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  • Essay / Qualities of an Archetypal Hero - 556

    Heroes are visible all around us, in life, in literature and in films. Heroes like Superman, Captain America, and Thor are common, but have you ever thought of Luke Skywalker as an archetypal hero? Luke Skywalker is a young aspiring Jedi knight, called to defeat the empire in the film Star Wars IV: A New Hope, written and directed by George Lucas. Luke Skywalker demonstrates certain characteristics before, during, and after his quest that make him an archetypal hero. An archetypal hero must have specific characteristics before embarking on a quest. For example, many heroes experience some sort of traumatic event during their childhood. In the film Star Wars IV: A New Hope, the archetypal hero Luke Skywalker experiences the loss of his parents at birth. This is a very traumatic experience that leads to a series of events and behaviors. One such behavior could be Luke's desire for adventure, assuaging the fact that "if there is a bright center of the universe," he lives on the "furthest planet." Luke's call to adventure is an archetypal characteristic of the hero in him. Although...