Vogler Annotation

Summary:
In many stories there are a lesser villain, or a neutral character acting as a part of the landscape known as the Threshold Guardians. These characters act to test the hero in the journey. It is important and necessary for the hero to see that the Threshold Guardian is not an enemy, but an ally. They act as though they are a problem, but really may be doing the hero a favor. The Threshold Guardians stand for small obstacles that may be in a person’s way in the real world. Much of the time, these obstacles are like ones that may mean a large change for one’s self. It is hard to accept the change by not only oneself but also by family and friends. Heralds are the piece of the story that presents the change for the hero. The Herald acts like a messenger, telling the hero when it is time for change. “Heralds provide motivation, offer the hero a challenge, and get the story rolling” (56). Heralds may also be negative or neutral; they are not always a positive character.
The Shapeshifter is the character that the hero encounters that has drastic change in their personality. This character acts to keep the hero “guessing” (59) and questioning. A large part of the archetype for the shapeshifter is the animus, which is the “male element in the female unconscious,” (60). The Shadow character acts as the dark side. These characters are usually the villains, antagonists, or enemies. Many of the times the shadow represents feelings that are held down. These characters create conflict and bring out the best in the hero. Shadows are at best usually when they have a small amount of humanness in them. This may be a hint of goodness in the midst of their evil. The Ally acts as a companion to the hero. They aid and challenge the hero. The Trickster represents the need for change and mischief. The Tricksters many of the times bring the hero down to Earth and in perspective. They also serve as comic relief.

Reaction:
Reading through all these characters, I could easily see how they are portrayed in stories and how they relate to life. I now understand why I much of the time feel that small pang of compassion for the enemy in movies or books, because of their hint of humanness. I also could see how many of these characters are seen in different ways in real life. Many of the obstacles a person comes to in their life can be seen in the characters, such as the need for change called for by the hero, or the trickster not letting someone’s ego get too big. Because a person has these type of scenarios in their own life, this is what makes stories so interesting and relatable even when the plot line is nothing like in real life.

Questions:
1. How might the Threshold Guardian prohibit the hero from moving forth? Are there instances where the hero never get pass the Threshold Guardian?
2. Are these characters always able to find relations with people in real life if one looks hard enough?
3. Can some of these characters be absent, or one added and the story still is as relatable or interesting to the reader?

Vogler, Christopher, and Michele Montez. The Writer's Journey : Mythic Structure for Writers. Boston: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 49-80.