The first stage, "The Call to Adventure," occurs when Odysseus is called away from his home of Ithaca to join the Greek army in the Trojan War. His journey begins when he sets sail for Troy (Chriss 123).The call to adventure signifies that fate has called the hero and moved his spiritual center of gravity from within the boundaries of his civilization to an uncharted territory, according to Joseph Campbell's explanation of this stage (Morang 49).

The next step is "Crossing the Threshold", which is when the hero is faced with a challenge that tests their courage and pushes them outside of their comfort zone. Odysseus has been on his journey for 10 years and is finally on his way home. His journey is filled with many trials and tribulations that test his courage and strength. He faces the challenge of the Cyclops, who almost kills him and his crew, and the Sirens, who lure sailors to their death. He also has to fight Scylla and Charybdis, two sea monsters that threaten to destroy his ship (Nicholson 57). He also has to face Poseidon, the god of the sea, who is angry with Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops. All of these obstacles test Odysseus' courage and strength. The third stage is the Meeting with the Mentor. In Odysseus's story, this is Athena. Athena is a goddess who helps Odysseus throughout his journey by providing advice and guidance. She encourages him to be brave and to persevere. Athena also gives Odysseus the tools he needs to complete his journey, such as the katabasis and the kleos (Desimasari 41). These two items help Odysseus to navigate his way through the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean

Sea and to gain the glory that he ultimately seeks. Athena is a symbol of wisdom, and her guidance helps Odysseus to make rational decisions and to stay on course.

The fourth stage is "The Ultimate Boon." In this stage, the hero finds success in his quest and gains the reward or the knowledge he was seeking. After finally reaching his home of Ithaca, Odysseus is faced with one final challenge: defeating the suitors who have been trying to take his wife and throne (Desimasari 17). He devises a plan to disguise himself as a beggar and test the loyalty of his family and servants. After being recognized by his old dog, he is able to win the loyalty of his servants and together they defeat the suitors and reclaim Ithaca. With the help of Athena, Odysseus is able to free his wife and reclaim his throne, thus ultimately succeeding in his quest for home and giving him his ultimate boon.

The fifth stage is the "Belly of the Whale", where Odysseus is finally reunited with his beloved wife, Penelope. After being away for twenty years, Odysseus is finally home and it is here that he must prove to Penelope that he is truly her husband. Campbell states that "the hero is reborn spiritually", which is exactly what is happening to Odysseus. His love for Penelope gives him a renewed sense of purpose and strength.

The sixth stage is "The Ordeal." This is when the hero must confront the ultimate challenge, and it is here that the hero must prove whether they are capable of overcoming it. Odysseus faces the ultimate challenge when he must face the six-headed monster Scylla.

Athena, the goddess of knowledge, assists Odysseus by giving him strength and safety as he passes by Scylla. The seventh stage is "The Reward." This is the point in the journey where the hero is rewarded for their efforts. Odysseus is rewarded with the return of his beloved Penelope and a reunion with his family (Nicholson 27). Joseph Campbell explains this stage in The Hero with a Thousand Faces: "The final work is that of the cosmogonic round, the cycle of transformation in which the world, as well as the hero, is renewed." This reward represents the renewal of Odysseus' family and the end of his journey.

The eighth stage of the hero's journey is the "reward". This is where the hero is rewarded for his courage and is given a gift for his efforts (Nicholson 27). In the myth of Odysseus, this is exemplified when Odysseus is given a magical bag of wind from the goddess Calypso. This bag of wind allows Odysseus to sail safely back to his home of Ithaca. This is a testament to Odysseus's courage and perseverance.

The ninth stage is the "road back". This is where the hero rnust travel back home after completing his quest. In the myth of Odysseus, this is exemplified when Odysseus and his men finally escape the island of the Cyclops, Scylla and Charibdis, and the god of the sea, Poseidon. After the gods are appeased and Odysseus is able to return home, he and his crew must go through a series of dangerous trials and tribulations (Nicholson 27). These include being attacked by a giant sea monster, being blown off course by a strong wind, and being attacked by the sea god, Poseidon. After going through these ordeals, Odysseus and his crew eventually make it back to Ithaca.

The tenth stage is the "return with the elixir". This is where the hero has to return home with the knowledge, experience, and gifts that he has gained from his journey. In the myth of Odysseus, this is exemplified when Odysseus returns to Ithaca with a magical elixir that will make his people invincible during battle. He also brings back knowledge and experience that he gained during his travels. This knowledge and experience will help him lead his people to victory and restore peace to his kingdom.

"The Master of Two Worlds is also a critical point in the journey where the hero is able to transcend the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds. Odysseus is able to do this by overcoming his enemies and gaining wisdom and understanding of the world (Ananda 34).This illustrates the knowledge Odysseus has acquired on his travels and how he is able to apply it in his native land.

The myth of Odysseus is one of the most famous in the world. It is an epic tale of a brave hero who embarks on a long, arduous journey to return home after the Trojan War. Through this story, Odysseus demonstrates the traditional hero's journey  as outlined by Joseph Campbell. The story follows the classic story arc of a hero's journey, beginning with the hero's call to adventure. Odysseus is summoned by the gods to set off on a long and dangerous journey back to his home in Ithaca.

Works Cited

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