Media Through Time
An Incredible Story: Relating Modern Disney
Heroes to Ancient Archetypes
Heroes are not heroes simply because
someone says they are. Heroes are
heroes because they have faced a
series of events that build character
and test their strength. The Greek
character Odysseus is one such hero, torn from his
family and desperately trying to find his way back.
He is, however, just one hero among many.
Even today, heroes face the same
basic conflicts and confrontations
with which Odysseus dealt. In the
case of Mr. Incredible from the
Disney movie The Incredibles, the
parallels between the heroes are
striking.
The Call
The call is the first step
in any hero’s journey.
In Odysseus’ case,
the call comes in the
form of leaving
home to do battle
with Troy over
Helen.
For Mr. Incredible,
the call comes
when the “super
hero” goes into
hiding following a
daring deed that
did more harm than
good.
Allies
A key part to any hero’s journey, allies help the hero
prepare for and complete his or her journey.
Odysseus is aided in his journey by people and gods
alike. His crew plays a huge part in helping him return
to Ithaca, and later the Phaiacians, Alcinoos,
Nausicaa, Aiolos, Hermes, and Teiresias do as well.
Even Circe and Calypso offer aid after keeping
him for nine years between them. Once he reaches
home, Odysseus is helped by three
loyal servants. And, of course,
no one could forget his
ever-watchful companion,
the goddess Athena.
Allies (con’t)
Mr. Incredible also receives help from
a plethora of people. Aiding him in his
journey back to heroism and fame at
various times in said journey are his
friend and fellow hero, Frozone, the
“designer to the supers,” Edna Mode,
his family, and friend-turned-enemyturned-friend Mirage who helps
Mr. Incredible escape his enemy’s lair.
Crossing the Threshold
The crossing of the threshold represents the
official commencement of the hero’s journey.
Odysseus’ crossing
occurs when he
leaves Troy and sets
off for Ithaca.
Mr. Incredible’s crossing
occurs when he receives a
message and begins acting
like a superhero again.
Road of Trials
The road of trials is comprised of the majority of the obstacles thrown into
the hero’s path. The trials may seem like they last forever, but without them,
the hero would not have the character to live up to his or her potential.
Odysseus faces trouble wherever
he goes. On various islands he
finds roadblocks like the lotuseaters and the cyclops. On other
islands he finds people who
convince him to stay for a time,
like Circe and Calypso. On the sea
Odysseus is battered by Poseidon’s
storm and comes face-to-face with
dangers like the sirens, Scylla, and
Charybdis.
Road of Trials (con’t)
Mr. Incredible largely faces a series of
increasingly more high-tech robots designed
by his enemy Syndrome. Like Odysseus
escaped Polyphemos by stabbing the
monster in the eye, Mr. Incredible destroys
the first of the robots by taking out its eye.
(Clips open in separate window.) Later, he is
locked up in Syndrome’s lair underneath his
private island.
Later, he is locked up in
Syndrome’s lair underneath
his private island.
Saving Experience/Gift
Odysseus’ saving experience is
represented by the Phaiacians aid
in finally returning him to Ithaca. A
people who regularly offer
transport across water, they finally
bring to fruition Odysseus’ main
goal of two decades.
Mr. Incredible is helped by Mirage
when he is trapped as Syndrome’s
captive. Following this, he is
reunited with his family, albeit they
are temporarily trapped again.
The Return
After many long, unanticipated years,
Odysseus returns home only to find
his home overrun with suitors hoping
to woo his reluctant wife. Disguised
as a beggar, he deals with the suitors
by triumphing in a competition of skill
with a bow and arrow and proceeds
to slay all who disrespected him, his
family, and his home.
The Return (con’t)
Mr. Incredible’s return
comes when he leaves the
island via hijacked rocket
and returns to, with help
from family and friends,
save the city from
Syndrome’s latest robot
run amuck.
Sharing the Gift
Ultimately in both stories, the
final gift is peace. Odysseus,
after killing his near-usurpers,
comes to peace with their
families and the people of
Ithaca, thanks largely to
Athena’s intervention. The city
inhabited by the Incredibles has
its heroes and constant
protection back. All ends well
for all.
Works Cited (Part I)
“Athena and Odysseus.” Image. deviantART. deviantART, 2012. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://geniusbee.deviantart.com/art/Athena-andOdysseus-153423057>.
“Athena.” Image. FZN Honors English 1. Wikispaces, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<https://fznhonorsenglish1.wikispaces.com/Odyssey+books+1-5 >.
“Calypso.” Image. Greek Myths & Greek Mythology. N.p., n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://www.greekmythsgreekmythology.com/calypso-odysseus-greek-myth/ >.
“Circe.” Image. Necropolis Now. Blogspot, 9 Sept. 2011. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://necropolisnow.blogspot.com/2011/09/witches-ofancient-greece-and-rome.html >.
Cletamane. “A odisseia - Cíclope ( The odyssey - cyclops ).” Video. YouTube. YouTube, 8 Sept. 2011. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5OERqTniro&feature=youtu.be&t=5m30s >.
DisneyPixar. “The Incredibles on Blu-ray: "Mr.Incredible vs. The Robot" – Clip.” Video. YouTube. YouTube, 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 6 May
2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK9oPk8bsvk>.
“Edna Mode.” Image. Screened. N.p., n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://www.screened.com/edna-mode/15-374/all-images/1321926090/edna_mole/131-140464/ >.
“Frozone.” Image. Shadow and Light. Blogspot, 7 Aug. 2010. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://shadowandlight-chiara.blogspot.com/>.
“Incredible Covert Message.” Image. Google Images. Google, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz352/loaloauk/Universal%2520Singapore/Disn
ey%2520and%2520more/07-big-e1296235084908.jpg&imgrefurl=http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2011/01/did-steve-jobstest-ipad-with.html&usg=__v2ghvkMstkJuxaioAFZjkUx2_yQ=&h=285&w=640&sz=19&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=Qpoxi0kS1oUHM:&tbnh=73&tbnw=165&ei=z9emT4PFE4qF6QGM44G1BA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bincredibles%2Bmirage%2B
message%26tbnh%3D73%26tbnw%3D165%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26sig%3D101423480107013733829%26biw%3D1311%2
6bih%3D609%26tbs%3Dsimg:CAESEglCmjH6LSRLWiEJjjNHXvrGmw%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=72&vpy=192&dur=60
65&hovh=150&hovw=337&tx=228&ty=93&sig=101423480107013733829&page=1&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:80 >.
“Incredible Family.” Image. Classes and Careers. One on One Marketing, 26 May 2010. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.classesandcareers.com/collegelife/5-reasons-why-pixar-needs-to-make-the-incredibles-2/>.
“Incredible Family.” Image. Shadow and Light. Blogspot, 7 Aug. 2010. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://shadowandlightchiara.blogspot.com/>.
“Incredible Newspaper.” Image. IGN Movies. IGN Entertainment, 4 Nov. 2004. Web. 5 May 2012.
<http://movies.ign.com/articles/563/563653p1.html>.
“Incredible Robot.” Image. Land O Misfit Toys. Blogspot, 6 Mar. 2011. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://landomisfittoys.blogspot.com/2011/03/im-baaaaaaaack-with-another-ridiculous.html >.
“Incredible Trapped.” Image. Bluelight. Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/619908you-just-inherited-your-own-island-in-the-pacific/page3 >.
“Incredibles Logo.” Image. English Language Literature. Wordpress, 2012. Web. 3 May 2012.
<http://englishlanguageliterature.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/imgthe20incredibles4.jpg>.
“King Alcinoos.” Image. Screened. N.p., n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012. < http://www.screened.com/king-alcinous/15-5020/all-images/1322398377/king_alcinous/131-356161/ >.
Works Cited (Part II)
Lotus-Eaters.” Image. Sculpt Fine Art. N.p., n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.sculpturefineart.com/index.cfm?sid=2533&pid=38714&item=6187 >.
Marcelotanos. “Incredibles part 2.” Video. YouTube. YouTube, 31 Aug. 2009. Web. May 6 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlBGMYvkuU&feature=related>.
“Military Intervention.” Image. War Geeks. vBulletin Solutions Inc, 27 Jun. 2011. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://wargeeks.org/showthread.php/10325-50-Greatest-Movie-Robots-(Via-Total-Film) >.
“Mirage and Mr. Incredible.” Image. Artist Direct. Rogue Digital, LLC, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/photos/0,,2596510-71024,00.html >.
“Mr. Incredible and Frozone.” Image. IGN Movies. IGN Entertainment, 4 Nov. 2004. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://movies.ign.com/articles/563/563285p1.html >.
“Mr. Incredible Poster.” The Disney Wiki. Wikia, 5 Feb. 2012. Web. 5 May 2012.
<http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Mr._incredible_Poster.jpg>.
“Mr. Incredible Profile.” Image. Giant Bomb. CBS Interactive Inc, 2012. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://www.giantbomb.com/mrincredible/94-9492/>.
“Nausicaa.” Image. The Wulfshead. Blogspot, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://wulfshead.blogspot.com/2009/09/where-doesnausicaa-go.html >.
“Odysseus Boat.” Image. HowIsHow. HowIsHow, 2010. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://howishow.eu/search/odysseus-ships.html >.
“Odysseus Sailing.” Image. Schoolwork Helper. St. Rosemary Educational Institution, 11 Feb. 2011. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://schoolworkhelper.net/2011/02/homer-iliad-odyssey-greek-history/ >.
“Odysseus Sculpture Head.” Image. The Fine Young Gentleman. Wordpress, 27 Mar. 2012. Web. 5 May 2012.
<http://www.thefineyounggentleman.com/2012/03/odysseus-on-style/>.
“Odysseus Ship.” Image. Myths Encyclopedia. Advameg, 2012. Web. 3 May 2012. <http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/NiPa/Odyssey-The.html>.
“Odysseus the Beggar.” Image. Pan Historia. Pan Historia Inc, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.panhistoria.com/Stacks/Novels/Character_Homes/home.php?CharID=9626>.
“Omnidroid.” Image. Eat My Zombie. Wordpress, 14 Jan. 2011. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://www.eatmyzombie.com/15-mostpowerful-sci-fi-robots>.
“Peace.” Image. Addiction Journal. Wordpress, 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://addictionjournal.net/?p=3319>.
“Phaiacians Preparing to Sail.” Image. The Department of Greek and Latin at the Ohio State University. Ohio State University, n.d..
Web. 6 May 2012.
<https://greekandlatinmedia.osu.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=collections.seeItemInCollection&CollectionID=e634ba1b-2e574435-89d5-d6ff099df87a&ItemID=ca1db091-862e-4494-92dc-ebefd6d4b49e>.
“Polyphemos.” Image. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 3 May 2012. Web. 6 May 2012. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphemus >.
“
Works Cited (Part III)
“Polyphemos.” Image. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 3 May 2012. Web. 6 May 2012. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphemus >.
“Robot Hand.” Image. D A T S U N. N.p., 2009. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://www.datsun.org/roadster/resources/incredibles.html>.
“Sailing Ship.” Image. Just Food Now. Just Food Now, 3 Oct 2010. Web. 5 May 2012.
<http://www.justfoodnow.com/2010/10/03/homer-revisited-odysseus-and-i/>.
“Scylla and Charybdis.” Image. The Book Palace. The Book Palace, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.bookpalace.com/acatalog/Home_Roger_Payne.html >.
“Shooting Axes.” Image. Odysseyschoenborn. Wikispaces, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://odysseyschoenborn.wikispaces.com/Book+XXI>.
“Sirens.” Image. Liberating Spaces. Wordpress, 31 Dec. 2009. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://www.aribo.eu/tag/technology/ >.
SubComFeppo. “THE ODYSSEY Full Movie.” Video. YouTube. YouTube, 12 Feb 2012.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6RXwZkKujU&feature=youtu.be&t=2h42m30s>.
“Suitor Slaughter Horizontal.” Image. MSNBC. MSNBC, 23 Jun. 2008. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25337041/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/odysseus-return-trojan-war-dated/>.
“Suitor Slaughter Vertical.” Image. Spirit of the Ages. N.p., n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://spiritoftheages.com/the%20toils%20and%20travels%20of%20odysseus%20(1908)%20-%20frank%20c%20pape.htm>.
“Teiresias.” Image. Google Image. Google, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://www.google.com/imgres?q=teiresias+odyssey&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1311&bih=609&tbm=isch&tbnid=TIkUqJ0SWPyNM:&imgrefurl=http://www.facebook.com/people/TeiresiasOdyssey/100001575925124&docid=ymDBhX826jif6M&imgurl=http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-aksnc4/161751_100001575925124_6965052_n.jpg&w=180&h=262&ei=wcimT8LsDbTD0AGwqomIBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=355
&vpy=178&dur=1562&hovh=209&hovw=144&tx=84&ty=91&sig=101423480107013733829&page=1&tbnh=128&tbnw=89&sta
rt=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:78 >.
“Trapped Incredibles.” Image. TLC. Discovery Communications, LLC, n.d.. Web. 6 May 2012.
<http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/how-the-incredibles-works5.htm>.
“Wrecked City.” Image. D A T S U N. N.p., 2009. Web. 6 May 2012. <http://www.datsun.org/roadster/resources/incredibles.html>.