The refusal of the call in daily life

Abhirami Sankaran

1/30/2023

The refusal of the call in daily life

One step of the hero's journey I find interesting is the refusal of the call. I understand the purpose of the step. By allowing deliberation before the journey begins in force, both the protagonist and audience are allowed time and space to consider the ramifications of the endeavor: Achilles understands that he will die at war, Jason understands that his path may crown him, and Dipper (from gravity falls the animated kids show) understands that pursuing his journal may lead him into paranormal situations). The audience and characters are mentally prepared for the personal and general consequences of the journey. The stakes of the path ahead are set up thereby building tension. However, as Campbell has explicitly stated, the hero's journey also applies to the audience as individuals. 

We are all constantly growing and changing. We cycle through the monomyth each time we pursue a new endeavor. Yet the aforementioned stage, the refusal of the call, is not so easily overcome in real life. We have no supernatural powers to force us into motion. Instead, we often stagnate underpressure; deliberating within this stage until we freeze. This struggle to undertake a journey is something that I have often struggled with. So how may I learn to continue along the cycle? 

I often think that mythology and stories in general may help us understand journeys. After all, they are prime examples of journeys. Yet, indecision and entirely self motivated growth is something rarely seen in stories. So how else might one pursue this issue? How do we progress through our own journeys without slowing to a stop?


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