Summary
After meeting with the Mentor and deciding to go into the special world, the hero needs to cross the First Threshold. This may happen as a result of a villain killing, harming, threatening, or kidnapping someone close to the hero (128). Vogler also explains that hero's internal events may trigger him to cross the Threshold; "Do I go on living my life as I always have, or will I risk everything in the effort to grow and change?" (128). When a hero approaches the Threshold he is likely to face someone that is blocking his way, the Threshold Guardian. It is the hero's job to deal with the Threshold Guardian and pass through. A hero is at the border of two worlds when it is actually crossing the Threshold (129). A hero must have a lot of courage to take that big step and start crossing the Threshold, that special courage is called making the leap of faith (130). However, a hero's landing is not always as good as they expect; their arrival to the special world may be exhausting, frustrating, or disorienting (130).
There is a big difference between the Ordinary World and the Special World. Within the Special World, a hero experiences a series of tests. Now is the time for the hero to have company during his journey. Within the Special World a hero makes Allies and Enemies. This process is also a kind of test, because it examines the hero's good judge of character (137). One common type of Ally is a sidekick, an Ally who generally goes with the hero wherever he goes, and supports him in all his adventures (137). A hero does not necessarily have just one Ally; it can also form a team with special skills that may help the hero to be successful in his journey. Although rivals are annoying, they are the ones that keep the story rolling. Enemies are a big part of a hero's journey, and they can also become the Shadow, the Trickster, and even the Herald (138). One interesting thing that Vogler mentioned was the fact that heroes often pass through bars and saloons when they first go into the Special World. Why is that? Bars are natural places to get better after the harsh landing into the Special World, pick up some gossip, chat with new people, and confront enemies (139).
Reaction
Now the story is actually beginning. This is one of the best parts of the movie, when the hero starts going into his journey. I really liked how Vogler stated that internal events within a hero could also influence him to cross the First Threshold. It is also very true that that a hero's landing may be harsh for him, because I can relate that to my own personal experience when I first moved to the United States, and I felt very disoriented in a completely new place. I think one of the hardest parts of a story is when a hero is trying to find someone to be his companion during his journey. I totally agree with Vogler when he says that the process of making Allies is a type of test; a hero has to be very smart to consider someone his Ally. I had never pay attention to the fact that heroes go to bars after they landed to the Special World. In the movie Snow Dogs, the main character to the movie goes to a type of bar when he arrived into Alaska. In there, he started meeting new people, and almost half of them ended being his Allies. In general, I really enjoy how Vogler explains every single detail of all he says in his book. All the information given help us to better understand stories, and also to evaluate and analyze stories that we have seen before.
Discussion Questions
1. During a personal journey, what made you cross the First Threshold in one of your experiences or journeys?
2. In your own life, have any of your landings into the Special World was difficult, and you felt disoriented at a certain point?
3. What qualities or characteristics do you think a hero must look for when looking for an Ally?
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