A Hero’s Journey

1. A Hero’s Journey There are twelve steps in the heroic quest

2. 1. The Call to Adventure • The hero knows his world is about to change • From Batman Begins, Batman’s call to adventure is when: Bruce’s parents are murdered in front of him by a robber.

3. 2. The Hero’s Refusal • He doesn’t want to go because he might be scared or lack confidence • Bruce isn’t yet ready to take on the role of the Dark Knight, a man who can strike fear into criminals. Foolishly he takes a gun to kill the man who killed his parents but someone beats him to it. He needs to go on the journey first, to be worthy and to do that he must first learn what it is to be a criminal.

4. 3. Supernatural Aid • Some kind of motivation, such as a ghost, voice in his head, etc. • Whilst in Bhutanese prison he meets Ra’s al Ghul and learns the ways of the League of Shadows.

5. 4. Crossing the Threshold • The point of no return – he cannot go back to a normal way of life • Bruce’s training begins, Teaching him how to fight but also giving him a code to live by.

6. 5. Belly of the Whale • The lowest point emotionally and physically and needs to get out on the quest • Bruce enters the well which was the source of his fear as a child and discovers a bat cave. He decides to own the bat as his symbol to inspire fear into Gotham’s criminals

7. 6. Road of Trials • Experiences both positive and negative • The are two roads of the trials in Batman begins. • The first is his training under Ra’s al Ghul where he learns his combat skills. • The second is where Bruce develops his high tech equipment and becomes the Batman. He jumps off a roof and realizes he needs to have the ability to fly and develops a cape that can let him glide. He’s also learning how the city and police operate which enables him to become Batman.

8. 7. Meeting with the Goddess • Someone the hero highly esteems and has met at one time • Rachel Dawes is the assistant District Attorney and inspires Bruce to be good “It’s not who you are underneath. It’s what you do that defines you.”

9. 8. Temptation • Leads hero away from quest • Ra’s al Ghul asks him to execute a prisoner as part of his training. Bruce refuses and destroys the League of Shadows head quarters. • Note that the quest is not always in perfect order. This happens early on in the story.

10. 9. Atonement with “Father” • Comes to terms with mistakes a father-figure made; accepts his faults • Lucius Fox learns that Bruce is Batman when Bruce is poisoned by The Scarecrow and Alfred has to contact Lucius to create a cure for the toxin. Now Bruce and his mentor are both on the same page and are ‘at one with’ each other.

11. 10. Apotheosis • Apotheosis means the highest point in the development of something • The hero is enlightened and understands why he is here • Batman learns the plan to disperse the fear gas through a microwave dispersal in poison the entire city. Batman knows he is here to save the city.

12. 11. Ultimate Boon • The quest is done, and the hero needs a symbol of victory prize (though not necessarily a physical object) • He rescues Rachel in his Batcar while the police are in hot pursuit. He is no longer a struggling novice like he was earlier in the story. He is now a fully developed hero ready to take on Ra’s al Ghul. His ability to fight for justice is his ultimate victory.

13. 12. Return • This is harder than the quest itself. The hero realizes he exists in two different worlds – the one he left behind and the one he’s in now. Someone helps the hero at this stage to come to realize that he is the master of both worlds and has the freedom to live his life. • Bruce must let Rachel go since he realizes she cannot fit in this new world where he is Batman. He also buys back his company and rebuilds his house to show that he is the master of both worlds, his old life and his new life.