Examining the Hero’s Journey of Odysseus and Siddhartha

Examining the Hero’s Journey of Odysseus and Siddhartha

Joseph Campell implores his students to study mythology with the enticing argument that myths are keys to unlock the spiritual truths of humanity. Latent in his statement is the idea that truth is universal; the unique interpretations of different cultures are no more than adaptations to support functional societies based on individual customs. “Essentially,” he states, “it might even be said that there is but one archetypal mythic hero whose life has been replicated in many lands by many, many people.” One cannot help but be intrigued by this notion, largely because of the inherent possibility of a worldwide understanding. Such an accord could be accomplished by recognizing…