Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist and philosopher, introduces the idea of a hero’s journey within his novel The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In his novel, a hero’s journey is described with three basic aspects. These include the departure, in which the character is introduced and must cross a threshold which sets up the journey, fulfillment, which sets up the trials and tribulations that transform the character, and the return, where the character returns to a new status quo. This three part journey is applicable to a young An-mei Hsu of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. As a child, An-mei undergoes a departure, fulfillment, and return throughout her character arc. The first stage of An-mei’s journey, the departure, begins in her relative
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An-mei soon figures out that her mother had committed suicide in an attempt to benefit her daughter’s life. An-mei learns of sacrifice, how her mother “Killed her own weak spirit so she could give [An-mei] a stronger one” (Tan 240). It becomes evident to the reader, that the trials An-mei faced transformed her from a weak minded child to an emotionally stronger and now independent person which shall aid her in her final part of her hero’s journey.
The final aspect of the hero’s journey is the return, and An-mei’s begins at her mother’s funeral procession, where everyone in the household attends the event. An mei, now developed by her trials takes her mother’s sacrifice, and using it to her advantage. An-mei reveals that in chinese tradition “that on the third day after someone dies, the soul comes back to settle scores,” and also states “in my mother 's case, this would be on the first day of lunar new year, all debts must be paid, or disaster and misfortune will follow” (Tan 240). From that information, An-mei panders to Wu Tsing 's superstitions, blackmailing him to “ raise Syaudi and me as his honored children” (Tan 240). An-mei also regains her spirit by “learning to shout,” saving herself from further harm, and returning to new status quo (Tan
An-mei soon figures out that her mother had committed suicide in an attempt to benefit her daughter’s life. An-mei learns of sacrifice, how her mother “Killed her own weak spirit so she could give [An-mei] a stronger one” (Tan 240). It becomes evident to the reader, that the trials An-mei faced transformed her from a weak minded child to an emotionally stronger and now independent person which shall aid her in her final part of her hero’s journey.
The final aspect of the hero’s journey is the return, and An-mei’s begins at her mother’s funeral procession, where everyone in the household attends the event. An mei, now developed by her trials takes her mother’s sacrifice, and using it to her advantage. An-mei reveals that in chinese tradition “that on the third day after someone dies, the soul comes back to settle scores,” and also states “in my mother 's case, this would be on the first day of lunar new year, all debts must be paid, or disaster and misfortune will follow” (Tan 240). From that information, An-mei panders to Wu Tsing 's superstitions, blackmailing him to “ raise Syaudi and me as his honored children” (Tan 240). An-mei also regains her spirit by “learning to shout,” saving herself from further harm, and returning to new status quo (Tan