Barack Obama's Mythic Hero Image - An Appraisal

Obama's first apotheosis was his famed 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention, that would bring him into the spotlight and change the course of his career. Obama's final apotheosis was his candidacy and success to the bid for the Democratic nomination in 2007. 6. Ultimate Boon - the hero obtains a key item or victory His first major victory was his landslide win in the US Senate in 2004; next, his Democratic nomination in 2007 and finally, his election as President in 2008. Part III: Return 1. Refusal of the Return - having attained enlightenment or bliss, the hero may not want to return to the ordinary world This is not the case in Obama's case, since his victory was attained in the 'ordinary' world, not some otherwordly or mythical land. Furthermore, he has always been an ambitious figure, who would not settle in one place but aim higher (18), (19). 2. Magic Flight - the hero may have to wrestle the 'boon' Obama had to pull all his stops in the Democratic presidential nomination of 2007, which had to be wrestled from much better-titled Hillary Clinton. 3. Rescue from Without - the hero may need supernatural support to bring the boon into the ordinary world There were several moments when Obama's 'lucky streak' played in. It isn't a coincidence that Washington Post, in an article from August 2007, called his ascent to US Senate as "A Series of Fortunate Events" (20). They recorded how in 2004 his win for US Senate was helped by the decision of Peter Fitzgerald, the incumbent Senator, not to run for his own seat again, by the domestic abuse charges brought against Democrat counter candidate Blair Hull, who was the favorite for the seat just one month before the election and by Republican counter candidate Jack Ryan's domestic sex scandal. Obama eventually came in to win the Senate seat by a landslide victory: 70% (21). 4. Crossing the Return Threshold - the hero returns to the ordinary world The 'return threshold' is undoubtedly the win of the American Presidency, which was both a challenge and a given - following his win of the Democrat nomination over Hillary Clinton.

5. Master of the Two Worlds - the hero pertains both the divine and human worlds Following his political ascendancy and experience, Obama is now seen as fit to run the USA and able to share his vision to the American people. 6. Freedom to Live - the hero bestows the boon to his fellows. Once he has won the Presidency, Obama is now in the position of contributing to the betterment of American life and of improving America's tarnished image abroad. Conclusions: Barack Obama's story and image fits quite well with Campbell's "Hero's Journey" pattern, even if it does not flow in a linear fashion as Campbell designed it. This is, after all, natural: Campbell was disecting single-story fairy tales and books, but Obama is real-life figure and his life goes beyond the imaginary. On the other hand, one aspect worth noting is that Campbell's pattern does not go beyond point 6 where the hero is in the position of bestowing the 'boon' to the other people. Obama must go beyond the Campbellian heroic journey into the actual work of sharing the boon. elias bakomichalis, bakomichalis, kyriakos bakomichalis