For my Greek Mythology class, we are told for our final to choose your favorite hero and relate him/her to Joseph Campbell’s “steps of a hero’s journey”. I chose Master Chief because I love the halo lore more than Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. I was hoping I could get some ideas from the community to fill these hero’s steps but with examples from Master Chief’s journies. The steps in a hero’s journey are:
THE ORDINARY WORLD. The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress. - THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change. - REFUSAL OF THE CALL. The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead. - MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom. - CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values. - TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES. The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World. - APPROACH. The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world. - THE ORDEAL. Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life. - THE REWARD. The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death. There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again. - THE ROAD BACK. About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission. - THE RESURRECTION. At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved. - RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR. The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed.Any and all comments are appreciated. I’d love to discuss events from the Halo lore that coincide with these 12 steps. Thanks!
Fall of Reach is a good novel that gives insight into Master Chief’s past. From his leadership skills being observed, to when he’s kidnapped, to his augmentations.
I would have thought more people would have helped out. Halo 4 is another example, you spend some time alone and you get to see Master Chief struggle to get back to Earth. Also try to look for a Sypnopsis of Halo: The Flood it shows John’s insight on Alpha Halo that the game didn’t.
The Ordinary World: Could be John getting conscripted into the Spartan Program.
Call to Adventure: Covenant? Innies?
Refusal of the Call: Nothing springs to mind.
Meeting With Mentor: Halsey gave him MJOLNIR and Cortana?
Crosssing the Threshold: Halo and the Flood?
Tests, Allies and Enemies: 343, the Arbiter. This part could be applied a bunch of times.
Approach: Battle for the Ark, fighting the Didact.
The Ordeal: Halo 4 would see him confronting Cortana’s death.
The Reward: I got nothing. Saved the galaxy? Could invert it and say about him losing Cortana.
The Road Back: Halo 5 has him hunting for Cortana.
The Resurrection: Cortana tries to tempt him to help her rule the galaxy.
Return with the Elixir: Continues the fight?
It’s hard to say he perfectly mimics the cycle. On an unrelated note, its actually quite interesting to compare how Luke and Anakin both do on the journey.
In many ways the story of Master Chief doesn’t follow the typical hero’s journey because he was already chosen and went to the fight willingly - if we are only looking at his action in the games. The books expand on this, but he’s never at odds with the adventure. He’s a tool that has been shaped specifically for this purpose and so in some ways is seeing out his destiny as only a tool can. He doesn’t fear, doesn’t need to win allies or prove anything. Master Chief is what he is.
Really if you look at the games alone Master Chief is too perfect. He doesn’t change, he doesn’t grow. He accepts the situation and adapts. Much like Marty McFly in Back to the Future. He goes about setting things right to return to the status quo. But he doesn’t gain any new powers, weapons, or otherwise remarkable changes. That’s on an individual game basis. The overarching narrative we see now with 5 Halo games under our belts is changing that. But without the books none of that is readily clear. Really the Arbiter has more of the traditional hero’s journey given how much he’s changed from Halo: CE to Halo 5.
For the Arbiter steps 1-5 happen in Halo:CE and the beginning of Halo 2 when he assumes the mantel of Arbiter. Steps 1-3 are the discovery of the Halo installation, dealing with Master Chief and eventual loss of the Halo ring. Step 4 would be his “Meeting the Mentor” aka the prophets giving him his role following his trial and then sets out on the mission “Crossing the Threshold”.
The very first mission where the Arbiter is set out to dispose of the Heretics would be Step 6 - as he’s testing allies and enemies, and thus learning more about the world. Everything follows from there with the Arbiter learning about the Hive and the Gravemind, breaking the Covenant and starting their civil war. And all of that is solely within the games.
Unfortunately, like Sven said, the Chief doesn’t really fit into the classic Hero’s journey. His is stolen as a child and foreced into becoming the hero once the unrest has already begun with the Innsurection.
Have a read of the Forerunner books by Greg Bear. I cant say for sure, but i think thet Bornstellar follows a more traditional Hero journey.
Its a bit rough, but i hope it helps.
THE ORDINARY WORLD. Living with his family but never accepting the Builder cast. - THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Farther sends him to Mars and he then travels to Earth in search of the Organon. - REFUSAL OF THE CALL. Chakas and Riser’s fears of the island. - MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. Meeting the Didact. - CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. Leaves Earth with the Didact. - TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES. Meeting the other foerunners at the Capital. - APPROACH. All the foerunners prepare for the war against the flood. - THE ORDEAL. Destruction of the Capital at the hands of Mendicant Bias and the Halo. - THE REWARD. Becoming the Didact (the good Didact, not the one from Halo 4). - THE ROAD BACK. The War against the flood. - THE RESURRECTION. Activating the rings at the Ark. - RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR. Durying Mendicant Bias in the desert and taking Riser home.
I have the same assighnment i was looking for examples thanks for putting an example out there XD i love halo more than anything as well so maybe we can be friends. charecter selectoins are next week so i hope i can get master chief or some one from halo thanks------