Vogler # 11

Summary:

 

            In this section of Vogler he expresses the similarities between the writers journey and the heroes journey in that the writer experiences a journey while writing his story. He will encounter allies and enemies that support as well as hold him back, he will find the “shadow” within himself as well as the “mentor”, he will have “near death” experiences and will survive it in order to continue writing until he comes to his “elixir” once he has finished his story.

            Vogler then goes on to speak about how stories are “alive.” Stories are there to inspire you, to make you think, to motivate you, and comfort you. Once you see a film, you become part of that character and begin his journey with him and see his thoughts, desires, and ambitions throughout the journey and hope that he can make it to the end to achieve his dreams. He goes on to speak about the power of wishing, as how we human beings wish for things just like characters in a movie or book, and we hope that they can achieve that wish because we can relate to that character wanting something and striving to earn it. The wish the hero has soon becomes the wishes of the audience, and when he finally achieves that goal we are content. As the audience, we live through this character through his journey.

Vogler also describes the difference of wishing and willing. We as human beings constantly wish for things, weather its reasonably in reach or far fetched, but aren’t always willing to go after what we wish for because its too difficult or we don’t believe enough in ourselves. The difference between the audience and the heroes in movies is that the heroes are willing to go after what they want no matter what. I believe we like watching movies so much because of this, we like seeing someone go after their dreams, save the world, and fall in love because sometimes we aren’t able to or aren’t willing to.

 

Reaction:

I thought that Vogler did a really good job at describing the wishes within a story and was accurate in saying that every story involves some sort of wish from the characters. We as human beings can relate to this because every day we wish and hope for things, and by reading and watching movies and plays we can actually see people accomplish those things that seem so impossible for us to do.

            I also liked his insight into Rumpleskiltskin because I never really understood that story as a child and even more now as an adult. It’s hard to tell who’s the villain or the hero in a story like that, but the doors are open to many interpretations. Nonetheless, the story of Rumpleskiltskin remains “alive” in all our minds.

             

1. What is something you have seen a hero do in a story that you wish you could do? Are you willing to do this? Do you see yourself doing it in the future?
2. What is your personal interpretation of Rumplskiltskin? Who are the hero, the villain, the mentor, and the shape shiftor?
3. What is an example of a wish in the movie that turned out badly (“be careful what you wish for”)?