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Heidi's Reviews > The Hero With a Thousand Faces
The Hero With a Thousand Faces
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"Throughout the inhabited world, in all times and under every circumstance, myths of man have flourished; and they have been the living inspiration of whatever else may have appeared out of the activities of the human body and mind." pg 1
Joseph Campbell presents his, now classic, thesis of comparative mythology and psychology. By examining different myths from all around the world, he outlines the hero's journey. The journey has many different steps and elements to it, but beneath it all, Campbell believes, through all the many stories, the journey is one.
"Furthermore, we have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us; the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path." pg 18
I think in different circumstances I may have enjoyed this book very much. The topic, comparative mythology, is one I find particularly fascinating. I also like to see how humankind incorporates the mythical not just in our stories, but in the way we set up our societies.
"... every failure to cope with a life situation must be laid, in the end, to a restriction of consciousness. Wars and temper tantrums are the makeshifts of ignorance; regrets are illuminations come too late." pg 101
But honestly, I had trouble focusing because of certain current events. Campbell presents the different myths in pieces organized by his heroic stages rather than in one flowing story. Between the trouble focusing and the bouncing around from myth to myth, this was a difficult read for me. Perhaps I'll try this book again in the future, when my life doesn't feel so off-kilter.
I think it has plenty of treasures to be discovered for spiritual seekers of every kind. It also demonstrates that though we look different and live very different lifestyles, at our soul level, there are many similarities to humanity. We find these similarities mirrored through our stories, our life stages, how we live and how we dream.
"Those who know, not only that the Everlasting lives in them but that what they, and all things, really are is the Everlasting, dwell in the groves of the wish-fulfilling trees, drink the brew of immortality, and listen everywhere to the unheard music of eternal concord. These are the immortals." pg 142
I sincerely hope you all live and dream sweetly, immortals, wherever on the hero's journey you may be: sheltering-in-place or braving the world, and that I will live and dream sweetly, too.
Joseph Campbell presents his, now classic, thesis of comparative mythology and psychology. By examining different myths from all around the world, he outlines the hero's journey. The journey has many different steps and elements to it, but beneath it all, Campbell believes, through all the many stories, the journey is one.
"Furthermore, we have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us; the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path." pg 18
I think in different circumstances I may have enjoyed this book very much. The topic, comparative mythology, is one I find particularly fascinating. I also like to see how humankind incorporates the mythical not just in our stories, but in the way we set up our societies.
"... every failure to cope with a life situation must be laid, in the end, to a restriction of consciousness. Wars and temper tantrums are the makeshifts of ignorance; regrets are illuminations come too late." pg 101
But honestly, I had trouble focusing because of certain current events. Campbell presents the different myths in pieces organized by his heroic stages rather than in one flowing story. Between the trouble focusing and the bouncing around from myth to myth, this was a difficult read for me. Perhaps I'll try this book again in the future, when my life doesn't feel so off-kilter.
I think it has plenty of treasures to be discovered for spiritual seekers of every kind. It also demonstrates that though we look different and live very different lifestyles, at our soul level, there are many similarities to humanity. We find these similarities mirrored through our stories, our life stages, how we live and how we dream.
"Those who know, not only that the Everlasting lives in them but that what they, and all things, really are is the Everlasting, dwell in the groves of the wish-fulfilling trees, drink the brew of immortality, and listen everywhere to the unheard music of eternal concord. These are the immortals." pg 142
I sincerely hope you all live and dream sweetly, immortals, wherever on the hero's journey you may be: sheltering-in-place or braving the world, and that I will live and dream sweetly, too.
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Reading Progress
March 2, 2020
–
Started Reading
March 2, 2020
– Shelved
March 31, 2020
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
March 31, 2020
– Shelved as:
spiritual-studies
March 31, 2020
–
Finished Reading
August 6, 2020
– Shelved as:
the-numinous-book-club
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Patrick
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rated it 2 stars
Apr 01, 2020 08:13PM
I too read the book very recently. I found its organization difficult and Campbell’s supporting facts weak. I love comparative religion and literature but I feel Campbell fails to marshal enough solid evidence to prove his point. He chooses obscure myths from relatively small demographic groups and tries to extrapolate frim these a “underlying world mythos” that links all human spiritual mythology. It’s too ambitious a topic for a single book and at best his book just tickles the curiosity of the reader - it fails to deliver a powerful argument and supporting facts. I do think the topic needs to be revisited by a group of academics who might set out to do a comprehensive study of Campbell’s thesis.
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