Hero’s Journeys can be defined as stories from the past or present that adhere to a standard template. The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn and The Odyssey are both examples of the Hero’s Journey. But The Odyssey has a much more fully developed example, as it actually follows the entire hero journey.
In the modern world, people mistakenly identify stories with a hero journey. It is false that stories that only show some aspects of a story’s hero’s adventure, or those that are out of order are still considered a heroic journey. James R Hull agrees that if an event’s order is incorrect, it does not qualify as a Hero’s Journey. He explains this in his article, not everything is a Hero’s Journey. Huckleberry’s Finn does not have a true hero’s journey because the order in which events occur is so important. Huckleberry Finn contains some events which do not correspond with a hero’s story. For example, Huck Finn can be said to have the threshold stage before training and discipline. The latter is the time when Huck starts to understand how wrong slavery is. Huck Finn is not a real hero journey because training and discipline came before the threshold.
The Odyssey, unlike Huckleberry Finn’s story, follows a chronological and clearly defined order for the hero journey. It does not stray from what a true hero journey is. The Odyssey has a clear order to the events in the story. Odysseus is locked on an Island for 10 Years and he does the same things every day. Calypso, in a very direct way, tells Odysseus, “Now that I have your heart and soul” he has to go on an adventure. Come, take your bronze tools, and cut up the timbers to make a raft. The unmistakable “hero’s” journey elements are evident throughout Odysseus’ journey. Huck’s Finn, on the other hand, only gives a few weak examples.
Huck’s Finn’s hero journey is not vague and cannot be broken. But Mark Twain breaks the template at one of its most important parts. Huck begins Huckleberry story by sharing his normal daily life. He says: “The Widow Douglas… she took her as son, and she allowed her to sivilize him; but it’s rough living inside all the while” (Twain 4) Huck tells his audience exactly what he does every day. This is an example of a hero’s story and the traditional slumber phase. Huck is supposed to return home after completing his journey and completing the stage of contribution and return, but instead he does not. Huckleberry finishes his adventure and is expected to go home to lock in his journey as a hero. However, Huck instead ends the story by saying that “But Aunt Sally will adopt me and civilize me. I can’t handle it.” I’ve been there” (Twain 407. Huck is unable to complete an important aspect of the journey of a hero, the returning phase, as he decides not to return. James R Hull in his essay states that it’s important for a character to follow all the steps of the hero journey. Huck does not follow all of the conditions that make up the hero journey.
Huckleberry Finn is by Mark Twain. The Odyssey is by Homer. Both are powerful stories about a man who goes on an epic journey. Only one of them follows the rules of being a story that shows a protagonist going on a heroes journey. The order in which the elements of the Hero’s Journey are followed is important in establishing the character’s heroism. The Odyssey’s Odysseus exemplifies someone who follows the rules and has all the necessary prerequisites.