HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES

The collection of stories deconstructed by Campbell weave together what he calls the mono-myth. The mono-myth is the constituents of elements used to construct the fundamental framework for creation stories, literature in general, and theology. For those who are attempting to navigate through a life filled with tragedy and obstacles learning these symbolic representations may give you the inspiration to continue enduring as you undertake the hero’s journey. This book is cited numerous times in respected literature pertaining to sociology, behavioral psychology, and evolutional psychology. For that reason (among many others) it was a MUST read for me. If you are equally enthusiastic about those subject then this book will certainly keep you captivated throughout. I would definitely place this book as a significant piece of work for understanding the primordial mind (emotional mind. The Elephant to the Rider). •SUMMARY• The book takes us through a journey of stories that have been constructed from behavioral patterned observed by a self-conscience organism, humans. We later assigned significance to those patterns, constructing patterns to them. Those patterns then transcended beyond the representations of specific events and evolve into psychological representations for life at a high-level. Like a tarot card or astrology reading that could be broadly applied to nearly everyone, the symbolic representation in these stories are fluid and relevant differently subject to a particular culture. In the prologue, he suggests that our intrinsic desire to connect with our ancestral spirit (which is the lessons encoding into our mind throughout the mind's evolution) is elemental to the nourishment of the success of survival. •PART 1• The call to action engenders the hero to begin his journey beyond his real of comfort and the constraints of society. The hero is introduced to multiple trials and tribulations along the journey. Once the hero is triumphant he passes the threshold and moves onto a new world of knowledge. Upon the end of his voluntary voyage into the unknown, he must invoke his life changing-boon. “The Keys” commentates how the secular perspective towards mythology catalyzes in the removal of its primary utility which is to episodically represent symbolism. The symbolism is the suggested narrative that we act out to tend towards Peterson’s heaven — for example. •PART 2• Campell cites Jung often, especially his main idea of the collective unconscious construction of archetypes and symbols. These symbols can characterize many things but the common elements consist of fear, hope, good, evil, and other fundamental elements for survival observed and encapsulated by the narrative. Emphasis on both the creator’s sexes aspects is depicted by stories and mythology. The sequence of life from the virgin birth to death; mainly, mortality is a quintessential component needed for the exploratory character to become the hero. During the hero’s journey s/he has the ability to become one of the various options: the warrior, the lover, the emperor/tyrant, the world redeemer, or the saint. There are two types of deaths that mythologies describe, the first is personal (microcosm), and the second is universal(macrocosm). The birth, life, thriving and death/parish.

This classic work of Joseph Campbell deals with two ideas: the monomyth and the cosmogonic cycle. The monomyth (also known as the hero’s journey) is a mythological archetypal story found around the world. Campbell’s at-the-time novel work systemizes the understanding of the monomyth. According to him, the monomyth has three major rites of passage: separation, initiation and return. Under these rites of passage Campbell develops his systematization of mythic understanding. Under the part of separation are five themes: (1) The Call to Adventure, (2) Refusal of the Call, (3) Supernatural Aid, (4) The Crossing of the First Threshold, and (5) The Belly of the Whale. Under initiation are six themes: (1) The Road to Trials, (2) The Meeting with the Goddess, (3) Woman as the Temptress, (4) Atonement with the Father, (5) Apotheosis, and (6) The Ultimate Boon. Under the part of return are also six themes: (1) Refusal of the Return, (2) The Magic Flight, (3) Rescue from Without, (4) The Crossing of the Return Threshold, (5) Master of the Two Worlds, and (6) Freedom to Live. According to Campbell, myths shouldn’t be understood as scientific of historical thought, for it renders the story from its deeper interpretations and understanding. Using his systematization of the monomyth we can look at old myths in a new light. The author uses the scientific research of noted scholars such as Sigmund Freud, Carl G. Jung, Wilhelm Stekel, Otto Rank, Karl Abraham and Géza Róheim. His arguments are wisely and adamantly placed, making it impossible to refute his scholarly research as mere superstition. The book, although it provides explanations to well known myths, is of intermediate difficulty to read. It isn’t lengthy as James Frazer’s work (and doesn’t even give exhaustible examples of myths) but his argumentation and connection of different themes, motifs and archetypes between stories with eons between is difficult to grasp at first. Even when Campbell is exclusively describing a part of the hero’s journey, all the mythological themes are connected, and therefore it is important to keep in mind all the aspects of the journey at once. His perspective isn’t orthodox in nature, so you will find similarities between characters of various myths, such as Buddha and Jesus. The other part of his analysis is the cosmogonic cycle. In there he polishes is thesis developed in the monomyth part, focused in the understanding of the cycles of death and rebirth. The book contains endnotes, footnotes, an index and a bibliography divided in four parts: his main bibliography, editions of sacred texts he cited, journals and works he cited without information on edition. It is well written and maintains the thesis it puts forth at the introduction. It is a highly recommended book for those interested in story and myth. Those who read Mircea Eliade, James Frazer or Carl G. Jung will find it in their interest to dig into this book.

Very good book to read and get knowledge

awesome

A must read. I recommend it as a storyteller and as a person who enjoys reading.

Excelente producto 👍🏼

The key to understanding this classic book, and getting the most from it, is to realise that it's actually all about YOU. Campbell wrote it for YOU. Just think about the title for a start. YOU are the hero and your hero's journey is all about finding your inner life, your divine spark, and being engulfed and re-born out of it. This is what all the world's great hero myths were really talking about, symbolically, and Campbell brilliantly draws together the universal themes and parallels running through all the world's mystical and religious traditions, all of which were concerned (when understood metaphorically instead of literally) with this marvellous "death and resurrection" of the human psyche - from human animal to divine incarnation. It's a heroic deed which we all have the potential to achieve, and this book vibrantly and beautifully recollects many anicent stories that have drawn Mankind's imagination toward this very real transformation, through the use of the oldest and best means at our disposal - symbolic storytelling. This book is not just for the student or teacher of mythology or comparative religion, it's for everyone on the spiritual path. In fact, this book speaks directly to you wherever you are right now in life, whether on that path or not. Simply brilliant, and possibly the most important book of the 20th century. Even the full five star rating is not enough!

Existem livros que mudam sua perspectiva sobre a maneira como você entende a sua vida. The Hero with a Thousand Faces definitivamente é um deles. Vale muito a pena. Se você lê inglês tranquilamente essa edição é bem melhor que a brasileira, capa dura, diagramação e ilustrações excelentes.