Chapter 3 Discussion: The Hero's Journey In Myth, Literature, And History (Module 3)

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Six-Step Format for Comparing/Contrasting

I. Identify both examples as fully as possible, indicating the 

The western hero undertaken for the purpose of this assignment is titled Zorro while the eastern hero is titled Mulan. The character of Zorro is Americas first masked superhero with an alter-ego. 2019 marks the one-hundredth anniversary of Zorros creation. Pulp writer Johnston McCulley (1883-1958) penned the original Zorro tales. Since then, Zorro appeared in 64 stories, has starred in 10 feature films, scores of Spaghetti Westerns, five movie serials, and two major live-action television series, one of them created by Walt Disney. Hes been in cartoons, comics, and in various stage productions (Zorro The Musical features a score by The Gypsy Kings). Recently, Quentin Tarantino produced a graphic novel crossover with Django and Zorro together fighting injustice. Jonas Cuaron is even now in efforts to make a new Zorro feature film set in the future.

Zorro is iconic and he inspired the creation of the modern superhero. The original McCulley stories contained the foundational elements for the emerging genre the mask, the alter-ego, extraordinary physical skills, and a struggle against archvillains. Famed comic writer Bob Kane wrote that Zorro was a major influence on my creation of Batman. For one hundred years Zorro has been Americas original caped, masked avenger. (Alexander, Marc)

While Mulan is an ancient story of a woman warrior of the fifth century China. The main Chinese ancestry at the time was Northern Wei. It was continually at war with northern itinerant clans. Mulan was enrolled as a warrior instead of her dad and elevated to general in 10 years. She joined the military since her dad had no male child. She won the fight and spared entire China in a period where lady troopers in armed force was shunned in light of the fact that coldblooded fights slaughtered most grown-up men and hence she was rewarded with the highest rank in Chinese history. (Lai, Sufen Sophia) (Robert, D., San Souci, and Jean Tseng)

II. The agenda, main idea, or reason for comparing.

The main purpose of this comparison is to establish how the ideals of eastern and western heroes may vary. While the western society sees masked heroes like Zorro fighting against crimes and powerful tyrants in broad daylight, the ideals of eastern society remain as a woman fighter who stands up for her society without any mask even though women were shunned to have undomesticated roles in the eastern society at the time when responsibility to save her people is thrust upon her.

III. Background information

Both heroes Zorro and Mulan originate in great works of epic literature from their respective cultures namely, The mark of Zorro series in 2005 by (McCulley, Johnston) and came from one folk song in North Wei Dynasty(386 A.D557 A.D) which was called Mulan poem (an interpretation or even translation of original Tuoba folk song).

IV. Similarities

The stories of both heroes illustrate all the main elements of the heros journey, even though their circumstances are quite different. The popular culture brings us a caped and masked hero of the people, a mysterious, legendary gentleman in the form of Zorro. While Mulan is also seen as a character which can be summarized accurately by her strength and resilience. The common element between both heroes remained that both hid their identity to save their people i.e. while Zorro used a mask and cape, Mulan masked as a man during battle.

V. Differences

While the Western Hero i.e. Zorro is concerned mainly with heroic bravery and saving people against crimes, the Eastern Hero is more concerned with reshaping womens role in the eastern society and indulging them in undomesticated roles. Zorro chose to fight against crimes himself, while Mulan didnt do it on a regular basis. Infact, Mulan only took to war since her elderly father was drafted back to the war and she joined the army disguised as a man in order to save him from an imminent death since he was unfit o fight battles. Shed fought bravely in the war, and was rewarded by the emperor. The emperor eventually found out her gender, but pardoned her crime of lying to the emperor, and even promise official positions. Mulan turned down the offer respectfully, return home to her parents, dressed up in her old female clothing again. Whereas, Zorro fought tyrants on a daily basis and never quit till his death.

This comparison is significant for clarifying the main personal and cultural differences between a Spanish and a Chinese hero. Specifically, we learn that Mulan was brave and confident and had strong determination to fight for what she believed in. She was a person who valued relationships and family more than anything else. Hence she leaped forward to save the life of her father and took his place in the army without caring for her life once. She remained resolute and fought wholeheartedly for her country showing that she was a patriot. She held her head high and didnt let any cultural barriers shun her down and made her a historical figure along with bringing honor to the Fa family and whole of China. Whereas, Zorro hid his identity to save numerous people of Spain from influential people they had no power against.

References

Robert, D., San Souci, and Jean Tseng. Fa Mulan The story of a woman warrior. Hyperion Books for Children, 1998.

Lai, Sufen Sophia. From cross-dressing daughter to lady knight-errant The origin and evolution of Chinese women warriors. Presence and presentation Women in the Chinese literati tradition (1999) 77-107.

Alexander, Marc. ZORRO Behind the Mask. Amricas 59.1 (2007) 45.

McCulley, Johnston. The mark of Zorro. Penguin, 2005.

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