Hero's Journey Analysis Based on the Movie "Mulan" - Paper Example

Introduction

Joseph Campbell gives the characterization of a hero based on a full life cycle. According to his view, the hero comes from a common platform to a better position which will differentiate him or her from other characters. He is also the person who coiled the topic a hero's journey which was later adopted by other filmmakers while borrowing his ideas to develop compelling films like the Disney's Movie on Mulan. Therefore, the paper is premised on a hero's journey analysis based on the movie, "Mulan," while drawing reference from Joseph Campbell's views.

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The Disney movie, "Mulan," mirrors heroes a journey through the depiction of a protagonist who happens to be the topical character (Mulan). Most filmmakers and linguist argue the movie as one that gives direction for Disney's animation of studio based on the evident combination of the traditional elements like bravery, the cute animal sidekicks, and heroism with other materials which may be opined as somewhat adventurous. The movie images a hero's journey based on incitement of events like taking her father's position in the army, a challenge being sent to the emperor and Mulan's retrieval of the arrow from the topmost position of the post thus proving being a soldier (Croft 189). Other events denote the attack of the army and Mulan's womanhood being discovered, something which leads to her being cast out of the army. The climax of the movie is noted on the kidnap of the Emperor by the Hun and Mulan killing of the Hun leader thus coming back to her family with honor. These are what Joseph Campbell describes as sequences that lead to the formation of a hero. First by being ordinary and then struggling before becoming the savior of China. According to the movie, the journey of a hero is one which starts with an unusual event which seems to destroy the protagonist, for example, the death of Mulan's father and the subsequent events in the army with the inclusion of attacks from the Hun. After the attack, she is discovered to be a woman, something which gives the readers little hope about her success as a character. Events turn for good after the kidnap of the emperor; it is at this time that a hero proves herself by doing something extraordinary that any other character cannot do. For example, the killing of the Hun leader as Mulan did an act which changes her entire view in the movie. Everyone respects and honor her.

John Campbell's view of a hero changing position from an ordinary one to conquer a better place is imaged in various instances of the movie, for example, in the case where we see the film beginning with the depiction of Mulan's ordinary world (Croft 189). A world which takes into account daily chores, the feeding of chicken and ensuring that the father takes his tea routinely to stay healthy. The environment equally expects her to have the normal qualities of a matchmaker's bride. She, therefore, prepares meeting the matchmaker, like ensuring her environment is clean, such an event was part of the ordinary activities within the protagonist's culture (Mo n.p). The climax of the movie is reached on the call to adventure, where like other heroes, Mulan decides to protect her father during the Hun's invasion. She protects him from taking part in the army with the argument that he is not fit health wise, but the father rebuffs her and takes control of the scroll which ushers him to war, one which will lead to his death. The frustration of stopping the father makes her go to the military and pull the look of a man, and with her mentor Mushu, she is assisted in developing a plan of making it through the camp without the realization of her gender.

This part depicts the hero's journey based on struggles; a hero must struggle to achieve an objective that will differentiate him or her. Mulan is not an exclusion, and as Joseph Campbell opined, she must conquer a better position, one not expected by anyone from his her gender. She crosses her ordinary world and joins the military base, a place where she overcompensates for her gender and engages in fights to prove herself a male soldier. The struggle does not come out successfully as planned; she gets embarrassed by spittle which escaped her mouth when she tried to behave like other men before Shang. At the point, it may seem that she had no future in the army, but later finds an ally in Shang who realizes her ability. The subsequent events are marked by the defeat of the Hun and the killing of Shun Yu. She is later branded the savior of China due to her bravery and heroism.

Conclusion

In summary, the opinions of Joseph Campbell about a hero's journey conform with the movie Mulan since the topical character begin her life ordinarily and accompanied by various challenges. It is her act of bravery of joining the army that gives a different order of reality when she later kills the Hun's leader and gets branded as the savior of China. These ideas mirror's Campbell's assertion of a leader having to depict an act of bravery to give a stronger transformation not only to herself but her people as noted therein.

Works Cited

Croft, Janet Brennan. "The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work." Mythlore 33.2 (2015): 188-189.

Mo, Wenmin. "A Cross-cultural Analysis of Disney Mulan film and Chinese Mulan Drama impacts on Chinese Audience's Attitude." (2015).