WELCOME BACK TO THE DYM OFF-SEASON STAR WARS SPECTACULAR!!
If you're just joining us, check out the intro here, PART 1 here, PART 2 here, PART 3 here and PART 4 here.
PART 5: THE JEDI STEPS
And now for the Grande Finale!!!
Let’s go scene by scene and break down how each of the Star Wars Trilogy plays out every step of the classic Hero's Journey myth.
Act 1- “Departure” – Episodes IV, III, and VII
This is the hero first learning of the world beyond their experience. They have to leave their comfort zone for the first time and begin to acquire the tools or skills they will need to complete the journey.
1 The Call to Adventure
“The hero begins in a situation of normality from which some information is received that acts as a call to head off into the unknown.” - Campbell
IV: “You must learn of the force if you are to travel with me to Alderaan” (33 min)
III: ANAKIN: “Is it possible to learn this?” PALPATINE: “Not from a Jedi” (47 min)
VII: “Luke Skywalker? I though he was a myth” (28 min)
2 Refusal of the Call
"Often when the call is given, the future hero first refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his current circumstances." - Campbell
IV: “Luke, don’t go, it’s too dangerous!” (Luke runs back home)
III: “Master, I’ve disappointed you… I apologize.”
VII: “I’ve got to go back to Jakku”
3 Supernatural Aid
"Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his guide and magical helper appears or becomes known." - Campbell
[These scenes each take place 10-15 minutes after the “Call to Adventure”]
IV: “I want to learn the ways of The Force and become a Jedi like my father.”
III: “My mentor taught me everything about The Force, even the nature of the dark side.”
VII: “It's true. The Force, the Jedi, all of it. It's all true.”
4 Arriving at the First Threshold
“This is the point where the hero actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are unknown.” - Campbell
[These scenes each take place 30 minutes after the “Call to Adventure”]
IV: “You’ve taken your first step into a larger world”
III: “You shall be known as Darth Vader”
VII: “It calls to you”
5 Belly of the Whale
“The belly of the whale represents the hero's complete separation from his old world. Here he demonstrates he is ready for the metamorphosis. Entering the stage is often dangerous or frustrating for the hero.” - Campbell
IV: Tractor beam pulls Millennium Falcon into Death Star
III: Vader attacks the Jedi temple
VII: Rey abducted by Kylo
6. The Threshold Guardian
Before the hero is allowed to cross into the mystery realm he is challenged by the guardian of the realm. In order to actually cross the threshold, the hero will have to leave their first mentor behind. The mentor cannot take them on the next part of the journey - self-discovery.
[These scenes each take place 33 minutes from the end]
IV: Obi-Wan faces Vader
III: Vader faces Obi-Wan
VII: Kylo Ren faces Han Solo
Act 2 - “Initiation” – Episodes V, II, and VIII
The Hero descends into the magical realm - the world of shadow and mystery. There is darkness and dramatic subterfuge representing a process of self-discovery and growth. Often the hero will literally fall or go somewhere underground (representing the unconscous mind). There they face their ultimate nemesis: themselves.
7 The Road of Trials
“The road of trials is a series of tests that the hero must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the hero fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes. Eventually the hero will overcome these trials and move on to the next step.” - Campbell
V: 1. Hoth/2. Asteroid field/3. Yoda refuses to train Luke ("Too old")
II: 1. Assassination attempt/2. Obi-Wan to Kamino/3. Padme refuses Anakin ("Don't look at me like that")
VIII: 1. Dreadnaught/2. Canto Beit/3. Luke’s refuses to train Rey ("It's time for the Jedi to end")
8 The Meeting with the Goddess
“This is where the hero gains items given to him that will help him in the future.” - Campbell
V: First lessons
II: Kiss on Naboo
VIII: First lessons
9 Atonement with the Father/Abyss
"In this step the hero must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his life. In many myths and stories this is the father, or a father figure who has life and death power. This is the center point of the journey. All the previous steps have been moving into this place, all that follow will move out from it. Although this step is most frequently symbolized by an encounter with a male entity, it does not have to be a male; just someone or thing with incredible power." - Campbell
[These scenes all take place exactly half-way through the film]
V: Magic Tree
II: Tuskan hut
VIII: Magic Cave
10 Apotheosis
“This is the point of realization in which a greater understanding is achieved. Armed with this new knowledge and perception, the hero is resolved and ready for the more difficult part of the adventure.” - Campbell
V: “The future you see”
II: “I love you”
VIII: “Did you create Kylo Ren?”
11 The Ultimate Boon (2nd Threshold)
“The ultimate boon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the hero went on the journey to get. All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the hero for this step, since in many myths the boon is something transcendent like the elixir of life itself, or a plant that supplies immortality, or the holy grail.” - Campbell
V: “I am your Father”
II: Secret Marriage
VIII: “See ya 'round, kid”
Act 3 – Return – Episodes VI, I, and IX
Now the Hero’s quest is nearly complete. He knows what he must do to achieve his goal. More obstacles lie along the final road. The hero transcends the problems he faced in the first act and is able to deliver others from them as well.
12 Refusal of the Return
“Having found bliss and enlightenment in the other world, the hero may not want to return to the ordinary world to bestow the boon onto his fellow man.” - Campbell
[These lines are both spoken at 47 min]
VI: “I can’t do it, Ben”
I: “I didn’t actually come here to free slaves”
IX: ???
13 The Magic Flight
“Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding. It can be just as adventurous and dangerous returning from the journey as it was to go on it.” - Campbell
[Both chase sequences begin at 58 min]
VI: Speeder chase
I: Pod race
IX: ???
14 Rescue from Without
“Just as the hero may need guides and assistants to set out on the quest, often he must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring them back to everyday life, especially if the person has been wounded or weakened by the experience.” - Campbell
[These scenes appear about 15 minutes from the end]
VI: Han deactivates shield generator
I: Anakin destroys droid control ship
IX: ???
15 The Crossing of the Return Threshold
“The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world.” - Campbell
VI: “I am a Jedi, like my father before me”
I: QUI-GON: "Promise me you will train the boy" OBI-WAN: "I promise"
IX: ???
16 Master of Two Worlds
“This step is usually represented by a transcendental hero like Jesus or Gautama Buddha. For a human hero, it may mean achieving a balance between the material and spiritual. The person has become comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer worlds.” - Campbell
VI: "I want to look on you with my own eyes"
I: “We will watch your career with great interest”
IX: ???
17 Freedom to Live
After mastering the mystery world, the hero "no longer fears death, which in turn is the freedom to live. This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment, neither anticipating the future nor regretting the past." - Campbell
VI: Gathering of Force ghosts
I: Gungan parade
IX: ???
That's all folks!
Thanks for joining us for the DYM Off-Season Star Wars Spectacular!!!!!!!!!
We'll be back soon with our regular DYM Off-Season programing. In the meantime, if you have any Star Wars haters in your life, make sure to send em our way!!!
HAVE A GREAT STAR WARS EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!