Hero’s Journey Project
Batman and The Odyssey
By Matthew Childress
3rd Rustin
2/4/12
The Hero’s Journey- Homer’s
Odyssey
Belly of the Whale
Departure
Belly of the Whale-Departure- Odyssey
In the Odyssey, Odysseus descends into Hades to speak to
the prophet Tiresias, who will send him on his way to the next
leg of his own journey, “Thus to assuage the nations of the dead
U pledged these rites, then slashed the lamb and ewe, letting
their black blood stream into the wellpit. Now the souls
gathered, stirring out of Erebus” (Book 11, 7-10). In mythology,
descending to Hades, or Erebus, is a direct example of the Belly
of the Whale stage.
The Hero’s Journey- Homer’s
Odyssey
Belly of the Whale
Departure
Woman as the
Temptress
Woman as the TemptressInitiation- Odyssey
Calypso is just one of many women/goddesses as
temptresses. Specifically when she holds Odysseus at her
island for many years when he wants to return back to Ithaca,
“ Son of Laertes, versatile Odysseur, after these years with me,
you still desire your old home? Even so, I wish you well. If you
could see it all, before you go--- all the adversity you face at
sea--- you would stay here, and guard this house, and be
immortal---though you wanted her forever, that bride for
whom you pine each day. Can I be less desirable than she is?
Less interesting? Less beautiful? Can mortals compare with
goddesses in grace and form?” (Book 5, 69-79). Calypso still
persists to try to convince Odysseus to stay with her, even
though he has made up his mind, although he is still tempted.
The Hero’s Journey- Homer’s
Odyssey
Belly of the Whale
Departure
Magic Flight
Woman as the
Temptress
Magic Flight- Return- Odyssey
Hermes gives Odysseus a magical plant that will make him
impervious to Circe’s tricks; also Hermes gives Odysseus a warning, “
Let me tell you of all the witch’s subtle craft… she’ll mix you a potion,
lace the brew with drugs, but she’ll be powerless to bewitch you, even
so--- this magic herb I give will fight her spells. Now here’s your plan of
action, step by step. The moment Circe strikes with her long thin wand
you draw your sharp sword sheathed at your hip and rush her fast as if
to run her through! She’ll cower in fear and coax you to her bed--- but
don’t refuse the goddess’ bed, not hen, not if she’s to release your
friends and treat you well yourself” (Book 10, 320-330). Hermes helps
Odysseus and intervenes and gives him a plan of action, but does not
exactly drag him to where he needs to go, therefore this is an exact
example of Magic Flight in The Odyssey.
The Hero’s Journey- Christopher
Nolan’s Batman
Call of Adventure
Departure
Call of Adventure- DepartureBatman
In Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne’s
parents are shot in front of him by a desperate man who
will do anything to get money, later when the man who
shot Bruce’s parents has a hearing for an early parole in
exchange for information on Carmine Valocone. The man is
shot by one of Valcone’s thugs, at this point now grown up
Bruce decides that he will pursue the understanding of
criminality, he encounters Rá’s al Ghul who trains him in
martial arts and to physical and mental extremity (Batman
Begins, Warner Brothers, 2005). Bruce has now begun his
adventure.
The Hero’s Journey- Christopher
Nolan’s Batman
Call of Adventure
Departure
Woman as the
Temptress
Woman as the TemptressInitiation- Batman
When Harvey Dent, later Two-Face, and Rachel Dawes,
Batman’s oldest friend, are taken by the Joker’s croanies, Batman
must choose to save one, either his oldest friend or someone that
is good for Gotham’s future (The Dark Knight, Warner Brothers,
2008). This is a clear example of the woman as the temptress,
because Rachel promised that when Gotham no longer needed
Batman, that they could be together, thus making a difficult
decision out of the situation that faces him, but in the end Batman
chooses the option that results from him thinking with his head,
but this results in Harvey’s face being half melted.
The Hero’s Journey- Christopher
Nolan’s Batman
Call of Adventure
Rescue from
without
Departure
Woman as the
Temptress
Rescue from Without- ReturnBatman
While Batman is battling the Joker over possession of
Harvey Dent, Batman has an opportunity to run over the Joker,
but he follows his morals and doesn’t, which ends up knocking
him out cold, right as Joker is about to take off Batman’s mask
or kill him, then Lieutenant Gordon comes from the transport
truck to save Batman, the Joker is then brought in (The Dark
Knight, Warner Brothers, 2008). While Gordon does not exactly
pick Batman up and carry him somewhere he saves Batman
from a certain unpleasing fate, thus an example of rescue from
without.
Works Cited
• Allen, Janet. "The Odyssey." Holt McDougal Literature:
Texas Grade 9. Texas ed. Evanston, Ill.: Holt McDougal,
a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. 11851288. Print.
• Batman Begins. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Perf. Christian
Bale, Michael Caine. Warner Brothers, 2005. Film.
• The Dark Knight. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Perf. Christian
Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine. Warner Brothers,
2008. Film.