Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
the real Elixir is the wisdom to live a long and peaceful life.
In the tales of King Arthur, the Grail is the Elixir that, once shared, heals the
wounded land. T h e Fisher King can rest easy again. If Percival and the knights had
kept the Grail for themselves, there would have been no healing.
If a traveler doesn't bring back something to share, he's not a hero, he's a heel,
selfish and unenlightened. H e hasn't learned his lesson. H e hasn't grown. Returning
with the Elixir is the last test of the hero, which shows if he's mature enough to share
the fruits of his quest.
T H E E L I X I R OF L O V E
Love is, of course, one of the most powerful and popular Elixirs. It can be a reward
the hero doesn't win until after a final sacrifice. In Romancing the Stone Joan W i l d e r
has surrendered her old fantasies about men and said goodbye to her old, uncertain
personality
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