Hero's Journey - Episode II: The Initiation

The Hero's Journey continues with The Initiation. This part is where The Empire Strikes Back and the Hero's true challenges start. If you missed the previous one, the Call to Adventure, check it out here.

Now, let's get on with the Initiation

1: The Road of Trials

In the road of Trials, the Hero really gets to test the tools he got from Supernatural aid.

That was Luke's encounter with the snow monster In Hoth. When he lifted his lightsaber with the Force, we saw what Obi-Wan had really given him.

Of course his encounter with the ghost of Obi-Wan is literally another Supernatural aid. There's no reason, why the elements couldn’t be used more than once, as long as they serve the story.

Trials are what mold the Hero towards what he will become, or what he would become if he fell

2: The Meeting with the Goddess

When the Hero has won his Adventure, he meets with a "Goddess", that could be a reward or a marriage.

Katniss hooking up with Peeta, after winning her first Hunger Game (Although their actual happiness came after all three books, over a decade later) is a reminder, that "The Goddess" doesn't have to be a female. It doesn't have to be a character either.

The treasure Bilbo finds In The Hobbit is just part of his Journey. He has to get it home too.

3: Woman as the temptress

We all know Syreens, at least as a concept. The same thing with Circe the witch. The Odyssee is ingrained to our back ones since primary school. 

The Hero is lured off the trails by something sweet and tempting. Noir trophe Femme Fatale is a Modern equivalent of a Syreen

Like with all, this doesn't have to be a Woman. It's temptation, like Luke had with the Dark Side, when he met Emperor Palpatine, almost striking him down.

The same thing happened in The Dark Knight, when the Joker lured Batman nearly breaking his one rule: No killing

4: Atonement with the Father

As The Hero moves on, he encounters the Father figured, that he must either defeat or ally with.

Just like Luke Skywalker left his Jedi training and went to Cloud City to save his friends, only to encounter his enemy and literal father.

Despite of his wrecklessness, his decicion Led him on the Journey to save his father a long with winning the Empire.

The same way Katniss had to encounter her figurative Father figured, as She met President Snow in Catching Fire. Together these sworn enemies agreed on not to lie to each others. A promise she kept until the end In The Mocking Jay, when Snow made her understand, that he wasn’t the only, or worst, enemy of Katniss.

5: Apotheosis

As The name suggests, Apotheosis is the climax of Hero's Journey. He has gained full wisdom and knowledge. Now he just has to use it in his final battle.

One of my all time favorite games, Batman: Arkham Knight had an excellent example (the plot of this game is really intense, so if you haven't played it, but want to, skip this part! It has some heavy spoilers!).

At the end of the game, Scarecrow finally had Batman at his mercy. He finally had To show the world, who was behind his mask. But little did Scarecrow know, that throughout the story, Bruce Wayne had been fighting with demons In his head, In the form of the late Joker.

Scarecrow's fear toxin was supposed to breakdown Batman with his worst fears. Instead it freed the demon In his head, allowing The Joker to break out. In a conflict fought In his mind, Batman finally defeated The Joker for good.

And with his secret out, he no longer had nothing to fear. He was able to beat Scarecrow.

As I mentioned earlier, Katniss Everdeen's final meeting with President Snow In The Mocking Jay opened her mind to see the truth about the Revolution she had been fighting: It was just a coupe by another would-be-tyrant, Alma Coin.

As she was ready to execute the former president Snow, Katniss made her final harsh decision: She turned her arrow towards The New president Coin and fired, hopefully freeing Panem for real this time.

6: The Ultimate Boon

Finally, The Hero has made it! Luke's become a Jedi Knight, Katniss has become The Mocking Jay and Batman's become The Dark Knight.

The Hero has achieved his goal and now it's time to rest. Time for reward. And...

Time for Return

Tune In next time, as it's time to wrap up the Hero's Journey with the return. I really hope you enjoyed this second part. I also hope it helped with your story. If it did, please share the good word in your social media.

Also, if you have something to add, correct or just want to bring out your thoughts, Please comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-Alex