The Hero's Journey: An Analysis

Western and nonwestern heroes come from different regions of the world; therefore, have different cultural backgrounds. More specifically, western heroes come from the Greco-Roman or Judeo-Christian traditions. Nonwestern heroes come from other parts of the world that would not associate with these traditions. While these heroes might seem to have little in common when it comes to origin, “The Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell demonstrates that all heroes have “similar patterns” (Campbell). However by examining the non-western hero, Mulan, in “The Ballad of Mulan” demonstrates how this figure is different than the hero outlined in Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” in the following ways, Mulan does not have any kind of “supernatural aid”, “tests that lead to the final showdown”, or a “life-changing experience for her or many others” (Campbell). “The Ballad of Mulan” comes from the fifth or sixth century. It was written in a time when China was divided between the north and the south (Hamby). If Mulan actually existed, she would have lived during the Northern Wei dynasty. She joined the army and prepared to
fight against the Mongolian and nomadic tribes (The Real Story of Mulan). This is relevant because it demonstrates why Mulan is a nonwestern hero instead of a western hero. Based upon “The Hero’s Journey”, Campbell explains that heroes usually have this supernatural character that inspire the hero to embark on their journey, and to assist when the hero needs it (Campell). In the “Ballad of Mulan”, it states that:
The Khan is calling many troops,
The army list in twelve schools,
On ever scroll there’s father’s name.
Father has no grown-up son,
Mulan has no elder brother.
I want to buy a saddle and horse,
And serve in the army in Father’s place. (Frankel lines 10-16).

This quote shows that Mulan’s motivation to go to war was to take place of her father, who doesn’t appear to have any qualities that would make him “above the laws of nature”. Also, her father would not be able to assist her because she is leaving him behind. So, the critical lens of “The Hero’s Journey does not quite fit in the narrative about Mulan in that aspect. Another main component of “The Hero’s Journey”, is that “every hero goes through tests in order to get them ready for their final showdown (Campbell). Mulan does not seem to have this final showdown. Instead it seems that she is no different than any of the other soldiers. For example, “Generals die in a hundred battles, stout soldiers return after ten years. On her return she sees the Son of Heaven” (Frankel lines 33-34). In the context of the poem, it seems that nothing out of the ordinary happened in the battles, other than the causalities. It is more like a time lapse of what happened in the war instead of a narrative about certain tests that Mulan had to face while in battle before she was allowed to go home. So, in the “Ballad of Mulan”, there is no emphasis on all of Mulan’s accomplishments while at war, which these accomplishments would be imperative to classify Mulan as a hero according to “The Hero’s Journey”. Lastly, in “The Hero’s Journey”, “heroes tend to be forever changed by their quest, and have proved themselves to have the ability to save the world” (Campbell).
In the “Ballad of Mulan”, Mulan seems to just go back to her previous life without the intentions of ever revisiting that part of her life. For example, “I take off my wartime gown And put on my old-time clothes.” (Franklin lines 51-52). By Mulan putting back on her old-time clothes it symbolizes how she is returning to her role as a woman in society. To the outside world, it is almost as if she had never gone to war to begin with. So, “The Hero’s Journey” seems to indicate that there is this huge change within the heroic figure once they have achieved this goal; however, this is not the case in “The Ballad of Mulan” because Mulan doesn’t seem to be changed throughout her
experience. Therefore, looking at the “Ballad of Mulan” through the critical lens of “The Hero’s Journey there is this disconnect between what the critical lens defines as a hero and how Mulan is characterized as a hero in the Ballad. “The Hero’s Journey” seems to focus more on how the hero sets themselves apart from their surroundings through obstacles, and Mulan deviates slightly from this definition of a hero. She blends in with her surroundings to accomplish her goals, and she also blends backs into society once she comes back home from the war.