It’s really a combination of The Hero Journey and Tragic Hero.
With
The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell breaks down
The Hero Journey / Monomyth into 3 parts with a number of subsections.
Part one is The Departure wherein the hero leaves his day-to-day life and responds to a call to adventure. (In some cases, the hero refuses the call.) Along the way, he meets a supernatural aide who serves as a guide and mentor. At some point, the hero passes a point of no return wherein he crosses the first threshold into a more dangerous world. Often times with this crossing, there is a belly of the whale scenario. At this moment, the hero is literally immersed in the new more dangerous reality. With this act, he has shown his willingness to be reborn with a new identity much different from his former self.
The second stage is Initiation wherein the hero is subject to a road of trials. If the hero survives, he will meet with a goddess and fall in love. The hero could also meet with woman who is a temptress that will lead the hero away from his journey. At some point, the hero must confront the most powerful figure in his life. Often times, this is represented by his father. When atonement is achieved with the power figure, there is apotheosis and the rewarding of the ultimate boon. In other words, there is an achievement of the goal of the adventure.
The final stage is the Return to the ordinary world or a Refusal to Return. Sometimes, the return is just dangerous as the adventure. At this juncture, the hero has a magic flight where he must hide from and dodge potential captures. Sometimes, the hero himself needs to be rescued from without by a guide or assistant. Once the hero is safe, he can cross the return threshold back into normal life. Because of his enlightening adventure, he has become a master of two Worlds and has the freedom to live without fearing death.
In regard to the OT, Luke goes on The Hero Journey. (Though, Han has his moments as well.) Not all elements of the Journey are present in Luke’s story, but many of them do apply.
In the PT, it’s Anakin’s turn. While all of his Journey doesn’t play out in the first three films, a good majority of it takes place.
Here’s how I see it:
Departure
• The Call to Adventure: Anakin accepts the call to be a Jedi when he chooses to leave with Qui Gon.
• Refusal of the Call: Even though he has some reservation about leaving his mother, he does not refuse the call.
• Supernatural Aid: In TPM, the aid is Qui Gon. In ATOC and ROTS, it's Obi-wan and Palpatine.
• The Crossing of the First Threshold: This is Anakin's participation in the liberation of Naboo.
• Belly of The Whale: This is Anakin’s destruction of the core inside the Trade Federation ship.
Initiation
• The Road of Trials: These tasks take place throughout his time as a Jedi.
• The Meeting With the Goddess: Padme is obviously Anakin’s Goddess.
• Woman as Temptress: This is also Padme. Like Anakin, she is a contradictory character. She is simultaneously a source of happiness in his life and a stressor that contributes to his fall.
• Atonement with the Father: This happens more literally with Luke. However, Anakin’s confrontations with Obi-wan and Palpatine also fall into this category.
• Apotheosis: This doesn't happen until ROTJ. Anakin first has to be reborn as Vader before he is reborn as an enlightened spirit.
• The Ultimate Boon: Again, this happens when Anakin achieves peace of mind as a Force ghost.
Return
• Refusal of the Return: This isn’t the case as Anakin is able to return to his former good self.
• The Magic Flight: Not necessary.
• Rescue from Without: Anakin is saved by his son.
• The Crossing of the Return Threshold: This occurs when Anakin returns as a ghost.
• Master of Two Worlds: Like Obi-wan, Anakin’s ghostly form exists in the physical and spiritual world.
• Freedom to Live: Anakin is an immortal spirit.
Joe1138 wrote:
Anakin's virgin birth alone isn't enough to set him on the path of the hero.
I mistakenly thought that the virgin birth was part of The Hero Journey. I got mixed up because Campbell also discusses this concept in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. My bad.