Hero Cycle- Batman Begins
Kyle Wadell
Integrated Western Civilization
1/22/2012
Hero Cycle Essay-Batman Begins
Joseph Campbell detailed his theory of the monomyth in his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The theory of the monomyth or Hero Cycle is that there is a way of telling a story that is hardwired into our brains and that across cultures myths will resemble each other due to this internal plot. The book shows how Humans in general prefer to, and find it hard not to, tell a narrative not as a hero’s journey with an underlying theme. If analyzed most books, TV shows, and movies are played out corresponding to the monomyth. The 2005 release of Batman Begins depicts this through a variety of events and then resolves with the underlying theme of facing your darkest fears.
The journey will begin with a call to adventure where the hero receives news of disturbance and sets off to set the world right. In Batman Begins the Call to adventure is depicted through a series of flashbacks detailing the murder of Bruce’s parents and the murder of their killer after his appeal. The two events happen years apart but are depicted in quick succession throughout the movie. The murder of his parents results in creation of his beginning hate for the criminals of Gotham. The second part of his calling is when his parent’s killer is murdered. It is important to note that although the killer was murdered by a hit man in order to ensure he didn’t confess who he was working for, Bruce would have shot him. This has little effect initially on the story but it does later show insight into Bruce’s character. After the killer is murdered Bruce attempts to confront the Falcone crime boss who ordered the hit to tell him he isn’t afraid. The boss mocks him and his parent’s death and throws him out, focusing his anger which originally was turned purely on the single thief who murders his parents into a general hate for crime. While in the dark dangerous areas of the city Gotham Bruce sees the terrible effects of
Integrated Western Civilization
1/22/2012
Hero Cycle Essay-Batman Begins
Joseph Campbell detailed his theory of the monomyth in his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The theory of the monomyth or Hero Cycle is that there is a way of telling a story that is hardwired into our brains and that across cultures myths will resemble each other due to this internal plot. The book shows how Humans in general prefer to, and find it hard not to, tell a narrative not as a hero’s journey with an underlying theme. If analyzed most books, TV shows, and movies are played out corresponding to the monomyth. The 2005 release of Batman Begins depicts this through a variety of events and then resolves with the underlying theme of facing your darkest fears.
The journey will begin with a call to adventure where the hero receives news of disturbance and sets off to set the world right. In Batman Begins the Call to adventure is depicted through a series of flashbacks detailing the murder of Bruce’s parents and the murder of their killer after his appeal. The two events happen years apart but are depicted in quick succession throughout the movie. The murder of his parents results in creation of his beginning hate for the criminals of Gotham. The second part of his calling is when his parent’s killer is murdered. It is important to note that although the killer was murdered by a hit man in order to ensure he didn’t confess who he was working for, Bruce would have shot him. This has little effect initially on the story but it does later show insight into Bruce’s character. After the killer is murdered Bruce attempts to confront the Falcone crime boss who ordered the hit to tell him he isn’t afraid. The boss mocks him and his parent’s death and throws him out, focusing his anger which originally was turned purely on the single thief who murders his parents into a general hate for crime. While in the dark dangerous areas of the city Gotham Bruce sees the terrible effects of