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Refusal of the Call

 

Disciplines > Storytelling > Campbell's 'Hero's Journey' > Refusal of the Call

Description | Discussion | See also

 

Previous: The Call to Adventure

Next: Acceptance of the Call

 

Description

The hero, hearing the call to adventure, initially may hesitate, reluctant to leave the comfort and tasks of their everyday existence.

Perhaps they are afraid of what might happen the them. Perhaps they do not see the call as important, being more engrossed in their current activity. Perhaps they have responsibilities and do not want to leave their family. The refusal may well be prompted by an individual, such as with Propp's Interdiction.

Example

Sherlock Holmes often refuses cases initially, seeing them as beneath his intellect until some fascinating detail awakens his interest.

In Star Wars, Luke's uncle Owen reminds him of his responsibilities at home.

Discussion

In the introduction to the story we may already have been shown the need for the hero. However, the hero's initial denial, modesty or other refusal to respond positively to the call frustrates us, initiating tension in the story.

The hero's refusal may also make the hero more human and further bond us to them. It shows their initial frail state, before the transformation that will happen to them in the story.

Note that there may be a similarity here with the Kübler-Ross grief cycle, where some tragedy or disturbance occurs and the hero is initially shocked, angry and refuses the Call whilst bargaining for some alternative (such as sending someone else).

See also

Interdiction: Hero is warned

 

Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero With a Thousand Faces, New York: Bollingen

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Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

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Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

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© Changing Works 2002-
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