HERNANDEZI

Romi A. Hernandez III

Instructor Petty
Eng101
13 Oct 2014

A Heros Journey, a story written by Joseph Campbell in 1949 is a collection of many

stories from around the world; some sound to extraordinary to be true but the evidence
provided would make it appear to be as true as life itself. The Wizard of Oz, a film released in
the late 1930s has a very similar pattern. The focus of this essay will be on these three
sections; The Initiation, the Departure, and the Return. Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz
follows Joseph Campbells monomyth of the hero by separation from a life on a Kansas farm,
initiation/fulfillment in a voyage with three unlikely friends through the Land of Oz and finally
returning to her bedroom on that Kansas farm. The Wizard of Oz is the perfect template for
what would later become The Heros Journey.
The Call to Adventure begins for Dorothy Gale when she gets drawn into the forest of
talking trees and encounters, a tinman, a cowardly lion, and a scarecrow in order to return
home. In Joseph Campbells A Heros Journey the similarities are undeniable. The adventure
begins with the young Princesss call to the edge of the dark forest, the great tree and, the
babbling spring. In the princesss case a speaking frog assists with the retrieval of her bouncing
ball. The frog ensures closure for the young Princess.
Refusal of the Call in A Heros Journey is when the hero refuses to continue with the
journey because of not knowing what lay ahead. Another companion making the journey may

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share in the same concerns. In Dorothys case she is well aware of the dangers that she will
encounter. Her new friends also share the same this same fear because of the contact theyve
all made with the witch. Dorothy has already encountered the wicked witch in munchkin land
and has had second guesses about continuing her adventure.
The Supernatural is for those who have not refused the call; the first encounter of the
hero-journey is with a protective figure (often a little old crone or old man) who provides the
adventurer with amulets against the dragon force he/she is about to pass. For Dorothy this
moment occurs when the ruby red slippers are given to her after killing the wicked witch of the
east. The protective figure for Dorothy is Glinda, the good witch of the North. She informs
Dorothy that the slippers, which are her amulets, will protect her from the wicked witch, the
dragon force she will encounter.
Joseph Campbells Crossing of the First Threshold speaks to the personification of her
destiny to aid and guide her. The personification portion would speak to the scarecrow,
tinman, and lion that appear to be reincarnated in animal forms resembling her farm hand
friends. These reincarnated friends, aid and guide Dorothy as she marches through her
adventure. Campbell also speaks of these aids remaining with the hero until she reaches the,
threshold guardian at the entrance to the zone of magnified power. This would be exactly
what occurs as Dorothy and the, personification reach the gates Oz and make contact with
the, threshold guardian in the form of the Wizard. The, zone of magnified power would
refer to the Land of Oz itself.

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The Belly of the Whale according to Campbells words is referring to, The hero, instead
of conquering or conciliating the power of the threshold, is swallowed into the unknown, and
would appear to have died. Dorothys Belly of the Whale or, rebirth occurs when the three
companions unite their skills to free Dorothy from the Witchs castle. The Witch tells Dorothy
that she will be dead when the hourglass runs out. Dorothy is almost certain that death is
imminent. As the escape occurs, so does the rebirth of Dorothys faith in returning to safety and
the farm.
Initiation
The Road of Trials is known as the portion of the where, The hero is covertly aided by
the advice, amulets, and secret agents of the supernatural helper whom she met before her
entrance into this region. It also speaks to a, benign power who supports the hero during
the, superhuman passage. The aid for Dorothy from the Good Witch comes in many forms.
One example occurs when Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion fall asleep moments before arriving
at the Land of Oz. The good Witch helps them out by making it snow immediately which breaks
the sleeping spell. Another example occurs when the Good Witch shows Dorothy how to return
home by clicking her heels and repeating the words, Theres no place like home.
The period of time after all of the obstacles have been conquered is known as the
ultimate adventure. This moment is represented as a, mystical marriage. This marriage
usually involves receiving an item from the Goddess. The item in the Wizard of Oz is the
knowledge of how to return home by simply using the ruby slippers. Meeting with the Goddess
isnt just a meeting. Its the joining of the hero, Dorothy, and the Goddess, the Good Witch of

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the North. These two characters are forever joined by the experiences theyve shared
throughout the adventure.
Women as the Temptress speak to the mystical marriage with the queen goddess.
Campbell also speaks to the, testings of the hero which were preliminary to his ultimate
experience and deed. He goes on to say that the hero, knows that he and the father are one:
he is in the fathers place. During her travels, Dorothy encountered many tests which lead to
her ultimate goal of returning home, and also realizing that everything that she couldve ever
wanted was right in front of her this whole time. Once she conquered these tasks and realized
what the Goddess was trying to teach her the connection, or marriage was complete. Dorothy
and Glinda, the good witch of the North," were as one.
Atonement with the Father took place with the Wizard himself. The Wizard is stern,
loud and confident and a dominate authority figure who can help Dorothy. The one stipulation
asked is that she returns after shes killed the witch and returned with her broomstick. Upon
completion of this task the four return to the Oz and ask that he honor his part of the bargain.
When the curtain is pulled back it is revealed that the Wizard is not so great and powerful after
all. The four confront the Kansas man behind the curtain and he then reveals something for
everyone except, Dorothy. This confrontation of the father figure and reconciled relationships is
what is spoken of in the Atonement with the Father.

He gathered him into his arms. Then he promised, sealing the promise with a
binding oath, that any proof the lad desired would be granted.

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The Ultimate Boon The encounter that Dorothy has with the evil witch in the castle is a very
meaning and powerful moment in the movie. This is the point in time where the four
companions face their greatest fears for the sake of each and every one of them. Dorothy faces
the evil witch, and the others defeat the guards and enter the witchs castle to save Dorothy.
Refusal of Return: This is another difficult decision for Dorothy to make. Shes been
given a hot air balloon ride back to Kansas from the Wizard himself but, it hurts Dorothy deeply
to have to leave her new found friends behind. She knows that leaving is the best thing for her;
even after the balloon takes off without her she knows that Kansas is the one and only true
home for her. Theres no place like home. realizes, the young Dorothy.
The Magic Flight: The magic flight could be seen when the voyage that Dorothy makes to
the Wizard her three friends was a successful journey. Even after the evil witch poisons the field
and makes Dorothy and the lion call into a deep sleep, Glenda is there with snow to counter the
effects of the poison and allowing the ground to make it to the Oz.
Rescue from Without: The rescue from without comes when the good witch of the
North give Dorothy the knowledge to return home by telling her she could just click her heels
together and repeat, Theres no place like home, theres no place like home. With this
knowledge of information Dorothy was finally rescued from the Land of Oz. She had the ability
the entire time she just needed then knowledge on how to use her recourses.
The Crossing of the Return: Theres no place like home, theres no place like home.,
also applies to the return of Dorothy to the farm in Kansas. The entire ordeal was just a dream

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yet it seemed so real to her. With all her friends and family present she knew she had returned
home at last. But it couldnt of been real because you were all here to whole time, werent
you?
Master of the Two Worlds: After returning from the adventure in Munchkin land and
the Emerald city, Dorothy learns to appreciate the true meaning of family and friends. She
couldnt wait to leave the farm in order to save Toto from the evil Ms. Gulch and find adventure
in her every day routine farm life. She then realized that there is no adventure can ever replace
the love and affection that can only be received by her family. While in Oz Dorothy learned that
everything you were looking for was right there in front of you, under your nose the entire
time. You just have to look at the big picture and appreciate what you already have.