Female Heroes

A woman’s quest:A woman’s quest:Archetypal female heroesArchetypal female heroes

Prepared by Noelle Leslie dela Cruz, Ph.D.Prepared by Noelle Leslie dela Cruz, Ph.D.

Philosophy DepartmentPhilosophy Department

De La Salle UniversityDe La Salle University

Outline of discussionOutline of discussion

Carl Gustav Jung on the archetypesCarl Gustav Jung on the archetypes Joseph Campbell on the hero monomythJoseph Campbell on the hero monomyth Stages of the hero’s journeyStages of the hero’s journey Female heroes: Elizabeth Gilbert, Leah Female heroes: Elizabeth Gilbert, Leah

Bustamante, and Frida KahloBustamante, and Frida Kahlo

C.G. Jung on the archetypesC.G. Jung on the archetypes

Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung posited the existence of the Jung posited the existence of the collective unconscious, the collective unconscious, the repository of human wisdom repository of human wisdom throughout the agesthroughout the ages

The most common expression of The most common expression of patterns from the collective patterns from the collective unconscious are the archetypal unconscious are the archetypal characters in mythscharacters in myths


Archetypes are universal psychic Archetypes are universal psychic forces formed through the forces formed through the history of human experiencehistory of human experience


In familiar stories, we might recognize some archetypal figures such as the hero, the wise old man, the seductress, the maiden, the mother, the trickster, the divine child, and many others

Arthur: The hero Merlin: Wise old man

Morgan le Fay: The seductress

Joseph Campbell on the hero monomythJoseph Campbell on the hero monomyth

Joseph Campbell adopted Joseph Campbell adopted Jung’s views on the Jung’s views on the psychological import of psychological import of myths, asserting that a myths, asserting that a personal understanding of personal understanding of myth would be beneficial myth would be beneficial in one’s own lifein one’s own life


Campbell advanced his Campbell advanced his theory of the monomyth, theory of the monomyth, the structure shared by all the structure shared by all myths across history and myths across history and across the worldacross the world

In particular, he focused In particular, he focused on the myth of the heroon the myth of the hero


““A hero ventures forth from A hero ventures forth from the world of common day the world of common day into a region of supernatural into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” (Campbell, his fellow man.” (Campbell, 23)23)

Stages of the hero’s journeyStages of the hero’s journey

Hero myths typically follow three main Hero myths typically follow three main stages, namely: stages, namely:

1.1. Departure – deals with the hero’s venturing forth Departure – deals with the hero’s venturing forth on a queston a quest

2.2. Initiation – deals with the hero’s various Initiation – deals with the hero’s various adventures along the wayadventures along the way

3.3. Return – deals with the hero’s return home with Return – deals with the hero’s return home with the knowledge and powers acquired along the the knowledge and powers acquired along the journeyjourney

Stages of the hero’s journey Stages of the hero’s journey (Departure)(Departure)

1.1. Birth:Birth: Fabulous Fabulous circumstances circumstances surrounding conception, surrounding conception, birth, and childhood birth, and childhood establish the hero’s establish the hero’s pedigree, and often pedigree, and often constitute their own constitute their own monomyth cycle.monomyth cycle.

The birth of Siddharta Gautama


2.2. Call to Adventure:Call to Adventure:

The hero is called to The hero is called to adventure by some external adventure by some external event or messenger. The event or messenger. The Hero may accept the call Hero may accept the call willingly or reluctantly.willingly or reluctantly.

Harry Potter receives a letter From Hogwarts


3.3. Helpers/Amulet:Helpers/Amulet: During the During the early stages of the journey, early stages of the journey, the hero will often receive the hero will often receive aid from a protective figure. aid from a protective figure. This supernatural helper can This supernatural helper can take a wide variety of forms, take a wide variety of forms, such as a wizard, and old such as a wizard, and old man, a dwarf, a crone, or a man, a dwarf, a crone, or a fairy godmother. The helper fairy godmother. The helper commonly gives the hero a commonly gives the hero a protective amulet or weapon protective amulet or weapon for the journey.for the journey.

Gandalf and Frodo(The Lord of the Rings)


4.4. Crossing the Threshold:Crossing the Threshold: Upon reaching the threshold of Upon reaching the threshold of adventure, the hero must undergo some sort of ordeal in adventure, the hero must undergo some sort of ordeal in order to pass from the everyday world into the world of order to pass from the everyday world into the world of adventure. This trial may be as painless as entering a dark adventure. This trial may be as painless as entering a dark cave or as violent as being swallowed up by a whale. The cave or as violent as being swallowed up by a whale. The important feature is the contrast between the familiar world important feature is the contrast between the familiar world of light and the dark, unknown world of adventure.of light and the dark, unknown world of adventure.

Neo chooses between the red and the blue pills (The Matrix)


5.5. Tests:Tests: The hero travels The hero travels through the dream-like through the dream-like world of adventure where world of adventure where he must undergo a series of he must undergo a series of tests. These trials are often tests. These trials are often violent encounters with violent encounters with monsters, sorcerers, monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of warriors, or forces of nature. Each successful test nature. Each successful test further proves the hero's further proves the hero's ability and advances the ability and advances the journey toward its climax.journey toward its climax. Hercules slays the hydra

Stages of the hero’s journey Stages of the hero’s journey (Initiation)(Initiation)

6.6. Helpers:Helpers: The hero is often accompanied on the journey by a The hero is often accompanied on the journey by a helper who assists in the series of tests and generally serves helper who assists in the series of tests and generally serves as a loyal companion. Alternately, the hero may encounter a as a loyal companion. Alternately, the hero may encounter a supernatural helper in the world of adventure who fulfills supernatural helper in the world of adventure who fulfills this function.this function.

Simba with Timon and Pumba (The Lion King)

Stages of the hero’s journey Stages of the hero’s journey (Initiation)(Initiation)

7.7. Climax/The Final Battle:Climax/The Final Battle: This is the critical moment This is the critical moment in the hero's journey in which there is often a final in the hero's journey in which there is often a final battle with a monster, wizard, or warrior which battle with a monster, wizard, or warrior which facilitates the particular resolution of the adventure.facilitates the particular resolution of the adventure.

Luke Skywalker’s battle with Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Stages of the hero’s journey Stages of the hero’s journey (Return)(Return)

8.8. Flight:Flight: After accomplishing the mission, the hero must After accomplishing the mission, the hero must return to the threshold of adventure and prepare for a return return to the threshold of adventure and prepare for a return to the everyday world. If the hero has angered the opposing to the everyday world. If the hero has angered the opposing forces by stealing the elixir or killing a powerful monster, forces by stealing the elixir or killing a powerful monster, the return may take the form of a hasty flight. If the hero has the return may take the form of a hasty flight. If the hero has been given the elixir freely, the flight may be a benign stage been given the elixir freely, the flight may be a benign stage of the journey.of the journey.

Perseus beheads the monster Medusa


9.9. Return:Return: The hero again The hero again crosses the threshold of crosses the threshold of adventure and returns to the adventure and returns to the everyday world of daylight. everyday world of daylight. The return usually takes the The return usually takes the form of an awakening, rebirth, form of an awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or emergence from a cave or forest. Sometimes the hero is forest. Sometimes the hero is pulled out of the adventure pulled out of the adventure world by a force from the world by a force from the daylight world.daylight world.

Orpheus loses Eurydice just before they emerged from the Underworld


10.10. Elixir:Elixir: The object, The object, knowledge, or blessing that knowledge, or blessing that the hero acquired during the the hero acquired during the adventure is now put to use adventure is now put to use in the everyday world. Often in the everyday world. Often it has a restorative or healing it has a restorative or healing function, but it also serves to function, but it also serves to define the hero's role in the define the hero's role in the society.society.

The Holy Grail


11.11. Home:Home: The hero comes The hero comes back from this back from this mysterious adventure mysterious adventure with the power to with the power to bestow boons on his bestow boons on his fellow man.fellow man.

Frodo returns to the Shire

Female heroesFemale heroes

Although the hero archetype is traditionally male, this Although the hero archetype is traditionally male, this does not preclude women from having their own hero does not preclude women from having their own hero questquest

Due to gender role conditioning, femininity has been Due to gender role conditioning, femininity has been defined in terms of nurturing, vulnerability, and defined in terms of nurturing, vulnerability, and passivitypassivity

In myths and traditional stories, women are often In myths and traditional stories, women are often portrayed as damsels in distress, domesticized portrayed as damsels in distress, domesticized caregivers, or, at the other extreme, as seductressescaregivers, or, at the other extreme, as seductresses


According to Carol Pearson, “Women receive According to Carol Pearson, “Women receive very mixed messages, since to succeed they very mixed messages, since to succeed they are told they need to act like men have. If they are told they need to act like men have. If they do so, they are frequently seen as unfeminine, do so, they are frequently seen as unfeminine, or even unnatural…. There is also… a or even unnatural…. There is also… a relatively strong prohibition against claiming relatively strong prohibition against claiming the power of the Ruler in any external way—the power of the Ruler in any external way—unless that power is strongly diluted through unless that power is strongly diluted through the Caregiver/Lover lens.”the Caregiver/Lover lens.”

InnocentInnocent


OrphanOrphan

LoverLover

SeekerSeeker

CaregiverCaregiver

WarriorWarrior

May May

stop stop

herehereCreatorCreator

DestroyerDestroyer

SelfSelf

(Seeker-Warrior)(Seeker-Warrior)

Traditional Woman’s JourneyTraditional Woman’s Journey

InnocentInnocent

OrphanOrphan

LoverLover

SeekerSeeker

CaregiverCaregiver

WarriorWarrior

May May

stop stop

herehereCreatorCreator

DestroyerDestroyer

SelfSelf

(Lover-Caregiver)(Lover-Caregiver)

Traditional Man’s JourneyTraditional Man’s Journey

Source: Awakening the Heroes Within by Carol Pearson


ARCHETYPEARCHETYPE GOALGOAL FEARFEAR

InnocentInnocent Remain in safetyRemain in safety AbandonmentAbandonment OrphanOrphan Regain safetyRegain safety ExploitationExploitationWarriorWarrior WinWin WeaknessWeaknessCaregiverCaregiver Help othersHelp others SelfishnessSelfishnessSeekerSeeker Search for a better lifeSearch for a better life ConformityConformityLoverLover BlissBliss Loss of loveLoss of loveDestroyerDestroyer MetamorphosisMetamorphosis AnnihilationAnnihilationCreatorCreator IdentityIdentity InauthenticityInauthenticityRulerRuler OrderOrder ChaosChaosMagicianMagician TransformationTransformation Evil sorceryEvil sorcerySageSage TruthTruth DeceptionDeceptionFoolFool EnjoymentEnjoyment NonalivenessNonaliveness

Source: Awakening the Heroes Within by Carol Pearson


However, due to the feminist movement of the However, due to the feminist movement of the past century, gender roles have started to past century, gender roles have started to change dramatically. Thus, it’s now possible to change dramatically. Thus, it’s now possible to think of the hero myth as applicable for both think of the hero myth as applicable for both sexessexes


Some examples of subversive female archetypes are Some examples of subversive female archetypes are Elle Woods in Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Legally Blonde, Leslie Winkle in Leslie Winkle in Big Big Bag TheoryBag Theory, and Deborah Morgan in , and Deborah Morgan in DexterDexter


Jungian psychoanalyst Jungian psychoanalyst Clarissa Pinkola Estes Clarissa Pinkola Estes discusses the Wild discusses the Wild Woman archetype, which Woman archetype, which describes contemporary describes contemporary women’s quest to find women’s quest to find their essential selvestheir essential selves

Female heroesFemale heroes ““Healthy wolves and healthy Healthy wolves and healthy

women share certain psychic women share certain psychic characteristics: keen sensing, characteristics: keen sensing, playful spirit, and a playful spirit, and a heightened capacity for heightened capacity for devotion…. Yet both have devotion…. Yet both have been hounded, harassed, and been hounded, harassed, and falsely imputed to be falsely imputed to be devouring and devious, overly devouring and devious, overly aggressive, of less value than aggressive, of less value than those who are their those who are their detractors.”detractors.”


““When women are close When women are close [to their Wild Woman [to their Wild Woman nature], the fact of that nature], the fact of that relationship glows relationship glows through them. This wild through them. This wild teacher, wild mother, wild teacher, wild mother, wild mentor supports their mentor supports their inner and outer lives, no inner and outer lives, no matter what.”matter what.”


The narratives that will be discussed in this The narratives that will be discussed in this course follow the quest of three women who course follow the quest of three women who undertook the painful road to self-discovery, undertook the painful road to self-discovery, breaking out of the traditional feminine breaking out of the traditional feminine archetypes and thus becoming heroes in their archetypes and thus becoming heroes in their own rightown right


Watch closely for their respective quests, and whether they succeed….

Elizabeth Gilbert Leah Bustamante Frida Kahlo

ReferencesReferences Campbell, Joseph. 2008. Campbell, Joseph. 2008. Hero with a thousand facesHero with a thousand faces. .

California: New World Library.California: New World Library. Estes, Clarissa Pinkola. 1992. Estes, Clarissa Pinkola. 1992. Women who run with Women who run with

the wolves: Myths and stories of the wild woman the wolves: Myths and stories of the wild woman archetypearchetype. New York: Ballantine Books.. New York: Ballantine Books.

Jung, Carl Gustav. 1976. Jung, Carl Gustav. 1976. The portable JungThe portable Jung, ed. by , ed. by Joseph Campbell. Trans. by R.F.C. Hull. New York: Joseph Campbell. Trans. by R.F.C. Hull. New York: Penguin Books.Penguin Books.

Pearson, Carol. 1991. Pearson, Carol. 1991. Awakening the heroes within: Awakening the heroes within: Twelve archetypes to help us find ourselves and Twelve archetypes to help us find ourselves and transform our worldtransform our world. New York: HarperOne.. New York: HarperOne.

Group activityGroup activity

Group yourselves into four- or five-member Group yourselves into four- or five-member groups. Discuss a myth or fairy tale and try to groups. Discuss a myth or fairy tale and try to retell it retell it criticallycritically, i.e. with a view to providing , i.e. with a view to providing an alternative to sexist, heterosexist, racist, an alternative to sexist, heterosexist, racist, classist, lookist, ageist, etc. assumptions in the classist, lookist, ageist, etc. assumptions in the original story. Be able to present a 10-minute original story. Be able to present a 10-minute skit next meeting (bring props or costumes as skit next meeting (bring props or costumes as you see fit).you see fit).

Documents

Female Heroes