The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon – understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero's Journey:
· Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
· Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
· Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
This deconstruction is best understood by watching the film simultaneously...
FADE IN: opening music indicates era the story is set in.
Introduce Hero (Andy Dusfresne) and the Romantic Challenge [his wife is having an affair].
Development of Hero's character and the Romantic Challenge [the court hearing; details of his wife's murder; did he kill her?]
Call to Adventure. Hero forced out of his Ordinary World by Herald [the judge sentences Andy to two life sentences].
Meeting the Supernatural Aid (Mentor) and his challenge (Morgan Freeman playing "Red.") [Red faces the parole board and is rejected].
Mentor's status [other inmates rush after and walk behind Red].
Mentor is comfortable in this World [Red walks comfortably and stands tall in this World].
Mentor's capabilities [narration tells us that Red can "get anything;" he's a regular Sears and Roebuck].
Hero enters the First Threshold – Red's World [the bus brings in Andy].
Overview of the New World Hero in entering [overview of the prison].
Hero's status in his Ordinary World [Red narrates that Andy was a VP of a bank – good work for a man his age].
Strange creatures in the New World [from Andy's POV, the prisoners are strange and unfamiliar].
Meeting the Antagonist's Lieutenant / Shape Shifter (Captain Hadley) and is nature [he's a vicious bully].
Hero's status in the New World is low [they're "maggot shit" and "new fish"]. Meeting the Threshold Guardian (Heywood).
Hero uncomfortable in this New World [Andy walking outside the bus].
Mentor notices and evaluates the Hero [Red notices Andy].
Hero enters the Threshold of the Inner Cave [Andy et al line up inside].
An authority figure dictates the rules of this place; meeting the antagonist [Norton tells them the way it is].
Antagonists demonstrate their nature [Hadley truncheon's a prisoner in the stomach].
Transformation begins; Hero begins to lose his Old Self [Andy showered and powdered].
Warnings of the danger of the Journey, the Inner Cave and the First Threshold ["somebody always breaks down the first night."]. Hero enters the Inner Cave [Andy enters his cell].
Confronting the shadows, demons and ghosts of the Inner Cave [the voices of the inmates].
Near Death experience [Hadley kills the fat inmate, but Red his money on Andy getting beaten].
Hero survives the Near Death experience. The Mentor learns not to underestimate him ["on his first night, Andy cost me ten cigarettes – he never made a sound."].
Hero investigates his New World [Andy looks around the following morning].
Foreshadow of the Road of Trials [Bogs notices Andy].
Hero meets allies [Brooks asks for the maggot for Jake, the crow].
Tangible symbol of this phase of the Journey (Jake, the crow). Symbolic of the transformation ["I'm gonna look after him until he's big enough to fly"].
Conflict with a Shape Shifter (Heydon) ["what the fuck do you care New Fish!"].
Foreshadow of the Road of Trials [Bogs hits on Andy].
Physical Separation form the Old World [Andy keeps himself to himself for a month and then talks to Red].
Mentor warns hero of the coming Trials [Red warns Andy about Bogs and the Sisters].
Mentor agrees to provide the Hero with a Magical Aid. Mentor / Hero relationship established [Red agrees to get Andy a rock hammer].
Mentor reflects on the Hero [Red comments on Andy's manner and narrates that he likes him].
Mentor secures the Magical Aid [Red secures the rock hammer].
Allies assist in the delivery of the Magical Aid [Brooks helps deliver the rock hammer].
Transformation. Trial 1. Resistance [Andy fights off Bog et al]. Trial1. Andy gets gang raped.
Time Stretch ["things went on like that for a while…the sisters kept at him"].
Time Stretch. Preparing for Trial 2 [red arranges for the allies to repair the roof].
Trial 2. Andy arranges to take care of Capt. Hadley's taxes.
Celebrating the passing of Trial 2. The boys drink beer on the rooftop.
Character development; Mentor's backstory [Andy and Red talk chess; Red is the "only guilty man in Shawshank."]
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict [Andy carves chess pieces with the rock hammer; Andy starts scratching the wall; Andy sources a poster of Rita Hayworth from Red].
Resisting Trial 3 [Andy resists Bogs et al again]. Trial 3 {Bogs et al rape Andy again and put him in the infirmary]. Hero's capabilities demonstrated [Andy prevents having to give the blowjobs]. Hero's Transformation demonstrated [Andy stands up to Bogs].
Separating from the World of the Trials [Capt. Hadley (playing a Shape Shifter) takes care of Bogs].
Celebrating the Passing of the Trials [Red et al secure some rocks for Andy and Rita Hayworth].
Meeting with the Oracle [Norton sizes Andy up for the Journey to the Sword].
Oracle guides Hero toward the Sword [Norton assigns Andy a job in the library].
Tangible symbol of growth [We meet a grown up Jake].
Mentor guides Hero around the World of the Sword [Brooks shows Andy around].
Foreshadow of the journey to the Sword [Andy does accounts for a prison guard].
Developing the Ideal [Andy wants to develop the library for altruistic purposes].
Journey to the Sword with allies [Andy becomes the prison accountant; red becomes a staff member].
Time Stretch:
Resistance to the Return to the Old World; Foreshadow of the Freedom to Live [Brooks upset at getting parole].
Reasons to fear the Return to the Ordinary World [Brooks is institutionalised].
Journey back to the Ordinary World [Brooks lets Jake go].
Danger of the Ordinary World [Brooks returns and eventually commits suicide].
Seizing the Sword [Andy gets the funds for the library].
Celebrating the Seizing of the Sword; pursued by the Antagonist; separating from the World of the Sword [Andy plays the Mozart record].
Rebirth through Death [Andy survives two weeks in the hole; when he returns he takes centre seat at the table; "easiest time I ever did."]
Warnings about the Atonement and Apotheosis "hope is a dangerous thing."
Reminder of the Mentor's challenge [Red refused parole again].
Time Stretch ["I wonder where 10 years went…"]
Resistance to the Warnings [Andy gives Red a harmonica – hope is a good thing].
Time Stretch [Marilyn Monroe poster; Red thinks about the harmonica].
Transformation complete [The State awards Andy full funding for a library]; change of clothing and new glasses.
Build up to the Final Conflict; expanding the character of the antagonist [Norton puts the prisoners to work on "community projects."]
Foreshadow of the Atonement [Andy doing Warden Norton's books].
Foreshadow of the Master of Two Worlds [Andy tells Red about the forged identities].
Arrival of the Joker – build up to the Atonement [Tommy arrives].
Joker's backstory [Tommy's done time].
Time Stretch: Hero mentors the Joker [Andy teaches Tommy; Raquel Welch poster].
Setting up the Atonement with the Father [Tommy tells Red et al that Andy is really innocent].
Atonement with the Father [Andy confronts Norton; "how can you be so obtuse…"; solitary for a month; Norton shoots Tommy; Norton threatens to put Andy in with the sodomites and burn the library].
Apotheosis: "you either get bust living or you get busy dying."
Ultimate Boon: Synergy [Red et al are concerned about Andy and will keep an eye on him].
Ultimate Boon: Reward [Andy gets the warden's accounts], replaces the Father [puts on Norton's shoes] and escapes.
Refusal of the Return [Norton et al can't believe Andy has escaped].
Magic Flight [Andy's escape developed with flashbacks].
Master of the Two Worlds [Andy cleans out Norton's bank accounts and sends in the incriminating evidence]. Norton and Capt. Hadley pursued by police].
Foreshadow of the Freedom to Live [the postcard].
Rescue from Without / Mentor's Challenge [Red gets released].
Crossing the Return Threshold [Red out in the Ordinary World].
Freedom to Live [Red finds the directions to Mexico and joins Red].