I will demonstrate Joseph Campbells 'Hero's Journey' by breaking down the popular film the Matrix with the same structure.

 

 

1.        THE ORDINARY WORLD.  The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma.  The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history.  Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress. 

 

Neo is a hacker, down on his luck and unhappy with his job and life in the ordinary world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.        THE CALL TO ADVENTURE.  Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change.   

 

He receives a call from Morpheus and is chased by 'Agents'. It is evident he is in danger. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.        REFUSAL OF THE CALL.  The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly.  Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead. 

 

He fails to listen to instructions from Morpheus and is captured by the Agents whereby he wakes up and does not remember previous events. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.        MEETING WITH THE MENTOR.  The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey.  Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom. 

 

He meets with Morpheus who opens his eyes to the Matrix and shows him how he has been living in a lie for all his life. Morpheus believes Neo is the chosen saviour. A messiah of sorts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.        CROSSING THE THRESHOLD.  At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values.   

 

Neo chooses the red pill which leads him further down the rabbit hole. He is is released from the Matrix and sees the real world outside it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.        TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES.  The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World. 

 

He is confronted with the 'jump' - a leap of faith - which he fails. He learns many different fighting techniques and more about how to manipulate the Matrix. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.        APPROACH.  The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world. 

 

The team make their way toward the Oracle's house where Neo will learn more about his powers and if he is in fact the chosen one. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.        THE ORDEAL.  Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear.  Out of the moment of death comes a new life.  

 

The oracle says Neo is not the chosen one and the team is attacked by Agent's where Morpheus sacrifices himself for Neo and is by result captured. Neo must now confront the agents knowing he is not the chosen one and without his Mentors guidance.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.        THE REWARD.  The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death.  There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again. 

 

Neo will defeat evil against all odds and it is evident he may well be the chosen one despite his previous lack of faith in his abilities. He rescues Morpheus from the lions den and is rewarded with a new found love in Trinity. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.      THE ROAD BACK.  About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home.  Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission. 

 

One of the team has defected and becomes a traitor, in Judas like fashion. The road back is dangerous as the team is facing danger's in the real world outside of the Matrix. Will Neo make it back in time? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.     THE RESURRECTION.  At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home.  He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level.  By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved. 

 

Before Neo can make it back he is confronted by Agent Smith who stands in his way of returning to the real world. He passes the test and it turns out Morpheus was right all along: Neo is the new Messiah. Agent Smith is defeated and he makes it back just in time for the team to escape the pressing dangers of the real world.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   

 

12.       RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR.  The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed. 

 

Neo continues his crusade against the Matrix and his strive for the enlightenment of the people trapped inside it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images grabbed from Google.

Sources:

http://www.thewritersjourney.com/hero's_journey.htm

The Matrix. 1999