Jim's Hero Journey Fail Analysis

Jim’s hero journey failed because he made too many wrong choices. For example, when he was buying flowers, he became distracted and unintentionally created an extremely extravagant bouquet, when he originally only wanted a few yellow roses. “But there was a problem: what were these flowers going to cost? The bouquet as she assembled it—as it came to be, in her hands—was broader and taller by far than what he’d come into the florist’s wanting” (Antrim 283). Once he realized that the situation was getting out of hand, he made an attempt to change it, but his insecurities got in the way because he was trying to impress the girl making the arrangement. “’What would you like me to take out?’ the girl asked. Was she annoyed? She had her back to him.
For example, after finding out that his wife’s credit card wouldn’t go through and realizing that everyone was waiting for him at the restaurant, he panicked and stole the flowers. “He found that his mind was frantic. This was his disorder. This was the descent. He crumpled the receipt and shoved it into his pocket. He reached for the bouquet” (Antrim 297-298). One of the most important stages of the hero’s journey is the “Dragon Battle.” “Some heroes will battle literal dragons guarding their treasure, but other heroes will battle their inner dragons, the doubts and fears they have about their own ability. Whether literal or figurative, the dragons must be slain in order for the hero to complete the journey.” (Quaas-Berryman) In that moment, Jim’s dragon was his disorder, but instead of trying to face it head on, he denies it and pushes it aside. “’Has he taken care with you, since I’ve been gone?’ ‘Gone?’ she said. ‘I don’t know how else to put it.’ She asked, ‘Will you stay where you are, until people come?’ ‘Don’t send an ambulance,” he said to her” (Antrim 296). Not only did Jim refuse to deal with his dragon, but he also refused the help others were trying to give him. Because he was unable to conquer his dragon, his hero’s journey ended in
Instead of sticking to his normal schedule, and abiding by his mother’s rules, Tom chose to go with Ruby. “Ruby Hornaday steps out of the weeds. She has a mask in one hand and a tire pump in the other. “Need your help.” Tom’s pulse soars. “I got to go to the butcher’s” “Your choice” Ruby turns to go. But really there is no choice at all” (Doerr 142). When he made this decision, his whole outlook on life changed; he now had something to look forward to and something to dream about. This one choice expanded the tiny world he was living in and gave him a new reason to live. Even though he knew he was putting himself in danger, he continued to help Ruby because it made him happy. Joseph Campbell refers to this as “following your bliss” (20). Tom chose to take a risk because it was “exciting” and unpredictable; if he “knew what the outcome was going to be,” it wouldn’t have been an “adventure” (Campbell