February 8, 2006
Literature of the Western World
Fighting for Freedom
In
a time of civil unrest and uncertainty, people looked up to those trying to
make a change. When the United States of America
was young, people looked up to the Founding Fathers for hope and guidance. Movies, such as The Patriot, portray a hero figure that is compatible with Joseph
Campbell’s hero. Joseph Campbell has
spent countless years in his life studying and writing about the character of a
hero. In the movie The Patriot, Benjamin Martin fights to ensure freedom for his
country and family.
According
to Joseph Campbell’s hero, a hero must have a call to adventure, supernatural
aid, and cross the threshold into heroics.
Benjamin Martin receives a call to adventure when he must rescue his
eldest son, otherwise he will be put to death.
Martin rescues his son with the help of two of his youngest sons and
starts his contribution to the American Revolution. God gives supernatural aid to Martin, which
comes in the form of bravery and courage to continue his fight. This helps him lead his militia better and
keeps him focused on his tasks. Benjamin
crosses the threshold into a different world when he runs into his burning
house to get his weapons, including his tomahawk. He carries this tomahawk throughout all of
his battles and fights, which symbolizes his braveness and strength. This tomahawk helps Martin prove his
worthiness of a hero.
Benjamin
Martin takes the initiation to prove his hero status by entering the belly of
the whale, a sacred marriage, and by abduction.
Martin’s militia starts using guerrilla warfare against supply lines for
the British, causing panic in the British.
Soon the commanders of the British catch on to the attacks and soon they
set a trap. The British capture many of
Martin’s men, forcing him to respond.
Martin secures a prisoner exchange to release his men by entering the
belly of the whale, which is one of the British forts and talks directly to a
British Officer. Later, Gabriel enters
into a sacred marriage with a girl he has fallen for. This marriage motivates Benjamin to continue
his fight to protect his family and for freedom. The marriage also makes Gabriel and Benjamin
closer together, as Gabriel understands better the experience of having a
family feels like. Unfortunately, the
British start to use unethical tactics against the militia’s families and
Gabriel must face the killing of his wife.
Benjamin realizes the extent of damage caused by the killings and gives
his men two weeks off, but then will continue the fight. After Benjamin Martin’s battles and events,
he must return to his home.
After
many events, Benjamin Martin must return home, but still faces some of his
biggest challenges by a rescue from without, crossing the return threshold, and
having a freedom to live. In the biggest
battle of the movie, Martin is in a fight with a British Officer when a soldier
from the Continental Army helps protect Martin from other British
soldiers. This protection allows Martin
to kill his opponent, who was a great threat against his militia. Benjamin crosses the return threshold when he
returns to get the rest of his family out of hiding. He returns to find his youngest daughter
waiting for him and not understanding why he left. In addition, Benjamin falls in love with his wife
sister, since he wife died years earlier.
Martin has a freedom to live when he returns to his plantation to find
his house being rebuilt after it was burnt down. The men who fought with him during the war
help to rebuild the house to pay thanks for his great leadership and heroics
during the war.
Joseph
Campbell was an expert on the character of the hero and studied the different
elements of hero’s. Benjamin Martin displays the characteristics
of a hero in the movie The Patriot. Throughout the movie, Martine is given many
challenges in a time of war and overcomes them with his militia. He becomes a highly respectable man and a
leader in a troubling time.
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