A hero is more than a person whose identity is shielded by a mask and who has above average strength. It is someone who gives up something they very dearly cherish for the benefit of others. Even though it may be emotionally or physically draining, heroic figures will to do the correct thing, distinguishing them from average people. Thor, descendant of Odin: the king of Asgard, endures a hero’s journey in the movie Thor due to the actions he takes and how those very actions affect his loved ones and other people around him. Joseph Campbell, American mythologist, believed that heroes must sacrifice themselves or something that is important to them to save someone or something else. This is shown as he responded to Bill Moyers, saying, “The…show more content… Toward the end of the film, The Bifrost Bridge, a pathway to the nine realms, is about to be taken advantage of by Loki to destroy Jotunheim (Loki’s birthplace) in order to show his loyalty to his adoptive father, Odin. However, Thor, realizing that this could destroy many people's lives and homes, tries destroying the Bifrost Bridge. Loki in astonishment says, “What are you doing? If you destroy the Bridge, you’ll never see her again!” (Branagh). Thor responds, “Forgive me, Jane!” (Branagh). Here Thor’s heroism is shown as he represents the quality for helping others rather than doing something for selfish reasons. Instead of letting his adoptive brother destroy Jotunheim, Thor’s decision to destroy the bridge allows him to save all the people that Loki would have killed. His selflessness of protecting an unfriendly race on a different planet rather than continuing his relationship with Jane Foster shows he is acting in a heroic manner. Asking Jane for forgiveness also represents how he had to destroy the bridge, even though he does not want to. It took a lot of emotional strength to give up the chance of seeing someone he loves just for the sake of a race that he does not have any real relationship with. This separates him from all others who would be reluctant to give up their most precious possession just for the sake of helping…show more content… For Thor, it is the moment when the strife between him and his father, Odin, is resolved. According to literary critic Steven Phillips, “The hero moves into the unknown only to return with the message that redeems his society” (Phillips 13). Many people make mistakes, but what separates a hero from an average person, is a hero realizes the mistakes he has made and tries to resolve them. As Thor’s journey began when he was exiled, after disrupting the peace between the Asgardians and Frost Giants, his journey made him realize the mistakes he had made. He understood that he should not have acted in haste and confronted Laufey, King of the Frost Giants. As he amended his relationship with his father, his maturity showed how he developed throughout his journey and learned that he should not have intervened as he did. He was able to complete the hero’s journey, knowing that his father has forgiven him and has been able to move forward
