Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
of the dragon as a Western symbol of a tyrant who has held fast to a k i n g d o m or a
family until all the life has been squeezed out of it.
T h e conflict between youth and age can be expressed internally as well as in
external battles between children and parents. T h e smoldering combat that ignites
in the Ordeal may be an inner struggle between an old, comfortable, well-defended
personality structure and a new one that is weak, unformed, but eager to be born.
But the new Self can't be born until the old one dies or at least steps aside to leave
more room on the center stage.
In rare cases an Ordeal can be the occasion for a healing of deep wounds
between a hero and a parent. Campbell calls this possibility "Atonement with the
Father." Sometimes a hero, by surviving an Ordeal or by daring to challenge the
authority of a parental figure, will win the parent's approval and the seeming conflicts
annaabi.ee 
