Murdock’s Deconstruction of Campbell’s Hero’s Journey
Maureen Murdock’s model of the heroine’s journey was created as an alternative to Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey—a template designed to address the “psycho-spiritual” experiences of women. Upon completion, Murdock presented the model to Campbell who responded by saying “Women don’t need to make the journey. In the whole mythological journey, the woman is there. All she has to do is realize that she’s the place that people are trying to get to.” Each step of Murdock’s journey addresses this sexist critique, mapping the events of womens’ lives in a way that exemplifies the complexity of their experiences and the necessity of recognizing growth within a patriarchal society. The first three steps of the journey directly address the sentiments expressed in Campbell’s critique of Murdock’s model. “Separation from the feminine” and “identification with the masculine and gathering of allies” both represent internalized self-hatred of feminine identity within a male dominant society. ...