Depth Psychology

The Hero’s Journey to Enlightenment

A Summary of “The Hero With a Thousand Faces” by Joseph Campbell (1949)

NOUS
Paraphilosophy
Published in
21 min readJun 4, 2023

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The Hero with a Thousand Faces is a seminal work by Joseph Campbell that explores the archetypal journey of the hero in myths and religions from around the world. Published in 1949, the book has become a classic in the fields of comparative mythology, psychology, and storytelling; and it has inspired generations of both readers and writers alike.

By understanding the role played by myths and symbols in various cultures, Campbell will reveal the ultimate meaning behind our stories, and indeed our lives as human beings, which is the transformative power of facing one’s fears and discovering our deeper purpose.

“Adventure of the Hero”. Image generated by Midjourney; the author retains copyright.

By the way, I’m now publishing all of my book summaries under the publication Paraphilosophy. I’d really appreciate it if you could follow — it’s free. 😁

Prologue: The Monomyth

1. Myth and Dream

Myths have persisted everywhere and always, shaping human culture. They arise spontaneously from the psyche and cannot be controlled. The study of mythology draws…

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NOUS
Paraphilosophy

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