Willa Cathers The Song of the Lark free essay sample

A critical review of the novel, focusing on the protagonists definition as a classic hero. The paper shows how the journey of Thea Kronborg, the protagonist in Willa Cathers The Song of the Lark, models a classic heros journey, as defined by Joseph Campbell. She experiences the three primary life stages of departure, initiation, and return, which result in a personal odyssey. These three stages are explored in-depth, to highlight Theas identification with a classic hero. The coming-of-age story of Thea Kronborg in Willa Cathers The Song of the Lark models a classic heros journey, as defined by Joseph Campbell. She experiences the three primary life stages of departure, initiation, and return, which result in a personal odyssey. Within the departure stage is a call to adventure which the hero initially refuses. She can eventually succeed, with supernatural aid, to cross the first threshold, and into belly of the whale. We will write a custom essay sample on Willa Cathers The Song of the Lark or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Having experienced a rebirth after struggling within this belly, the hero begins the initiation stage. On the road of trials, he has a meeting with a goddess and struggles with woman as a temptress. In Theas modernized case, this is a struggle to define and identify her love for a man. The hero then experiences atonement with her father, apotheosis, and an ultimate boon. The final return stage begins with a refusal of the return, followed by a magic flight and a rescue from without before finally crossing the return threshold to become master of the two worlds. The final result is the hero establishing that she has freedom to live. The story deviates from the model in one notable aspect: Thea does not return to her roots in body but in spirit.