The aim of this paper is to answer the question if the protagonist in "City of Bones" can be called a hero according to the concept of the Hero’s Journey. In order to do that the paper is first going to give a definition of the word hero and introduce the concepts that are significant for the analysis. Then it will focus on Vogler’s theory, which consists of twelve Stages, that can be organized in three acts, starting with giving an overview of the three acts.
The main part will focus on the twelve stages introduces by Vogler. After deconstructing the stages, it will refer to and analyse Clary Fairchild’s journey in the City of Bones. Lastly it will answer the question, if and to what extent Clary can be considered a hero.
Heroes always fascinated humankind. They are part of myths, of fairy tales, of historical studies and of course of fiction. For most people heroes always seemed to be a part of their lives regardless of whether they were or are fictional heroes or real-life heroes. This term paper will focus on Clarissa Fairchild, also called Clary Fray.
Clary is a fictional character and the protagonist of the book series "The Mortal Instruments" (2007 – 2014). "The Mortal Instruments" is written by the American author Judith Rumelt, better known by her pen name Cassandra Clare. Clary Fairchild lives the life of an ordinary teenager, until she discovers that she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters; warriors, who are humans with angelic blood. Shadowhunters exist to protect humans from demons and other evil forces that are beyond the mundane word. This term paper will only deal with the first book of "The Mortal Instruments", called "City of Bones" (2007).
Joseph Campbell introduced in his book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces", the Hero’s Journey, which describes a classical plot structure that appears for example in a lot of books and films. Christoph Vogler presents a theory that is based on Campbell’s work. Vogler’s book "The Writer’s Journey" describes his version of the Hero’s Journey. This paper will only focus on Christoph Vogler’s version of the Hero’s Journey.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Who is called a hero?
- The Hero's Journey by Vogler
- Act One: Separation
- Act Two: Descent and Initiation
- Act Three: Return
- Analysing Vogler's Twelve Stages in the City of Bones
- Stage One: Ordinary World
- Stage Two: Call to Adventure
- Stage Three: Refusal of the Call
- Stage Four: Meeting with the Mentor
- Stage Five: Crossing the First Threshold
- Stage Six: Test, Allies, Enemies
- Stage Seven: Approach to the Inmost Cave
- Stage Eight: The Ordeal
- Stage Nine: Reward
- Stage Ten: The Road Back
- Stage Eleven: The Resurrection
- Stage Twelve: Return with the Elixir
- Is Clary Fray a hero?
- Criticism of the Hero's Journey
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to determine if the protagonist of City of Bones, Clary Fray, fits the criteria of a hero according to Vogler's adaptation of the Hero's Journey. It will achieve this by defining "hero," introducing relevant theoretical concepts, and applying Vogler's twelve-stage model to Clary's experiences in the novel.
- Defining the concept of a hero, both in real life and fictional contexts.
- Explaining Vogler's twelve-stage Hero's Journey model and its three-act structure.
- Analyzing Clary Fray's journey in City of Bones through the lens of Vogler's model.
- Determining the extent to which Clary embodies heroic qualities.
- Exploring the applicability and limitations of the Hero's Journey archetype.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central question of whether Clary Fray, the protagonist of City of Bones, can be considered a hero based on Vogler's model of the Hero's Journey. It introduces Clary and her world, highlighting her transformation from an ordinary teenager to a Shadowhunter, and provides a brief overview of the paper's methodology, focusing on Vogler's theory rather than Campbell's original framework. The chapter establishes the context for the subsequent analysis and clarifies the scope of the study, focusing specifically on the first book of the series.
Who is called a hero?: This chapter explores the multifaceted definition of a "hero," distinguishing between real-life and fictional heroes. It delves into the characteristics commonly associated with heroism, such as courage, selflessness, and skill, and explores how these traits manifest in both real-world examples and fictional narratives. The chapter differentiates between heroic figures in epic poems, often possessing divine connections, and more contemporary fictional heroes, including the increasing representation of female heroes in recent literature and film. Ultimately, the chapter provides a nuanced understanding of heroism that will inform the subsequent analysis of Clary Fray.
The Hero's Journey by Vogler: This chapter presents Christoph Vogler's adaptation of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, focusing on its three-act structure and twelve stages. It provides a detailed overview of each act: Act One (Separation), which introduces the ordinary world and the hero's call to adventure; Act Two (Descent and Initiation), which depicts the hero's challenges, tests, and allies; and Act Three (Return), which highlights the hero's return to the ordinary world, transformed by their experiences. This thorough explanation of Vogler's framework lays the groundwork for the subsequent application of the model to Clary Fray's narrative in City of Bones.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analyzing Clary Fray's Hero's Journey in Cassandra Clare's *City of Bones*
What is the main objective of this paper?
This paper analyzes whether the protagonist of Cassandra Clare's *City of Bones*, Clary Fray, fits the criteria of a hero according to Vogler's adaptation of the Hero's Journey. It does this by defining "hero," introducing relevant theoretical concepts, and applying Vogler's twelve-stage model to Clary's experiences in the novel.
What key themes are explored in this analysis?
The key themes include defining the concept of a hero (in both real-life and fictional contexts), explaining Vogler's twelve-stage Hero's Journey model and its three-act structure, analyzing Clary Fray's journey through Vogler's model, determining the extent to which Clary embodies heroic qualities, and exploring the applicability and limitations of the Hero's Journey archetype.
What is Vogler's twelve-stage Hero's Journey model, and how is it structured?
Vogler's model, adapted from Campbell's work, is structured in three acts: Act One (Separation), Act Two (Descent and Initiation), and Act Three (Return). Each act comprises several stages detailing the hero's transformation. The twelve stages include: Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting with the Mentor, Crossing the First Threshold, Tests, Allies, and Enemies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, The Ordeal, Reward, The Road Back, Resurrection, and Return with the Elixir.
How does the paper apply Vogler's model to Clary Fray's journey in *City of Bones*?
The paper systematically analyzes Clary's experiences in *City of Bones*, mapping them onto each of Vogler's twelve stages. This involves examining Clary's transformation from an ordinary teenager to a Shadowhunter, highlighting specific events and challenges she faces, and assessing how she overcomes obstacles and develops as a character.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview includes summaries for the Introduction (establishing the central question and methodology), "Who is called a hero?" (exploring the definition of a hero), "The Hero's Journey by Vogler" (explaining Vogler's model), and further chapters analyzing Clary's journey through Vogler's framework and offering a critique of the Hero's Journey archetype.
What is the conclusion of the paper (as hinted at in the preview)?
While not explicitly stated in the preview, the paper aims to conclude whether Clary Fray successfully embodies the characteristics of a hero according to Vogler's model and discuss the strengths and limitations of using this model to analyze fictional characters.
What are the limitations of using the Hero's Journey archetype?
The preview hints at a discussion of the limitations of the Hero's Journey archetype, suggesting that the paper will critically evaluate the applicability and potential shortcomings of using this framework for analyzing all narratives, especially contemporary ones.
Where can I find more information about this analysis?
The provided text is a preview and likely only represents a portion of a larger academic paper. Access to the full paper would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the analysis.
- Quote paper
- Elli Elsan (Author), 2019, Is Clary Fray a hero within the novel "City of Bones"? The hero's journey according to Christoph Vogler, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1030358
