For Seniors Only: Essay Question for The Last Samurai

“The journey the hero gets is the one he’s ready for.”  ~Joseph Campbell

“The hero quest does not involve simply the hero’s discovery of some boon or Holy Grail, however; it also involves finding him or herself, which ultimately means finding a home in the universe.” ~ Susan Mackey-Kallis

“They say Japan was made by a sword. They say the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out four perfect drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor.” ~Simon Graham (from the movie).

Joseph Campbell says there are two types of hero: the psycho-spiritual and the physical. The Last Samurai is an archetypal story of the hero in both aspects. Indeed, Nathan Algren cannot complete the physical hero journey until he completes the other. Nathan’s psycho-spiritual transformation required a journey into the unknown, where he was subject to the functions of myth of traditional Japanese culture.

In a well written essay containing specific details from the story, explain Nathan’s hero journey in terms of the stages of the hero journey and the four functions of myth.

Characters:

Katsumoto

Nathan Algren

Sergeant Gant

Colonel Bagley

Omura

Simon Graham: translator, photographer

General Hasegawa: committed suicide with Katsumoto’s assistance

Ujio: Nathan’s adversary

Taka

Taka’s sons

Nobutada: Katsumoto’s son

Emperor Meiji


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