Everyone is obsessed with the zombie apocalypse these days. Bumper stickers reading “My Zombie Ate Your Honor Student” and TV documentaries about “preppers” ready to welcome the zombies; even legal agencies are putting their agents through specially designed zombie apocalypse training courses. The result of all this hype around zombies is that everyone wants to test themselves, to be the one who survives and saves humanity. Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey monomyth is widely accepted as the basis for most, if not all, heroic tales. Campbell says the hero usually starts out and is then called into adventure, usually with someone's help. The hero must cross a threshold of danger and during his quest he faces trials and tribulations. Finally, the hero takes on the ultimate challenge; then return home with an elixir or knowledge that improves oneself or humanity (). The role of hero appeals to everyone, from elite soldiers to ordinary civilians – and Shaun is an ordinary man. More ordinary, perhaps, than anyone has ever known him, but like so many people today aspire to be, he survives a zombie outbreak and ultimately becomes the hero of the film Shaun of The Dead, written and directed by Edgar Wright. As an electronics salesman In his late 20s, Shaun doesn't have much to boast about in life. He drinks at the same pub every day with the same friend and has the same relationship problems with his girlfriend that they've had for years. In the film's opening scenes, Shaun fails to maintain this relationship and Liz dumps him. He then ends up at his local pub and drinks under the table again. The character of Shaun represents the status quo that so many people are a part of; t...... middle of paper ......s. Humanity thus gains a workforce that allows it to relax more and work less. Shaun of The Dead depicts many aspects of Campbell's monomyth. Its hero, Shaun, starts from the status quo and has a call to adventure that requires him to cross many thresholds. Throughout the journey he is tested and finds help from his companions who fight alongside him in the final and most intense battle. Shaun, as the hero, receives the reward and returns home with it, along with something that improves the lives of humanity. Although slightly unorthodox, Shaun is a reflection of the hero in us all. He's the hero who likes to drink a little too much and who can't always satisfy the people in his life. He's like so many people today who feel like they can't get anywhere with their jobs or relationships, but he overcomes his problems when duty calls and saves the day..