Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
make off with the treasure, like Prometheus stealing fire from the gods for mankind,
or Adam and Eve tasting the apple. T h i s theft may intoxicate the hero for a time, but
there is often a heavy price to pay later.
INITIATION
Heroes emerge from their Ordeals to be recognized as special and different, part
of a select few who have outwitted death. T h e I m m o r t a l s o f ancient Greece were
a very exclusive club. Only the gods and a smattering o f l u c k y humans were ex
empt from death, and only those humans who had done something remarkable
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T H E W R I T E R ' S JOURNEY ~ T H I R D EDITION
Christopher Vogler
or pleasing to the gods would be granted admittance by Zeus. Among these were
Hercules, Andromeda, and Aesculapius.
Battlefield promotions and knighthood are ways of recognizing that heroes
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