Hera is the main reason that Heracles had to complete the 12 labors. Hera caused Heracles to go activated and kill his family. The only way for Heracles to purify hims elf was to accomplish the 12 labors that was assigned to him by his cousin Eurystheus as the oracle described As atonement for the indefinable killings, the oracles put Heracles in to the servitude of his cousin, King Eurystheus, who would impose upon the young hero the Twelve Labors, seemingly impossible tasks (Reference book 68). Heracles must have completed these difficult trials to dish up him return to his usual lifeThe main reason that Hera hated Heracles is because he was the illegitimate son of her husband Zeus. Hera usually would show hatred for woman that Zeus had slept with, but in this case her hatred was for son of the woman. The hatred of Hera is also ironic because Heracles names even means Glory of Hera, but with Heras h... ...ro. In the Helicon Encyclopedia of Literature they interpret Heracles myth as Viewed as the personification of strength, courage, and endurance, Heracles and his legends may have been regarded as an allegory of the triumph of good over ev il (Helicon Encyclopedia). Heracles can be viewed as a story of good vs. evil because Heracles had to overcome the struggles placed on him from his opposition. Some people will intrust that Heracles is not a great hero and they criticize Heracles like the poet Tom Sleigh and in his poem. His own good opinion of himselfmirrored back indulgentlywhenever he committedsome peccadillo borne of selfishness (Sleigh C 9 L 12-16). Sleigh is showing that all people dont have to like or admire Heracles. But harmonise to the mono-myth Heracles is a hero and went through harder things that other heroes didnt have to complete.