Campbell's Hero's Journey and S4 & S5 SPN

[retro_eidas]

I was working on this on Sunday, quit it because I was having difficulty matching up some of the archetypes, but decided to finish it and post what I have after all. Because I'm a total geek who loves me some Campbell. XD

Anyway, this is a table illustrating how S4 & S5, focus on Dean, might be following Campbell's Hero's Journey template. I could have done Sam and Castiel too, but it would have gotten massive (aka, more work than I was willing to put into it and I'm a lazy bastard with my fanon). Some of them I wasn't sure on or left blank (as S5 isn't over yet), but others were surprisingly easy to match. I heard Kripke was a fan of Campbell, after filling out the table, I can believe it. Also, if this looks at all familiar, it's because I snagged it from here, which I hope I won't get in trouble for. Noticing how well SPN fits into the archetypes? I'm not uncomfortable saying it's likely a fellow Campbellian story. Kripke probably has probably got several worn copies of The Hero With A Thousand Faces lying around.

Campbell Dean Sam Castiel I: Departure The call to adventure "Because God commanded it, we have work for you." (Lazarus Rising) Ruby offering to help him (IKWYDLS) Dean convincing him to rebel (Lucifer Rising) or ordered to lay siege to Hell/save Dean Refusal of the call "Find someone else, it's not me." (On the Head of a Pin) Telling Ruby to leave (IKWYDLS) "I don't serve man and I certainly don't serve you." (The Rapture) Supernatural aid Castiel at various times & Sam saving him from Alastair in OTHOAP. Ruby, Castiel's rib sigils Anna, his resurrection in S5 Crossing the first threshold Castiel rescuing him from Hell Using his powers again Telling Dean he had doubts (ITGPSW) & his resurrection (SFTD) The belly of the whale Alastair's angelic torture chamber Bobby's panic room Heaven's green room II: Initiation The road of trials Sam slipping away (thanks sailorhathor), dealing with his memories of Hell, learning to trust Castiel (S4) / mending his rel'p with Sam (S5) Learning to use his powers (S4) / Dealing with the ramifications of his actions (S5) His doubts, his loyalty to Dean vs. the angels (S4) / threat of Falling (S5) The meeting with the goddess Anna (?) Ruby Anna (though I want to say Chastity, heh) Temptation away from the true path Zachariah's offer of Paradise Ruby (S4) / Lucifer (S5) Uriel, Anna and Zachariah Atonement with the Father Jump the Shark Jump the Shark Trying to find God (?) Apotheosis (becoming god-like) ??? Sam "going all Vader" and killing Lilith ??? The ultimate boon Castiel siding with him (Lucifer Rising) (?) ??? Dean's amulet aka God EMF (?) III: Return Refusal of the return Going from wishing he couldn't feel anything (H&H) to refusing Zachariah's offer of (being a Stepford bitch in) Paradise Refusing Lucifer in FTBYAM Turning on Zachariah and helping Dean The magic flight Impala Impala Teleporting Rescue from without Cas saves him from Zachariah multiple times Ruby saves him from suicide Dean & Sam save him from Alastair (H&H and OTHOAP), Anna saves him from Uriel (OTHOAP) Crossing the return threshold Dean banishes Zachariah with blood sigil he learned from Castiel (?) Holds Ruby as Dean stabs her Killing Zachariah's bodyguards and the rib sigils Master of the two worlds Earth and Heaven (?) Earth and Hell as Lucifer in 5.04 (?) Earth and Heaven (?) Freedom to live Escaping both Hell and Heaven (?) Realizing Ruby manipulated him and helping kill her Rebelling from Heaven (?) Common Mythic Elements Two Worlds (mundane and special) Heaven, Hell and Earth Heaven, Hell and Earth Heaven, Hell and Earth The Mentor Bobby, possibly Castiel Ruby Dean The Oracle Chuck Chuck Chuck The Prophecy Dean broke the first seal and started the Apocalypse. Because of this, he's the only one who can "finish it". "It had to be you, Sam" ??? Failed Hero Breaking in Hell and thus breaking the first seal.. Killing Lilith breaking the last seal and setting Lucifer free Letting Sam out of Bobby's panic room, betraying Anna Wearing Enemy's Skin The FBI monkeysuits, becoming ghosts in 4.15, the yuppie attire in 4.17, posing as fans in 4.18 (???) The FBI monkeysuits, becoming ghosts in 4.15, the yuppie attire in 4.17, posing as fans in 4.18 Jimmy Novak Shapeshifter (the Hero isn't sure if he can trust this character) Castiel Ruby Uriel & Anna Animal familiar N/A N/A N/A (Unless you count Jimmy) Chasing a lone animal into the enchanted wood (the animal usually gets away) ??? ??? ???

**Table credited to Star Wars Origins

Any comments or suggestions for the blank, question marked places or any of it really, feel free to post them.


ETA. On second thought, there was no reason, barring my laziness, I couldn't include Sam and Castiel too (though sacrificing the SW and "The Matrix" portions, but they weren't mine anyway). Also better I included them, just to show they're ALL on the Hero's Journey, not just Dean. ;)

Comments

[eido.livejournal.com]

The road of trials: Could also refer to Dean's journey through figuring out/finding out what was going on with Sam

You're right, I changed it above. I changed the whole table actually heee (I added in Sam and Castiel's Journeys too). It's also I think about him dubious on whether he should trust Castiel. What I didn't include was Dean dealing with his memories of Hell, which are probably also very relevant. I'm probably editing the above again. Heh.

But I think all of s4 was a road of trials, really, as they tried to prevent the Apocalypse

God, yes. S4 was one long road of misery.

Atonement with the Father could be yet to happen; maybe Dean will make his peace with God?

I don't think he's gotten that far yet. However, I go back and forth whether I should include Jump the Shark, though Dean did seem to come to a realization re: John (or at least see him much more as a man with his own failings as opposed to the superhero he used to see him as, though John is still his idol according to "Fallen Idols").

Apotheosis: Could refer to Dean finding out he's "THE vessel," Michael's vessel. Also could be expounded upon if Dean agrees to be possessed.

I wouldn't be shocked you're right about that, but I was only wary including anything about Michael yet because we haven't seen it unfold. Though Michael really has to factor in somehow, we just don't know how exactly yet.

Freedom to live: If Dean and Sam find a way to save the world from Lucifer without becoming permanent angel vessels, they will have their freedom to live as they please. Could also refer to Dean coming to the understanding (if he ever does) that people have free will, and that's why God doesn't swoop in and save everyone when there's evil in the world.

Again, wouldn't be shocked you're right about that but S5 is still ongoing (which kind of tells me I should have held off doing this until after S5, but hey, there's such a thing as the Edit button XD).

Chasing a lone animal into the enchanted wood: I think Castiel fits nicely into this position.

It could be in a much more metaphoric way (in earthly terms, wings usually associated with birds rather than people. Castiel one big hot bird, heee). Though when I think of that archetype, I think of Alice, literally, following the White Rabbit into the doorway into Wonderland. The only time I remember an animal showing up in S4/S5 is when Dean runs from the little yappy dog in "Yellow Fever"... which could have been them being cute about Dean Refusing The Call, but I digress. XD

Extremely intellectual comment below:

[22by7.livejournal.com]

Dean also got groped by a giant snake in "Yellow Fever".

Re: Extremely intellectual comment below:

[eido.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest that's some Garden of Eden symbolism (it was a female snake too, heh), but my mind can't seem to move past "giant snake" and "enchanted wood" which is just shameful and wrong obviously. *clutches pearls*

Re: Extremely intellectual comment below:

[sailorhathor.livejournal.com]

"Enchanted wood," lol. XD

[sailorhathor.livejournal.com]

>> I go back and forth whether I should include Jump the Shark, though Dean did seem to come to a realization re: John (or at least see him much more as a man with his own failings as opposed to the superhero he used to see him as, though John is still his idol according to "Fallen Idols").

Yeah, "Fallen Idols" did kind of seem like a step back since it seemed Dean had lost some of his hero worship for his father over the years, especially in "Jump the Shark." I'm not sure how Dean is ever going to get closure with his father with John being dead and all these surprise brothers popping up now and then. :D

With the hero's journey, is the animal that leads the hero into the haunted wood always actually an animal, or can it sometimes be taken symbolically? Heh, yeah, "Yellow Fever" was a pretty good example of Dean Refusing the Call, although I'm not sure it counts since he was under the influence of the supernatural? I don't know a lot about the hero's journey thing and how it works. But your table looks pretty cool so far!