A Search for Destiny: Applying Campbell's Model to "Snow White" and "The Little Mermaid" Anonymous College

For over 27,000 years, ever since the first cave paintings were uncovered, telling tales has been one of our most underlying methods of communication. Various compelling legends and tales originate from culturally diverse regions from all around the world, which exemplify the elemental basis of imagination and provides a life changing morality lesson. These captivating stories about the protagonist’s exhilarating adventure to discover their true potential, may greatly relate to our own individual journey in revealing our place in the world and uncovering our fate. Mythologist Joseph Campbell, conveys the monomyth from his book Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation in the chapter “The Self as Hero”, he explores the main idea that as the single protagonist undergoes a life changing experience. The hero reveals their true destiny and achieve enlightenment by becoming more knowledgeable, thus contributing to society by utilizing their expertise gained from their journey. One can test Campbell’s monomyth theory by analyzing two fairy tales “The Little Mermaid” and the “Little Snow White”, and ascertain whether it connects to Campbell’s assertion or requires modification.

Regarding Campbell’s theory of the hero’s...