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Having learnt the principles of Joseph Campbells The Hero Has Thousand Faces we can say that the stages can be logically found in the famous and beloved book Wizard of Oz. For many decades the book has been read by millions of young people. Thats why a lot of screen versions were made and now we try to examine the plot of the film, and show, how closely the film and Campbells book are connected. First lets start with pointing out main ideas of Campbells book.
I think that the stages are an excellent set of analytical tools. Knowing them one can make his own story, and it will be psychologically and dramatic true. In his work the author proposed the pattern that lies behind every story that has been ever told. Campbell emphasizes Archetypes (as he calls them). He is sure that our mind can create characters, which are its reflection, reflection of the drama of our lives. The author points out main ideas of every story.
He confirms us that each story reflects universal concerns such as questions like How can I overcome difficulties? , What is life and Why was I born? etc. And the ideas are applied to understand human problems. As to the film I think that its main idea is to show how a person (even a little one) can overcome difficulties and become a real hero; how some life situations can change our world view and help us to know ourselves better. Campbells book is called The Hero Has Thousand Faces, because every story teller reproduces the myth from his point of view and creates his own hero, different from others. Lets look at the face of our heroine, an ordinary girl from Kansas, Dorothy.
Lets try to prove that she is a real hero. The first stage of the hero is The hero is introduced in his ordinary world. From the very beginning of the film, Dorothy is seen at her native place, Kansas. She lives with her Uncle Henry and Auntie Em (Emily). Though Dorothy's relatives are kind people but they are always busy. When the girl tries to tell them about her nasty neighbor who torments her dog Toto, they ignore her words.
She is not taken seriously. Dorothy tries to tell her Uncle and Aunt that Gulch is a bad person because she accuses the dog of chasing her cat. So, we can find Dorothy in a place known to her. The second stage is The call to Adventure.
In the stage there is always a problem, challenge or adventure. Feeling herself alone, Dorothy dreams of another world beyond her home land where she can find happiness. So, it is easy to understand that Dorothy is looking for adventure. She is ready but only in her dreams.
As to the deeds she is not ready yet. She is afraid of going somewhere. The third stage is The Hero is reluctant at first. It is because of fear fear of the unknown. To fulfill a task is not an easy thing.
Dorothy needs a great motivation to leave her home and go away. The motivation for Dorothy is realizing how inadequate and weak the adults are in the life, and an attempt to take control of her own destiny. Dorothy comes to such decision when ugly Miss Gulch appears at her farm with the words that Toto is a menace to the community. She stuffs the dog into the wicker basket.
Dorothy feels her helplessness; but Toto jumps out of the basket and runs to the girl. It is a chance to save the pet. Without hesitation, Dorothy packs her suitcase and goes away. At her way she meets an old white haired Professor Marvel. He forces Dorothy to return home. He opens the girl her fears both losing and hurting her Auntie Em.
The girl is willing to return home immediately; but she is transported by tornado to another place. We can say that tornado symbolizes Dorothy's fears. The picture of the huge misshaped twister strengthens the fears of the main heroine, the fears to be separated from the world of her home and relatives. During the whole way to the unknown place Dorothy is unconscious, and she is transported inside the house. When she stops she realizes that she is in unknown place with Toto in her arms. When she opens the door it is the door to another peaceful world.
She thinks that it must be the world over the rainbow. But we can notice that it is the world of her unconscious dreams. It mirrors her life in Kansas. But there are some transformations. First of all she is treated as a hero by the people of the land. Dorothy knows that she has killed the Witch of the East.
The Wicked Witch treated poor people very bad. Though Dorothy explains that it is an accident but she is treated as a hero. There the girl meets with the good Witch of the North, Glinda. It is the next step in her heros journey. Dorothy wants to returns home and Glinda becomes her mentor.
She encourages the heroine, and gives her some advices how to reach home. Linda protects the girl from the terrible - looking Wicked Witch of the West, and gives her the sword, which helps her greatly. Glinda gives Dorothy the ruby slippers and orders her not to put them off. At that moment Dorothy does not realize the power the shoes had. They will allow her to return home. Glinda helps Dorothy to find the way out but does not go with her, because Dorothy should face the unknown by herself.
So, Dorothy sets out on the Yellow Brick Road. It means that she is ready for her journey and there is no turning back. From that period the fifth stage begins The Hero Passes the First Threshold Our heroine makes many allies and enemies. She passes certain tests that are part of her training.
This part of the film (the bigger part of it) proves that Campbell is right named the next stage The Hero encounters Tests and Helpers. By the way the helpers are the persons who are known to the main heroine. As it was pointed earlier, the unknown world is the reflection of Dorothy's life in Kansas. So, we can see the farmers hired helpers. Tall and slender Hunk has lack of brains and intelligence. Then he becomes the brain lacking Scarecrow.
His head is made of straw. Another farm worker Zeke appears in a role of the Cowardly Lion, because he is not a courage and brave man in a real life. The third worker Hickory desires social status and respect boasts. Dorothy meets him in a role of the Tin man. All Dorothy's friends accompany her to the Wizard of Oz, who can help not only her but them. On their difficult way to the Wizard they prove that they have missing qualities.
Finally, the hero comes to the most dangerous place where the object of the quest hidden. Here is her dream world. Dorothy is going to confront her worst fears and overcome them. In the film we see a dark Witch's castle and the Haunted forest in front of it. The characters of the film are scared but go on their way. Then they are set upon by the army of bluish ugly winged monkey, sent by the Bad Witch.
Forces are not equal and soon Dorothy with her dog is imprisoned in the tower room of the castle. Her dog is placed in a wicker basket (like in her ordinary life). Dorothy is proposed to change her ruby slippers on her dog. Dorothy is crossed, but she remembers the words of the Good Witch and does not agree. The Bad Witch gets anger and locked Dorothy in the tower. This is, I think, a critical moment of the story.
Dorothy is really afraid. She occurs in really adults world with a lot of serious problems. The end of the story depends on her courage, her desire to survive and her strong character. But she cannot find the way out of the castle and Toto is not with her.
The ideas about death appear in her head, and she nearly desperate's. But her desire to survive helps her to overcome depression and wait till her friends come to help. At the moment Toto runs away from the basket and finds Dorothy's friends. They go to save the girl. During the rescue sequence each of them has obtained some knowledge and experiences. It leads to great understanding and reconciliation with hostile forces.
Friends display the qualities that they wish for compassion. It is a real sword that they have seized. It is the ninth point The Hero seizes the sward. After the victory over the Witch of the West the friends go on their way and reach the Land of Oz.
the Wizard of Oz reminds us Professor Marvel. The Wizard promises them to help and grant their entire request, but there is one condition. They should perform a task to test for the qualities that they believe they lack. Then he proves Dorothy's friends that they have already had the qualities they are asking for. They demonstrated them in a brave and clever rescuer of Dorothy. It seems to be the happy end, but Campbell points other three stages.
The next one is The Road Back. It is when the hero seems to be out of difficulties and ordeals, but it is not so. She has to overcome the last ordeal. Dorothy should go to the Emerald City to the Good Witch of the North.
Her friends help her. The eleventh stage of Resurrection Dorothy passes with the help of her mentor The good witch of the North. The woman said that Dorothy has always had the power to go home. It was the power of her magic slippers. But the problem was inside Dorothy, in her heart. She had to discover it for herself.
Suddenly Dorothy realizes that everything she has ever wanted is right in her own heart if only she wants it hard enough. Resurrection is her new experience. She relies upon her own power and personality to find her independent identity and way home. The last stage according to Campbell is Return with the Elixir. Dorothy comes back to her ordinary world. She has brought some lessons from the special world.
By returning home she has confronted her childhood fears and grown up emotionally with strength enough. She is ready to meet her adult future. Dorothy's journey was as rewarding as the accomplishment of her goal. I think Dorothy is a real hero. She overcame the worst enemy inside her. She won her little battle and came back with rewards, her own useful experience.
I am strongly sure that Americans need heroes, because heroes prove us that in every person, deeply inside, lives a real hero. The knowledge of it helps ordinary Americans to make feats. Bibliography: Joseph Campbell, The Hero With A Thousand Faces. Princeton: Princeton University Press; 1969. web
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