Journey to the West (pdf): The Heroic Journey
Thanks to all of you for your interesting and perceptive comments! I’ve organized the more salient comments by character, as you see below.
Monkey:
Roshelle; Radia; William; Mark; Emily; Borys; Kamran; Vyonna; Chi; Zeyu;
There is a remark that Monkey is a helper to Tripitaka, and this is a valid and interesting point of view. From this perspective, the journey is actually Tripitaka’s journey, with Monkey as a helper. Another points out that both Monkey and Tripitaka are actually helping each other. The question is then, is this a journey, ultimately for both? For all? Another comment points to Monkey’s difficulty in facing his numerous obstacles. He “consistently lashes out violently when he is challenged” (Radia) and, of course, the question is, does he ever truly overcome this. Emily points out that Monkey’s rashness can also work in his favor, because he is always the active one, the “catalyst” for what needs to be done. Mark points out that Monkey’s second call, is to search for immortality, and that it is this call which ultimately leads him to the right path. This is certainly a large question in the narrative, and one that we will all have different answers to. In other words, is Monkey finally on the road to true self-realization? Borys also sees a second call for Monkey, when they were confronted by the thieves, and instead of learning from the past, he retreats to his former rash behavior. Vyonna points out that Monkey may well be stuck in between stages three and four of the journey; he has taken up the “call” but he cannot truly cross the threshold (letting go of his old behavior). Chi suggests, contrarily, that Monkey does learn how to be a team player (with the help of the metal band). Zeyu makes a very interesting comment, when he points out that Monkey is heroic precisely because he is not perfect, as working through these imperfections is what actually creates a true hero, or full human being.
Pigsy:
Mel; Brian.
Interesting comments point to Pigsy as a kind of hero, who is willing to give up his ordinary world, and in his case, a comfortable and profitable lifestyle, a lifestyle full of instinctual behavior, in order to go out of his comfort zone and into an adventure.
Tripitaka:
Elizaveta; William; Sabera; Zuzanna; Kamran; Myra; Diana; Kelly; Gagandeep; Denny.
A comment points to Tripitaka “consistently refusing the call of adventure” (Elizaveta) because he is often depressed and hopeless. The questions here are, does he ever find strength in himself? Or, contrarily, does Tripitaka have a different kind of strength? Zuzanna points out that although Tripitaka can be weak, he has a “different heroic trait – compassion.” Sabera makes a very interesting comment about Tripitaka facing the “threshold” when he finally “lets go” (of all pretense of being a leader? of humbling himself and accepting Monkey’s help?). Myra points out that Tripitaka did indeed have some growth, as when during his “dream he did not run away, but stood his ground.
Diana and Kelly, and Gagnadeep point out that Tripitaka was a solid mentor to Monkey, from the beginning, and was the true catalyst in getting Monkey to give up his “ordinary world” or previous behavior. Denny makes a very helpful comment about both Tripitaka and Monkey, that they are actually both learning from each other (and some people feel that these two characters are actually one complete character).