Stages 7 & 8 of the Journey

Vogler, Christopher. Vogler, Christopher. “Book Two: Stages of the Journey.” The Writer's Journey. Third. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. 143 – 173.

Summary:

Approach to the Innermost Cave:

I.) At this point, the Hero has adjusted to the Special World.

II.) Time for Wonder and Terror.

III.) The Approach – Time for Preparation.

a. Romance – can create elaborate relationships.

b. Bold – can serve as a distraction, or cause problems for the Hero.

IV.) Obstacles

a. Prepare the main characters for the true challenge.

i. Impossible Tests.

ii. Dramatic Complications (help raise the stakes).

b. Threshold Guardian

V.) Recap: Essentially, the approach to the Innermost Cave is not only meant to help build up the story’s climax, but is also meant to help prepare the Hero and his Allies. They face numerous obstacles and tests so that they will prepared when they finally reach the ultimate ordeal.

The Ordeal:

I.) Heroes must die so that they can be reborn.

II.) Every Hero experiences change due to their journey.

III.) Crisis – not the climax, but the point where the Hero begins to get worse or better.

a. Central Crisis (happens half way through the story).

b. Delayed Crisis (no ordeal, just a dramatic build-up to end the second act).

IV.) Death -

a. Hero appears to die.

b. Hero witnesses a death.

c. Hero causes death.

d. Hero cheats death.

i. With the help of the Mentor’s gift.

V.) Facing the Shadow

a. Demonizing - It is the Hero facing his negative possibilities which have manifested in/projected onto another form.

VI.) Facing the Villain

a. Villains should not be too easy to beat – they sometimes escape.

b. Villains are the Heroes of their own stories.

VII.) The Ordeal – the death of the ego.

a. Apotheosis

Reaction:

So far we have seen all of aspects of the past combine in order to help the Hero approach the Ordeal, then we saw the Ordeal which is where the Hero conquers his villains and the Second World. I think that all ends need to be tied in order to make the audience feel satisfied and to give the Hero and unburdened cleared slate for the Ordeal. I think it was interesting that Vogler said that Villains are usually the embodiment off all the Hero's worst aspects. It shows that our worst nightmare in life is ourselves.

Questions:

If Villains are the Heroes of their own stories, does that mean all Heroes are Villains to someone else? Are we scared of ourselves?

What do you guys think is a typical response to defying death?

If being one with the world is the outcome of conquering an ordeal, would a hippie or Buddhist make for an ideal and accomplished Hero?

After seeing and facing death, how come it is so easy for most Heroes to just keep on going or improve? How come they do not go into a downward depressed spiral?