Blog 9 Hero's Quest & film Part 2

Name: Edna Rios
Date: May 3, 2010
Professor Dr. C. Jason Smith

When looking for a movie that consist of a hero's quest what better movie then the movie Hancock.Hancock was released 2 July 2008 by a director named Peter Berg.It is taken place in Los Angeles California with a single man ( will smith being the actor) whom carries superhuman powers.He has the ability of supersonic flight, invulnerability, immortality, and super-strength.His biggest problem is not only is he a drunk but while trying to save the world he is costing the city a fortune with all the destroying he has caused in the process. Him doing what he thinks is a good duty, the people of the town feels he is actually a nuisance with his rude attitude and drunken ways.The town are reluctant to thank Hancock for rescuing and stopping crime till he saves the life of a public relation spoke person.

He is offered a chances by Ray Embrey, the spokes person he saved to show the city the need they have for him if Hancock turns himself in for all the subpoena and lawsuits.Hancock agrees and is sent to jail and as so the crime rate rises and he is in need to stop a bank robbery and not till then did the city realize the need of Hancock in their city.Being offered by Ray Embrey to dinner with his family he meets his wife that little did he know have superhuman powers as Hancock did.In the process of finding her powers Hancock finds out about his past.He knew little to nothing about his past until she began to explain all the little details of what he couldn't put together. That being that they were made as one and that he lived 3000 years with his power and the last of his kind.He is a fallen angel.

Hancock was given an journey or what Campbells calls Monomyth. Joseph Campbells said that a monomyth was referred to as the hero's journey, refers to a basic pattern found in many narratives from around the world.

Will Smith character was given a journey from the very beginning of his exists, he was given superhuman powers that before he's accident made sense in having but afterward he had to live a life without knowing he was once loved and cared for.Hancock was given powers he used to save the city but had to battle his inner conflict of being alone and not understanding who he was.In the process of finding out who he was and the life he had before,thanks to Mary the spokesman wife he had to figure out a way in healing himself from a terrible shooting done during a liquor store robbery.Not till after the realization that although he would normally be able to heal that being together with what was his wife Mary, that together they were harming themselves being weaken.

The Hero in this film was faced with a task. Hancock is given the chance by Ray to turn himself in,in order to show the city he is much needed.After all those lives he had saved and crimes, he still needs to prove himself worthy all because of his poor behavior.He must allow himself to lower his ego to prove a point. Hancock must enter prison and withhold himself from setting free and going back to his habit of drink and living a sober life without liquor and superhuman powers. In the past he had saved his Spokesman Ray from a train that was derailing and heading for a collision.Therefore allowing the Hancock to be in jailed it would improve his public imagine within the city and show his need within the city.When the crime rate rises he is being called in to stop a bank robbery in which changes it all for Hancock.

The return of the hero is once Hancock is being called by the Chief of Police to stop a violent bank robbery with the whole city watching he is being applauded for his actions.He gets to be set free from jail and stops the robbery. Will Smiths Character is now being allowed to use his superhuman powers for justices and so he believes life will go back to normal not knowing that Mary is his weakness.His one chance of understanding who he was and someone to have the answers to his questions he must keep away from.He now can return to his normal life saving the city but now he leaves off understanding a little more about himself and that he isn't alone any more.

During the viewing of this movie I've noticed some symbolism and archetypes.A symbol that is being shown throughout the movie is an Eagle. The eagle symbolized strength, courage, farsightedness and immortality.Hancock being a metaphor for America being the "eagle".His courage is strength as the "super hero" and even his view.He sees the city from above just as the viewing of an eagle.The archetype is when Hancock changes and in return the city likes him, he begins to like people

"A myth to live by" by Joseph Campbells meaning the deep power of myth on the inner, spiritual lives of human beings throughout the ages (including our own age).Will smith character is give super human powers in which he uses them for good and has the ability of endless life.Around the world myths are define differently and within this movie the myth of a human being giving super human powers seems unbelievable and the ability to fly as if he was a creature.

Work Cited :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myths_to_Live_By

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth