Hercules

In the animated film, Hercules, the viewer can watch the modern day twist on the legendary Greek hero Heracles (Hercules) as he advances through his heroic journey. Although the original myth slightly varies from the film, both sources carry strong and necessary elements that are needed for the completion of the hero's quest. Therefore the basic plot of the movie must be explained for us to discover the many hidden archetypes within. 

Plot Summary

Long after Zeus, ruler of the Greek gods of Mount Olympus, defeats the Titans and locks them deep in the bowels of the earth, he and his wife Hera give birth to a son, Hercules. All the gods of Olympus celebrate Hercules's birth except for Zeus's jealous brother Hades, who was forced by Zeus to work as lord of the dead in the Underworld, and seeks to overthrow his brother. Hades learns from the Fates that in eighteen years, a planetary alignment will reveal the location of where the Titans are trapped, allowing him to free them and take over Olympus, but only if Hercules doesn't interfere. Hades sends his minions Pain and Panic to kidnap Hercules, bring him to Earth, and kill him after giving him a potion that will turn him mortal. However, Pain and Panic are unable to give Hercules the entire potion which, while still making him mortal, allows him to retain his godlike strength. Hercules is then found by a farmer and his wife, who raise him as their own son.

Over the next eighteen years, Hercules grows up into a misfit, his strength seen as a nuisance to all the locals. After being rejected by the townsfolk when he accidentally destroys the marketplace, Hercules questions where he truly belongs. His foster parents reveal how they found him with a medallion bearing the symbol of the gods, so Hercules travels to the Temple of Zeus, where the almighty god's statue comes to life and reveals his past and true lineage. Zeus explains that Hercules can become a god again and return to Olympus if he can become a true hero, so he sets out on his old childhood friend Pegasus, to find the satyr Philocetes, Phil for short, a trainer of heroes. Phil has long-since retired after failing to train a successful hero, but is convinced to train Hercules.

After his training is complete, Hercules sets out with Phil and Pegasus to the city of Thebes to prove his new found worth. Along the way, Hercules saves a woman named Megara (Meg) from being pestered by the centaur Nessus, and becomes attracted to her. Hercules however is unaware that Meg is in league with Hades after selling her soul to save a man she once loved, but had left her for another woman. Discovering Hercules to still be alive, Hades sets up a trap for him outside of Thebes where he is forced to battle the Hydra. However, Hercules manages to defeat the Hydra, and is praised by all of Thebes as a hero. Hercules is treated like a celebrity, but Zeus informs him that he is not a true hero yet.

Meg is sent by Hades to find Hercules' weakness, but she falls in love with him instead. Phil discovers Meg to be working for Hades and attempts to warn Hercules, but abandons him after an ensuing argument. Realizing that Meg is Hercule's weakness, Hades uses her to make a deal with Hercules in which he must give up his powers for an entire day in exchange for Meg's safety, using this time to free the Titans and take over Olympus, while Hercules is crushed by Meg's deception and loses the will to fight. One of the Titans, a Cyclops, is sent to Thebes to eliminate Hercules. Meg convinces Phil to return to Hercules, motivating him into battling and defeating the Cyclops through improvisation. However, Meg is mortally wounded by a falling column to save Hercules, though it breaks Hades's deal of Meg not being harmed and restores Hercules's powers, allowing him to defeat the Titans. Unfortunately, he is too late to save Meg from dying.

Hercules confronts Hades in the Underworld and offers his soul to reclaim Meg's. Hades accepts, but only if Hercules can reclaim it in the River Styx, which gradually saps his life force as he swims. However, his will to sacrifice his life for Meg awakens Hercules as a true hero and restores his status as an immortal god. Hercules successfully retrieves Meg's soul and punches Hades into the River Styx, where he is dragged to the depths by vengeful souls. Hercules returns Meg's soul to her body and brings her back to life, and is brought to Olympus where the gods welcome him back into his old home. However, Hercules is unable to live without Meg, and Zeus allows him to stay on Earth as a mortal to stay with the one he loves. Zeus creates a constellation of Hercules in the night sky, allowing the world to hail him as a true hero.

Hercule's Journey, Stage by Stage: 

1. Departure - Hercules' quest begins when he is challenged to find out whether his true identity is godly or ordinary. Therefore,  it comes as a shock when he finds out that he came straight from the god family tree. 
2. Initiation - In the second stage, Hercules is initiated when he takes up training with his mentor Phil. He is crossing the threshold of his youth and gaining a more mature perspective towards the world and what it means to become a hero.
3. The Road of Trials - Hercules is faced with many hardships as he comes up against numerous foes and  monsters galore. Also, throughout this time Hercules' is given a supernatural partner or aid named Pegasus. This flying horse acts as his trusted companion ever since he was gifted to him as a child. 
4. The Innermost Cave - Hercules' is faced with the ultimate challenge when he must undo Hades plans by defeating the Titans. At the same time he risks his life to save Meg's soul from the underworld which proves his change from an average to true hero. This internal change enforces Hercules true heroic nature.
5. Return and Reintegration with Society -  In the final stretch of the film, we see Hercules confirming his past identity with the one he has created as a true hero. He final decision to not become a god and remain on earth shows how he has grown in wisdom and self-confidence. He is now welcomed and appreciated for who he is by society and Meg the one he loves. 

Character Archetypes:

The character, Meg transitions from various character archetypes throughout different phases of the film. She begins as the servant to the evil figure because of her association and unpaid debt to Hades. Although she must do as she is told, it's obvious that underneath everything she has endured is a redeemable and good heart. This becomes apparent when she is ordered to tempt Hercules into giving away his one weakness. Although she has transitioned into the role of the temptress, Hercules (the hero) is able to save her with his true intentions. Now, instead of being dictated by her bond to the Hades (the evil figure) she falls in love with Hercules. Afterward, with Hades realizing that Meg is Hercules' true weakness he uses her to trap Hercules. She becomes the vulnerable female character (damsel in distress) that if rescued poses a threat to Hercules. In this situation, Hades threatens the safety of Meg if Hercules isn't willing to give up his strength. Another example of Meg being rescued was when Hercules retrieves Meg's soul from the River Styx, which also endangered his own life.

Hercules plays the role of the hero since he embodies characteristics from the "young person from provinces" description. At the very start of Hercules' journey he was taken away from his parents as a infant and placed in the home of complete strangers. Even though his true ancestry can be traced back to the gods he was raised amongst mortals. This hidden difference created problems for Hercules and challenged him to recognize his past and the solutions that soon followed. 

The satyr Phil (Philocetes) acts as Hercules mentor since he was responsible for training and preparing the hero for future trials. Phil also proves to be the perfect teacher for Hercules because of his past history with other famous heroes. It shows that he has a reputation for teaching which ensures that Hercules is destined for greatness. 
 
Hades represents the devil figure because of his instilled hatred towards his brother, Zeus,  ever since he was given the job to watch over the dead. Therefore his resentment grows when Hercules is born into the family because it was foretold that Hercules would interfere. This causes Hades to make it is personal goal to oppose Hercules (the hero) in every step along the way.

The Wizard of Oz: Dorthy's Jorney

In the classic film of the Wizard of Oz, there becomes a clear progression of the hero's journey as we watch the protagonist Dorthy venturing from Kansas into the extraordinary world of Oz. Through Dorthy's adventures we come acquainted with numerous character, color and situational archetypes. Dorthy herself is painted as the heroine as she transitions through the stages of her heroic journey. To start off on her quest she struggles with her identity and where her true home lies. The departure stage for Dorthy begins when she and her family's farm is unexpectedly hit with a tornado. By being separated from her family members she is forced to face the upcoming events of the journey alone. Next, Dorthy is initiated as she enters into the bright and lively world of Oz. She begins to grown a more mature perspective as she learns more about her role in this mystical world. By her house landing and killing the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorthy has earned the right to possess the magical red ruby slippers.

Right away Dorthy is introduced to Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, who becomes her supernatural aid (mentor) helping throughout her journey. An example of such is when Glinda advises Dorthy to seek the help of the mysterious Wizard of Oz in Emerald city, which she can reach by following the yellow brick road. She also warns Dorthy to never remove the ruby slippers unless she wishes to fall to the mercy of the Wicked Witch. Once Dorthy has begun her travels she comes across three major characters -- the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. This dynamic duo of odd individuals quickly become Dorthy's loyal companions who vow to come along on her quest and face any upcoming perils together. The three also believe that if they come along to Emerald city they will have their own wishes granted. The Scarecrow desperately wants to have a brain, the Tin Man a heart to show his affections, and the Cowardly Lion wants to earn some courage. However they're journey together isn't as simple as it seems. They are faced with multiple tests of endurance and resourcefulness like making it through the dangerous forest, escaping the sleep-induced poppies, and even defeating the Wicked Witch's henchmen.
  
 

Once the foursome arrive in Emerald city, and are allowed to see the Wizard of Oz, yet they are only then given another set of instructions. The Wizard of Oz refuses to grant any wishes until the group has gone and retrieved the Wicked Witch's broom. So they set off towards the Witch's castle and Dorthy melts the Wicked Witch with a bucket of water symbolizing the heroine enters the stage of the innermost cave. The act of defeating the Wicked Witch shows the greatest trial that Dorthy must face while in the land of Oz. With the battle between good and evil finally ending and the evil conquered at last, we can see the final stage of the journey falling in place. Dorthy has become more self-confident and aware of her identity through her past trials. With her new found wisdom she can restore the proper order to Oz. The land is safe from torment and overhanging worry caused by the Wicked Witch. However with the world of Oz being restored, Dorthy stills needs to find a way back home to Kansas. 

Not knowing what she could possibly do, Dorthy is once again greeted by her mentor Glinda who tells her that she always had the power to return home. She explains that Dorthy only had to learn for herself that she doesn't need to run away to find her heart's desires. Meaning that with whatever happens to Dorthy she just needs to stay firm in what she believes and she'll now where her true desires are (mainly back home with her family). So, Dorthy says a final farewell to her friends, then follows Glinda's instructions to close her eyes, tap her heels three times and keep repeating "There's no place like home". Then finally Dorthy wakes up in her familiar home surrounded by family and friends, and explains to everyone of her heroic journey. Although some of her family believe her time spent in the mystical land was just a dream it still proves strong to Dorthy. She remembers the life lesson that she learned and states that she'll never leave home again because she loves them all and there's no place like home. 

Further Analysis 

We can see the symbolic nature of the ruby red slippers that Dorthy wore when she first entered into the world of Oz. These slippers correlate to the idea of a magical weapon because of the obvious power that the shoes have. In the film, there were scenes were the shoes zapped the Wicked Witch for trying to touch them and how they transported Dorthy back to Kansas. The bright red color of the slippers also shows us a strong archetype of passion, uniqueness and emotion. These worlds describe the momentous change that Dorthy undergoes as she learns who she is and where her passions lie. Another feature of Dorthy's wardrobe is how she wears mainly the color blue which symbolizes innocence in her character and truth as the heroine. As the protagonist she symbolizes a person who is innocent and almost child-like until she furthers herself along the road of trials.

Now on the other hand, the Wicked Witch of the West consists of two very distinct and dynamic colors. The color of her skin is a vibrant shade of green which represents jealousy, envy, and even greed. This interpretation greatly goes with the Witch's personality. With her being the antagonist and directly butting heads with the protagonist we see her feelings becoming visible. The character of the Witch is a strong individual focused on her jealousy towards Dorthy because she doesn't possess the ruby slippers or the power that comes with them. She also shows obvious greed since she cares nothing for the lives of others but would rather acquire power. An example of such would be her willingness to let Dorthy die in return for the slippers. The black of her clothing also exhibits the presence of evil, chaos, and mystery. The Witch personifies evil and uses her chaotic and mysterious manner to harm and dictate others.

The character of Toto, Dorthy's pet dog, plays the role of the friendly beast. He helps Dorthy along the way and is almost always found by her side. He helps to assist the heroine in whatever dangers she may face and also provide complete companionship. For in the film, Toto was the one who warned the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion of whatever danger had befallen Dorthy.