The
child-hero’s journey is semi-present in Sybel even though much of what happens
to her in the book are not things that happen in the life of a child. She does
not fit the exact design, but one can stretch it to make her fit into most of the
categories, if only for a little while. The classic journey is characterized by
the child beginning in obscurity, finding a helper, going to a special place
where potential is realized, and returning to the original place. Sybel’s
journey must be stretched, Tam, however, fits much more snuggly into the mold.
Sybel lives
in seclusion, not obscurity. The surrounding people know of her grandfather, her
father, and now her. They may not know her name or who she is, but she is
famous nonetheless. Campbell also makes the point that the child is often in a
place of danger or degradation. Sybel is in neither; she has her animals to
keep her from danger and her magic to control the minds of those who would wish
her harm. However, she does not have someone to take care of her in a paternal
way. In this, one can stretch degradation to neglect and the reader can see how
she is neglected of the love of a fellow human for years.
Tam does
live in obscurity, but again is not degraded or in danger. He is just another “wild
mountain” boy running through the forests. Very few know who he is or who he
has the potential to become. One could say that he is in danger because he is
left with a 16 year old girl who knows nothing of child rearing, but he seems
to come out of that just fine, by the age of twelve. The only real danger he is
in comes from the possibility of being exploited.
The helper
that comes to Sybel is not an angel, an animal, or a wise old woman, although a
wise old woman is present. Coren is Sybel’s helper and she attempts to turn him
away. She does not want his “help.” I only list Coren as Sybel’s guide because
he is the positive character who brings her out of her world on the mountain into
the real world. He also embodies that person who will always be there for her.
He promises, “You can fly from me, high as you choose into your darkness, but
you will see me always beneath you, no matter how far away, with my face turned
to you (287-288).” No matter where she is, he will be with her, which is the
role of the guide.
Tam’s guide
is Sybel. She raises him and gives him the values, love, and courage to become
who he needs to be. She is there as he is raised in his obscurity, but also is
the one to facilitate his departure. At the end of the book, he is the king of
all of Eldwold but he still needs her and she welcomes him with love and he
asks her to always be there for him. We know through all of the evidence of her
love for him throughout the book that she will always be the mother figure in
his life.
Sybel’s
journey into a new place where she comes to realize her potential is not a
pleasant one. She is drawn against her will by Mithran and told that her
freewill is going to be removed from her. Through the panic of the situation
she is able to gain the anger that discovering her full potential requires. Sybel
has always known that she has these powers and what they can do, but she has
never had the wish to exercise them so fully until hatred begins to take her
over.
Tam leaves
with his father and learns all about what it will take to be a king. We do not
learn about what in particular he learns except through his own stories. However,
he does grow and learn much while under the tutelage of his father. He is as
ready as a young teenager can be to rule a kingdom by the time it is dropped
into his lap.
When coming
“home”, both Sybel and Tam must return to Eld Mountain. She takes a step
backward in the journey and releases her power by the time she returns to her
original setting. The power is still inside her, but she has relinquished control
over her animals and people. Sybel comes to the end of her journey as a
powerful wizardess who is known as such, but she does not choose to live that
lifestyle. Tam is the king and will choose to live as King of Eldwold. He has
come to the full child-hero’s journey and has successfully completed the steps.
All of Eldwold knows that he is the king and respects him as one.
I think this is really interesting, particularly in light of the writing of an author named Rachel du Plessis, who argues that female characters in fiction cannot become heroes; rather, the figure of the heroine is ultimately their only choice. Male characters, on the other hand, aspire to become hero figures. That idea seems to be exactly what you've illustrated here. I'll have to think about it more because I want Sybel to be a hero, but your interpretation is compelling.
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