39.8k views
5 votes
What is the purpose of the refusal of the Call?

1) The hero prepares to confront the shadow
2) The audience gets a hint of the contrast between the hero's normal life and the adventure to come
3) It expresses the risk of the adventure and/or what is at stake for the hero
4) It shows that although the hero is willing to move forward, others are holding him/her back

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The refusal of the Call in a hero's narrative expresses the risks and what's at stake for the hero, enhances thematic depth, and emphasizes the significance of the hero's eventual choice to undertake the journey.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the refusal of the Call in a hero's journey narrative serves multiple purposes. Primarily, it expresses the risks inherent in the adventure and illustrates what is at stake for the hero. This refusal can highlight the hero's reluctance due to the danger involved, or depict a conflict between the hero's desire for safety and the demand for heroism.

In the various texts you've referenced, the refusal serves to enhance the story's thematic depth. Whether in Twain's hesitation under pressure, Ellison's protagonist in "Invisible Man" grappling with his identity post-humiliation, or Frost's acknowledgment of nature's perils, the refusal deepens our understanding of the characters and the conflicts they face. It's a narrative device that amplifies tension and underscores the significance of the hero's eventual choice to embark on their journey, however reluctant that choice may be.

User Henry Marshall
by
8.0k points