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The Reluctant Hero
(or why we identify ourselves with Arjuna)
The reluctant hero is a heroic archetype described by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces:
The hero may refuse the adventure or deny the ability to move beyond the status quo. The reluctant hero requires supernatural forces to urge him on, while the willing adventurer gathers magical items which require him to rise to heroism, or as a person with extraordinary abilities to avoid using those abilities for the benefit of others. In either case, the reluctant hero does not initially seek adventure or the opportunity to do good. Their selfishness may draw them into the category of anti-heroes yet they differ from the anti-hero in that the story arc of the former inevitably results in their becoming a true hero.
Arjuna is one of the major characters and heroes of the famous Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The third of the five Pandava brothers, Arjuna was a master archer who played a pivotal role in the conflict between the Pandavas and their adversaries, the Kauravas. He is most famous for his ethical crisis and subsequent dialogue with Lord Krishna in the Bhagavadgita, where he is counseled concerning the nature of the universe, proper duty, and supreme devotion.
His role in the Mahabharata has marked Arjuna as a central heroic figure in the scriptures, iconography, and mythology of Hinduism. In his dialogue with Krishna in the Bhagavadgita, Arjuna has the qualities of the ideal student. His willingness to accept the word of Krishna, even though it involves raising his weapons against his kinfolk, illustrates his devotion to God. Arjuna also stands as the archetypal reluctant hero, who is called to a task of great import and initially shirks his duty, only to reconsider and perform his task with effectiveness. As such, Arjuna is a hero not only for Hindus but also for the entirety of humanity.
The reason you see the archetype Reluctant Hero so often in stories and in myths is the fact that people yearn to be a hero in some way. The unique characteristic about the Reluctant Hero is that he or she have imperfect qualities, or just plain luck. This gives people hope that maybe they can have a miracle happen to them or that with unperfect nature they may strive to be a hero in one way or another.
And that is why we identify ourselves with Arjuna so much 😊
source: http://mediafilter.wikispaces.com/The+Reluctant+Hero
(or why we identify ourselves with Arjuna)
The reluctant hero is a heroic archetype described by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces:
The hero may refuse the adventure or deny the ability to move beyond the status quo. The reluctant hero requires supernatural forces to urge him on, while the willing adventurer gathers magical items which require him to rise to heroism, or as a person with extraordinary abilities to avoid using those abilities for the benefit of others. In either case, the reluctant hero does not initially seek adventure or the opportunity to do good. Their selfishness may draw them into the category of anti-heroes yet they differ from the anti-hero in that the story arc of the former inevitably results in their becoming a true hero.
Arjuna is one of the major characters and heroes of the famous Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The third of the five Pandava brothers, Arjuna was a master archer who played a pivotal role in the conflict between the Pandavas and their adversaries, the Kauravas. He is most famous for his ethical crisis and subsequent dialogue with Lord Krishna in the Bhagavadgita, where he is counseled concerning the nature of the universe, proper duty, and supreme devotion.
His role in the Mahabharata has marked Arjuna as a central heroic figure in the scriptures, iconography, and mythology of Hinduism. In his dialogue with Krishna in the Bhagavadgita, Arjuna has the qualities of the ideal student. His willingness to accept the word of Krishna, even though it involves raising his weapons against his kinfolk, illustrates his devotion to God. Arjuna also stands as the archetypal reluctant hero, who is called to a task of great import and initially shirks his duty, only to reconsider and perform his task with effectiveness. As such, Arjuna is a hero not only for Hindus but also for the entirety of humanity.
The reason you see the archetype Reluctant Hero so often in stories and in myths is the fact that people yearn to be a hero in some way. The unique characteristic about the Reluctant Hero is that he or she have imperfect qualities, or just plain luck. This gives people hope that maybe they can have a miracle happen to them or that with unperfect nature they may strive to be a hero in one way or another.
And that is why we identify ourselves with Arjuna so much 😊
source: http://mediafilter.wikispaces.com/The+Reluctant+Hero
