A Hero's Journey

Let's talk about some fairy tales.

In traditional hero narrative, a young man leaves his home and ventures into the world where the fantastic and unknown await. Along the journey he gains knowledge, friends, and his worth as a man is tested. He returns home a more wise and mature individual, ready to take his place as heir to a throne or position of authority. Sometimes he confirms the end of his journey by bringing home and marrying a magical bride. He is ultimately triumphant, bringing home new-found knowledge and the respect of foreign allies. 

The Lion King is a pretty good example of this type of story:

-Simba runs away from home

-He arrives in an unfamiliar jungle, far removed from the hierarchy and rules of Pride Rock

-He meets two creatures he would have normally eaten, but instead adopts a diet of insects and bugs

-Despite living an idyllic life, Simba chooses to abandon his life of ease in order to confront his past

-Sima returns home to defeat his uncle

-Much wiser and more mature, Simba takes his rightful place as king

A young woman's journey, though no less heroic, is often not as glorious. They also leave home for an unknown world, but do not return as queens or war heroes. In fact, they often do not return at all.

Young women in fairy tales often start their journeys by leaving their familiar home with the knowledge that they will never return. Instead of having to slay a monster or find a mystic treasure, the female heroine finds herself trying to fit into a new or foreign community. Usually she finds work as a servant in a household. Eventually she catches the eye of a kind noble or prince, whom she marries. Like her male-counterpart, she brings to her new community gifts knowledge, maturity, and fertility. 

Beauty and the Beast is a fine example:

-Belle offers to take her father's place as prisoner in the Beast's castle

-She tries to escape but Beast rescues her after she is attacked by wolves

-Belle nurses Beast's wounds, and shows him a kindness he has never known

-The Beast begins to develop feelings for Belle

-Belle tells Beast that she loves him, freeing the entire castle from its curse

-Belle, having taught Beast compassion, helps Beast become human again and marries him. They live happily ever after

Historical context helps to explain why the journeys of our male and female heroes are so different. Folk stories and fairy tales often tell of the rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood, usually confirmed by marriage and the assumption of adult roles. Men were expected to inherit a family business or patriarchal position, while young women were sent off to be wives in foreign and faraway households. The journey of male and female heroes in stories parallel the lives of the society in which they are told. As we've all heard before, "art imitates life". 

So what do you think our modern vigilantes like Batman, unassuming orphans like Harry Potter, and strong females like Korra and Hermoine Granger say about our contemporary lives?