The Call to Adventure: Luke and his dead Family
By Ansh Singh
In Star Wars: A New Hope the Call to Adventure is questionable. Call to Adventure, represented through Joseph Campbell's 17-step monomyth, represents the point of the story in the beginning that disrupts the comfort of the hero's Ordinary World. It presents or offers a challenge/quest that must be undertaken by the hero. There are two potential moments that represent the Call to Adventure in Luke Skywalker's Hero's Journey. First, Leia's recorded message, and second, the invasion of the Empire and death of Luke's family.
In the beginning of the film, Luke lives an ordinary life as a farmer with his uncle and aunt. Luke dreams for adventure, but feels tied to the responsibilities he has at home as a farm boy. Later on, Luke is cleaning up a newly-acquired R2D2 when he accidently plays a clip of a recorded message from Princess Leia requesting help. This seems like a perfect fit for the Call to Adventure step. It's where the quest is introduced to the hero. Additionally, he acts reluctantly to take on the quest, as his uncle urges him to help on the farm for at least one more season. This scene would fit in the "Refusal of the Call" step that follows the Call to Adventure step. It looks like we found the point in the story that most befits Call to Adventure. Nevertheless, let's look at another example.
After hearing news that the droid possessing Leia's message was on Tatooine, the Empire raids Luke's home while him and Obi-wan are out. Once Luke makes his way back home, he see's a home destroyed by Jedis and engulfed in fire. On the ground he sees the corpses of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. The destruction of his home and the murder of his family was the turning point for Luke, where he could no longer remain in his familiar and safe life. The Call to Adventure usually takes the hero from the known and ordinary world into the unknown, where the hero begins to face trials. For Luke, this is the final push that compels him to join Obi-Wan on the quest to save Leia and invade the Death Star.
So, which scenario represents the Call to Adventure most befittingly? The first instance of Leia's recorded message definitely fits the typical pattern of the hero being introduced to the quest. However, the second moment of the death of Luke's family holds deeper emotional weight and marks a clear break from his ordinary life into the unknown. Perhaps Leia's message functions more as an invitation and the death of Luke's family serves as the true call that Luke isn't able to refuse. Personally, I prefer the former, but I would love to hear your thoughts on it as well.
great analysis. Out of the two options, I think the former fits the Call to Adventure better, as it represents something that urges the hero enter the unknown world while he is in the known world. The second option is more about Luke actually listening to the call and taking action.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think of the second option originally during the movie. I think it's an interesting thing to consider and that the invasion of the empire really does push Luke to go out and pursue his quest. Although I feel that the question is weighted, I think that there is some importance behind both calls to adventure.
ReplyDeleteGood post Ansh! I also feel that Leia’s message represents the Call to Adventure step better. I see the death of his family as more of the catalyst that compels him to take back his initial Refusal of the Call and commit to the quest. Also, I just want to say that I like the morbid title of this blog.
ReplyDeletegreat post! I personally think that the first option was the true call to adventure, especially since he refuses the call. However, I definitely agree that the second option has much more emotional weight and is also an enticing option because of its significance. I think that both calls to adventure have merit and are greatly important steps in the journey, but I think that the first option is more compelling.
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