Hero With A Thousand Faces Gender Analysis

WWII brought about significant changes in the role of women in the workforce, as more women were needed in factories to compensate for the men fighting abroad. However, in the late 1940s, the end of WWII signaled the beginning of women's return to the home sphere, where they took care of children and the home. Joseph Campbell's novel, The Hero With A Thousand Faces, which was published in 1949, emanates some of the gender roles held dear to many Americans at the time: women are mothers, caretakers, beautiful, and many times, seductive or manipulative. These ideas may seem old, but in the 21st century they are still sometimes clearly portrayed, even in situations of gender role reversal.

Many used to characterize women as objects or prizes to
The hero of the story, Kahlen, almost drowns on a cruise, but is offered an exchange by the Ocean: her life in exchange for 100 years of service as a siren. The Ocean blesses her with a beautiful voice, but if a human ever hears her, they will drown themselves. She meets a boy named Akinli, who she falls in love with and Akinli is, likewise, fascinated by her. One day, she accidently opens her mouth and he almost drowns himself. She saves him by promising to leave him forever, yet they both become sick due to a ancient unbreakable bond formed only by true soulmates. The Ocean, cannot watch Kahlen die, so she allows Kahlen to return to Akinli. Kahlen, in this story, adopts the role of a male hero by going on a quest to find true love, similar to many fairy tales, and by working hard for many years to achieve the final prize, freedom. However, Kahlen is still an attractive girl who lures many to their deaths, much like the temptress Campbell describes. Her love, Akinli, adopts the role of the prize that distracts Kahlen from her final goal, freedom and takes care of her like a mother figure