In the previous installments of this series, we have looked at the first stages of the hero path as described by Joseph Campbell. These symbols often indicate who the hero is, and the events prepare him (or her) for the world-redeeming task to come.
We have explored how these symbols manifest in the series Xena: Warrior Princess, and determined that both Xena and Gabrielle are walking the hero path. We also discovered that in many cases the women are reflections of each other - each acts as the other's mentor and guide (see Supernatural Aid). In addition, the way each woman deals with the challenges they face show they walk the path from opposite directions.
Joseph Campbell split the overall arc of the hero path into three parts. The departure, the initiation, and the return. This week we look at the final stage in the separation, The Belly of the Whale.
Perhaps the most recognizable occurrence of this symbol in the tapestry of world myth is the biblical account of Jonah. Indeed, the name of this stage is taken from this very account.
God asked Jonah to travel to Nineveh, in order to notify the people of that city of their sins against the Almighty. Instead of obeying God's command, Jonah fled, booking passage on a ship to Tarshish.
(Astute observers may recognize the first two stages of the hero path in the opening paragraph of Jonah's tale, The Call to Adventure and The Refusal of the Call.)
God sent a storm to plague the ship, and the sailors asked Jonah how they could appease God. He told them to throw him over the side. They obliged. God sent a fish to swallow Jonah, who stayed there for three days and three nights.
A change came over Jonah during this trial, and he prayed to God for forgiveness. God forgave him, and the fish spit him out on shore. Jonah went on to Nineveh and did as God had commanded him.
As we learned back in part two of this series, just because the hero refuses the call doesn't mean his journey is ended. A miracle can redeem the hero, restoring him to the path. So in a sense, this stage is a specific symbol surrounding the miracle of the hero's rebirth.
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