Welcome to continue reading Hero’s Journey Breakdown There I explored Joseph Campbell’s mythological story structure and how iconic films fit into this pattern.
The late Hollywood creative executive Christopher Vogler’s approach to Campbell’s structure, which divided the mythological story structure into 12 stages, is more applicable to film narrative structures. For this series, we define the stages in simplified explanation:
- ordinary world: We see the normal life of the hero at the beginning of the story before the adventure begins.
- Call to adventure: The hero faces an event, conflict, problem, or challenge that prompts them to embark on an adventure.
- Reject call: The hero initially refuses to take risks due to hesitation, fear, insecurity, or any other issue.
- Meet the mentor: The hero meets a mentor who can provide them with advice, wisdom, information, or items to help prepare them for the journey ahead.
- Cross the threshold: The hero leaves the ordinary world for the first time and steps into the threshold of adventure.
- Trials, allies and enemies: The hero learns the rules of the new world, undergoes tests, makes friends, and faces enemies.
- method: An initial plan to deal with the central conflict begins, but setbacks occur, leading the heroes to try new approaches or adopt new ideas.
- test: Things go wrong and more conflict is introduced. The hero will experience more difficulties and obstacles, some of which may lead to life crises.
- award: After going through hardships, the hero seizes sword-The rewards they receive enable them to handle the biggest conflicts. It could be material items, knowledge or wisdom that helps them persevere.
- road back: The heroes see the light at the end of the tunnel, but they are about to face more tests and challenges.
- resurrection: Climax. The heroes face a final test, using everything they’ve learned to end the conflict once and for all.
- return: Heroes bring their knowledge or “magic elixir” back to the mundane world.
Here we turn to the film adaptation of the Broadway musical evil.
NOTE: As with any application of story structure or formula, this is simply a post hoc interpretation and implementation of the Hero’s Journey into this cinematic story. There can and will be differences.
Script for this article
evil
Breaking down the hero’s journey evil
ordinary world
The ordinary world of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is a life where she is ostracized because of her green skin. When she escorts her younger sister Nessa Rose (Marissa Bird) to Hinds, she becomes an outcast.
This ordinary world leaves her struggling with acceptance and love. Her natural rebellious tendencies and desire to fit in provide the emotional foundation for her future journey.
Call to adventure
When Elphaba’s magical abilities manifest at Sheeds University, she begins an adventure. Recognizing Elphaba’s raw power, Mrs. Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) asks her to stay in college and promises to arrange a meeting with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) – Elphaba’s life-long secret wish .
Reject call
Although Elphaba was excited, she was filled with doubts. Her growing insecurities were compounded by years of rejection and scorn from her father. Before accepting the invitation to stay, despite her initial skepticism, she didn’t reject the call outright.
Meet the mentor
Mrs. Morrible was the original mentor, albeit with questionable motives. She nurtures Elphaba’s magical talents and provides guidance that leads to her fateful meeting with the wizard. But her direction feels almost transactional, which plants seeds of doubt.
Her real mentor is Galinda (Ariana Grande). Although their friendship begins with the conflict of opposites, Galinda educates Elphaba about the social intricacies of their world and forces her to reflect on her own values and desires.
Read more: Top 10 Best Film Mentors
Cross the threshold
One night, Elphaba follows Dr. Dillamond (voiced by Peter Dinklage), a talking goat and one of Sheath’s remaining animal professors, to his off-campus home. She learned that other animals were disenfranchised and lost their ability to speak.
In response, Elphaba assured him that the wizard would make things right.
Trials, allies and enemies
Elphaba finds an ally in Galinda, even as their friendship is tested by their differing values.
But Galinda started out as an enemy but evolved into an ally.
The dashing prince Fierro (Jonathan Bailey) also becomes an important ally, providing companionship and romantic tension. There are other allies, including her own sister Nessaros.
Early enemies included Elphaba’s father, and the entire student body – until they accepted her with the help of Galinda.
The Wizard and Lady Morrible later reveal themselves to be rivals, representing the corruption and deceit of the ruling powers in Oz.
The quiz begins by showing Elphaba’s struggle to gain recognition from the school. She later also took on the responsibility of protecting animals, eventually releasing a lion cub that was to be experimented on.
method
Elphaba receives an invitation to meet the wizard. She and Glinda travel to the Emerald City with high hopes that the wizard will help the animals.
ordeal
His true nature is revealed when the wizard asks her to cast a spell on the winged monkey. Elphaba realizes that her ideal savior is as manipulative a figure as Morrible, trying to exploit her talents for his own ends.
Elphaba learns that the wizard is a liar and that he and Moribull are behind the animals losing their rights and speech. The betrayal shatters her illusions and forces her to follow a new path.
award
Elphaba devises a plan. She steals the Gimmerie, a powerful magic book, to hone her magic and challenge the regime.
road back
Her return comes with the reward of doing some good for the animals and people of Oz. Her attempts to do good are misinterpreted as evil, further isolating her. The label of “evil person” was attached to her. Her actions inadvertently hurt those she was trying to protect, including the entire Emerald City. She was seen as an evil witch.
Read more: The most epic journeys in film and television
resurrection
Elphaba faces a final, transformative challenge. She fully embraces her role as the evil witch, not as a villain in her eyes, but as a rebel force for good. She was reborn as a confident, powerful person.
Her climactic, “gravity-defying” moment symbolizes her transcendence and resurrection. She literally outshines her opponent, asserts her freedom from him, and sets the stage for the final battle. Evil: Part 2.
return
The payoff remains to be seen. If we look at this movie – it is tagged evil: Part 1Note that her resurrection could be considered her return, as she flies high above Oz for all to see, using her newfound “rewards” to fight against the Wizard and Morrible.
Read more: The Hero’s Journey Breakdown: Everything Happens at the Same Time
Ken Miyamoto worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.
As a production writer, he participated in numerous studio meetings with companies such as Sony, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures, Disney, Warner Bros., and numerous production and management companies. He previously signed a development deal with Lionsgate and has had several writing assignments, including producing the miniseries Blackout, starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Hayley Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric Larsa and Bruce Bucklina star in the thriller Hunter’s Creed, as well as many Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Twitter @ken电影 and Instagram @KenMovies76.
