Supernatural Analysis
So, while at school yesterday, I received what is, quite possibly, the best assignment in history. Now, I know what you're thinking: homework, of any sort, should not even remotely excite a normal human being. I can, and will, assure you that I am one the of more normal individuals of our species. Which might then lead you to the question of "why? or "how in the world can homework hold any amount of joy?" If these questions have not yet begun to form in your mind, please give it another second or two.
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How about now? No? Okay, then you should leave.
I'm serious here. Just bring your mouse up to your browser and click on the link to a different site, because clearly, you're not of the same mindset as the rest of us.
Now, as for those of you who are still with me and still probably wondering "why?" (as well as a few other things, including "what the hell is this person talking about?" and "holy lord on a popsicle stick, this is so boring") then I commend you on reading this far, and assure you that this journal does have a purpose. Back to my original point:
The assignment I received yesterday requires me to write a literary analysis on the "Heroic Journey" of a character in a television show. Now, before I go into any further detail, I want to take the time to describe each stage of the "heroic journey" so that I don't have any confused readers:
The call: The call invites the hero into the adventure, offers him/her the opportunity to face the unknown and gain something of physical or spiritual value.
The threshold: (with guardians, helpers, and mentors) - The threshold is the 'jumping off point' for the adventure. It is the interface between the known and the unknown.
The challenges: Whatever challenges the hero faces, they always seem to strike his/her greatest weaknesses: his/her poorest skill, his/her shakiest knowledge, his/her most vulnerable emotions.
The abyss: In the Abyss, the hero must face his/her greatest fear, and must face it alone.
The transformation: As the hero conquers the Abyss and overcome his/her fears, his/her transformation becomes complete. The final step in the process is a moment of death and rebirth: a part of the hero dies so that a new part can be born. Fear must die to make way for courage. Ignorance must die for the birth of enlightenment. Dependency and irresponsibility must die so that independence and power can grow.
The revelation: Part of the transformation process is a Revelation - a sudden, dramatic change in the way a hero thinks or views his life. This change in thinking is crucial because it makes the hero truly a different person.
The atonement: After the hero has been transformed, he/she goes on to achieve Atonement, that is, he/she is 'at one' with his/her new self. The hero has incorporated the changes caused by the Journey and is fully 'reborn.'
The return: After transformation and atonement, the hero faces the final stage of his/her journey: the return to everyday life. Upon the hero's return, he/she discovers his/her gift, which has been bestowed upon him/her based on his/her new level of skill and awareness. The hero may become richer or stronger, he/she may become a great leader, or he/she may become enlightened spiritually.
Well, anyway, naturally, after hearing this, the nerd within me slowly arose from its slumber and began to cheer. Being (un)healthily addicted to the CW's television show, Supernatural, I decided to write about the heroic journey taken by three different characters - three because A) I'm an over-achiever, and B) I really couldn't pick just one character. Thus, my literary analysis will end up revolving around the following three people:
1) Dean Winchester - It is quite possibly in Dean's nature to be the hero. Self-sacrificing and stubborn as hell, Dean has saved countless amounts of people from the supernatural entities that go bump in the night. He even made a deal with a crossroads demon in order to bring his brother back to life. The outcome? Sammy gets yanked back to the mortal plane, but a year later, it'll be Dean's turn to take a permanant vacation Downstairs. But that doesn't seem to matter to him, because he would go to the ends of the earth for his little brother. If there was ever a human being that deserved to be called a hero, it would be Dean Winchester.
Dean's portion of the essay will mainly be focused around the challenges faced in the heroic journey, caused by both external and internal forces. It will also be focused on the factor of the Abyss.
2) Sam Winchester - Sam is every bit of the hero that Dean is, having saved many innocents himself. But Sam's case is special: he's different. Having ESP and demon blood coursing through your veins does this to you. When Dean makes the deal with the crossroads demon, Sam tries everything within his knowledge and power to get his big bro out of the deal, even offering himself up to yet another CR demon. (Sacrifice is the Winchester Way, after all.) Later on in season 4, Sam makes some poor choices that subsequently lead to disastrous consequences in season 5.
Sam's portion of the essay will mainly be focused around the factor of redemption/atonement, as well as the Abyss.
3) Castiel - Now, I know what you might be thinking: Castiel is a relatively new character, and as such has not yet begun the life-altering experience that is a heroic journey. But in my opinion, this is actually not true. I believe that Castiel's heroic journey began, as all others do, with The Call. Don't really believe me? If you've seen any amount of season 4, you'll know that Castiel was ordered to storm the gates of Hell and pull Dean's soul from Perdition. Granted, he was not the only angel to fight his way through the legions of demons, but he is the only one who was assigned Dean Winchester as his charge. The Call, as you might remember, invites the hero into the adventure, and offers him/her the opportunity to face the unknown and gain something of physical or spiritual value. And if you've seen season 4, you'll know that Castiel pulling Dean's soul from Hell is his metaphorical call that starts his heroic journey.
Castiel struggled with his growing emotions in season 4, as well as the notion of right and wrong throughout many of the episodes. For humans, it should be easy to discern the right from the wrong, and pick the right path. But for angels, who were created to do God's will, question nothing, and feel no emotional attachment, it's a huge thing. I'd say that Castiel faces just as many challenges as Dean and Sam, and thus, deserves to be included in my essay. ...... the fact that I love Misha's character, as well as Misha himself, might have something to do with this, however.
Castiel's portion of the essay will be focused around the internal challenges faced in the heroic journey, as well as the revelation.
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So, that's it, people. If your eyes haven't been burned from your skull, and you did indeed read the whole thing, then you deserve a cookie.
If you have any thoughts, questions, advice, or just find this project to be mildly interesting, then please drop me a comment. :)
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Cas mood theme (c) crystalchain