Critical Introduction of “A Shadow of a Hero”

by Faith Cornell

Heroes have been popular in stories since the beginning of time, but does every hero have to wear a cape or armor, be a demigod, or save the world? Before Survey of World Mythology, I had already briefly studied the hero’s journey; however, if not for this course, I would have neither developed a deeper understanding of the steps and aspects that make up monomyths nor would I know how this archetype applies to our lives. My professor, Liza Long, wrote an article titled “Your Hero’s Journey” that made me realize that because heroism requires bravery and dedication to make a difference, not every hero has to be a figure who saves someone else. Sometimes, as Dr. Long puts it, “…the hero goes inward, to be born again” (Long, 2020), thus saving themselves. Other times, one may need to change oneself first to help someone else. A hero’s virtues play a vital role in their journey, an epiphany I had when Joseph Cambell said in The Hero With A Thousand Faces, “For it is by the means of our own victories, if we are not regenerated, that the work of Nemesis is wrought: doom breaks from the shell of our very virtue” (Campbell, 1949). When it came time to write a myth, I felt inspired by the self-reflections I had following my reading of my professor’s article and my takeaways from Campbell, which led to my decision to write a monomyth.

This monomyth, I realized, would require my hero to be a bit of a self-insert. After creating a list of my weaknesses (every hero has theirs), I realized one reminds me of a character I am developing for a book I am plotting. This character is Kace Dermont, a protective and power-hungry commander in the fictional world of Jaderra. Kace resides in the Zircon Empire a place where humans who have the powers of their goddesses are seen as dangerous. He must decide if these people or the emperor are the threat to Zircon. While I am not power-hungry, I realized I share his struggle of envy ruining his contentment. Kace is a character I have long wanted to redeem, but I have felt stuck until I realized through this class that the steps of the hero’s journey can transform him and help him through his struggles. My goal in writing his myth is not only to make him a hero but to test myself on properly using the steps of a monomyth. I have worked with the steps before but often analyze certain steps prematurely.

David Leeming, author of The World of Myth, describes the hero’s journey as a connection between the hero and the reader because these stories “[carry] us metaphorically into our darker side.” (Leeming, 1992). My myth exemplifies this darker side of humanity, as Kace almost does not become a hero. He spends most of the plot controlled by his resentment until he notices the further issues this creates and then becomes a “man of self-achieved submission”, as Campbell describes a hero in his The Hero With A Thousand Faces (Campbell, 1949). Campbell means that for one to accomplish self-improvement, one must recognize one’s ability to change, but that it requires sacrifices one must be willing to make.

Sacrifice is an important theme in Kace’s story, as it ultimately redeems him in the end and redirects him back on his hero’s journey. Other themes throughout my myth are loyalty, redemption, and the effects of envy and the hunger for power. Commander Dermont is loyal by default; however, under the influence of Emperor Gravili’s misconceptions and biases, his duties as commander are paradoxical. He protects Zircon from innocent, non-threatening people. The commander is also envious, and the longer he gives into this emotion, the more his loyalty to those closest to him lessens. Jealousy plays a vital role in why Kace hungers for greater power. Despite his laziness and frivolousness, people praise the emperor’s son, Milo. Meanwhile, Kace is the opposite and believes he would accomplish great things in a position higher than a commander’s. Kace’s journey teaches him that his ambitions have led him to betray those important to him, and he must sacrifice power to regain the loyalty and trust he greatly values. People have also described me as loyal, which is not the only reason I relate to my character. My unresolved envy has led me to look down on people before or made me unhappy with the things I have or my life and my accomplishments.

Kace’s detour on his journey reminds me of another hero, Jonah, from the book of the Bible named after him. God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah, afraid of the wicked city, flees in the opposite direction. At sea, he is swallowed by a fish, which causes him to repent and then pursue Nineveh after the fish vomits him back up. Kace runs away from his guilt, as he misbelieves himself to be a hero already. In The World of Myth, Leeming thinks characters like Jonah “are not properly called heroes”. However, he also says, “By definition, the hero is the one who finally accepts the call and confronts his destiny” (Leeming, 1992). I argue that Jonah and Kace are still heroes because they finally answer their callings to help a nation after learning to change their hearts due to the trials they face on their journeys.

A main similarity between The Popol Vuh and my myth is the influence that paternal figures have on the hero. Kace and the Mayan twins Hanapu and Xbalanque lose their fathers, which drives their character arcs. Kace’s father’s regrets cause him to question the authenticity of his loyalty to the citizens of the Zircon Empire. The twins learn to outsmart the underworld lords to avenge their fathers, who failed the same tests in Xibalba (Bazett, 2018). It is also worth noting that these heroes follow in their fathers’ footsteps. For example, the twins play pok-ta-pok, and Kace is the commander.

Another character similar to Kace is the Greek hero, Theseus, because of their rebellious behavior. Theseus is sent into the labyrinth by King Minos as a sacrifice to the minotaur “in requital for the death of Androgeus”, Minos’s son (Leeming, 1992). Upon entering the maze’s center, Theseus kills the minotaur and prevents many future sacrifices. The Emperor of Zircon, who believes his son Milo is guilty of treason, orders Kace to execute Milo. Kace cannot and instead slays the real threat: the emperor himself. His death also prevents the future deaths of an innocent targeted group of people, which Kace learns are actually harmless. Both heroes also have a juxtaposition between their loyalty and the acts of betrayal of which they are guilty. Kace would do anything for the empire and its prince, but he is the one who brought Milo’s treason into light with Zircon’s best interest in mind. Theseus promised Ariadne his hand in marriage after she offered to help him locate the minotaur. However, he abandoned her on an island afterward.

The title I chose for my myth on Commander Dermont is “A Shadow of a Hero”, as he is not your typical hero, and his motives are initially questionable. Going into this project, I knew I would face challenges in my plotting because of the complexity of Kace’s character and the troubles I have had in the past when applying the hero’s journey steps to stories. Even while planning my monomyth, I faced the issue of initially ending the narrative too soon, not allowing Kace enough time to reflect on or face the consequences of his sacrifice. Realizing that Kace’s act of assassination is merely the start of his confronting his greatest fear gave me a deeper understanding and confidence in crafting a compelling and fulfilling monomyth. Also, writing Kace’s story reminded me that I have a lot to be grateful for and that accepting myself and what I have is more rewarding in the end rather than depleting my energy, joy, and respect for someone else by competing to be like them or more successful than them.

A Shadow of a Hero

The day Kace Dermont was sworn in as commander, he made this promise: he would do anything to protect the Zircon Empire and its ruler. Zircon’s largest threat was the cursed people with the goddesses’ power. Dermont kept his word well, but his loyalty struggled to endure the recognition and appreciation of others not meeting his expectations—especially that of the prince.

Even as a child, he protected the emperor’s son. He did anything for Prince Milo, but after years of ingratitude, his tolerance for him waned. When the emperor sent his son away on an important quest, the commander felt immense relief. The dangers of the quest were not unknown. Dermont fantasized about what it would be like to replace the prince, repressing his guilt. It didn’t seem fair a sloth should inherit a role higher than one Kace had worked tirelessly for.

Milo returned unrecognizable. The once arrogant prince held a newfound seriousness about his future and a sense of respect. Yet, that golden ring still adorned his head, not the commander’s. Milo’s transformation fueled Dermont’s resentment, the throne even further out of reach. As weeks elapsed, the two grew distant. Milo acted wary of the commander, and Dermont hadn’t even been acting cold. He’d been raised by a manipulator; he knew they were nice when they wanted something.

One night, for the first time in over a year, Dermont drank an entire bottle of wine in one sitting. He’d worked so hard to not copy his mother. Disciplined himself like the soldier he once was. His father had been proud. What would he think of him now? The guilt he drained from that bottle only grew. He needed to remove Milo from the picture, but how?

Dermont soon paid his father a visit—a well-overdue one, but he hated this hospital room. All the equipment leeched more life out of John with every visit. He asked John, the previous commander, if he had any regrets. John failed to be a man of his word: he was supposed to protect people, yet he waited over five years to fight for the custody of his son. John turned his son’s question on him. Kace wished he visited his father more; he never hated him for any of his actions.

His father hadn’t lived at home for months, but that first night after John’s death felt lonelier than all the ones before. Dermont couldn’t process his loss, but the bottles could. John’s final conversation with him lingered in his mind. Had Kace failed to protect anyone? He thought about Milo, and guilt was a burden he buried deep in his heart.

As months passed, Dermont did whatever he could for the throne. Milo had a mentor the commander despised, but the two men could agree on one thing: neither liked the prince. They formed an alliance to find the enemy’s weakness. They eventually found a journal in Milo’s possession, full of old secrets that could ruin Emperor Gravili’s reputation.

That night, the emperor summoned Milo into his study. On his desk sat the lost journal of their ancestors. Milo demanded to know how he got the journal. Dermont stepped in, announcing he found it. They accused the prince of treason, and Emperor Gravili chucked the journal towards a fireplace. Time stilled as the book flew into Milo’s hands. To Dermont’s dismay and surprise, the prince had the very powers he had sworn to protect others from.

If this secret leaked, the emperor would be ruined. Kill him. That’s what Dermont’s training instilled in him, and that’s what the emperor ordered tonight. If Dermont acted now, he was promised the heir. He kicked Milo to the ground and unsheathed his sword, but as he stood over the pleading prince, he didn’t see a young man but a boy. A terrified, innocent child who only wanted to fix his home. Was Dermont looking at Milo or in a mirror? John’s regrets rushed back to mind. Dermont swore to protect this empire, and he’d start with Milo. How could he live with himself if he ever hurt him?

The commander turned his sword on the emperor.

Emperor Gravili’s blood marked Dermont a traitor. This could cost him everything he worked to gain. Turning to his new emperor, Dermont kneeled and surrendered his sword. He asked him to not keep his actions secret. He’d face any consequence, even if it meant his life.

Milo respected his wishes. Word spread fast about the commander’s act of treason. Some wanted Dermont’s head, but most hailed him as their savior. The palace held a banquet to mark a new era and honor the innocent lives lost to the previous emperor. The reign of tyranny was over. So was Commander Dermont’s service. He didn’t have to resign, but how could he continue working for an emperor who welcomed those with the wicked power Dermont had sworn to stop?

Captain Schulte, the commander’s replacement, also resigned. The only man he’d serve had been killed by Dermont. Schulte collected a small following, determined to defeat Milo and take over Zircon. One day, he kidnapped Kace’s sister. Lilith would perish if Kace refused to redeem his sins by siding with Schulte. Dermont offered himself instead. He couldn’t stand to let anyone else he cared about get hurt. Perhaps, as a captive, he could prevent a coup against Milo. He no longer wanted power if the hunger for it brought corruption.

Schulte kept Kace and Lilith. He’d kill them if Milo didn’t surrender, but a group with the goddess’s power stopped Schulte before he could alert the emperor of his captives. Dermont knew he would’ve destroyed these people one way or another, and yet, they had chosen to save him? Milo’s father had convinced him these people were monsters. Reflecting on his career, he realized these people had done nothing wicked with their power.

Following Schulte’s defeat, Kace renewed his vow to protect Zircon—even those with the goddesses’ power. He’d find a way, whether or not he chose to serve as the commander again. Kace kept that promise. Life rewarded him greater than anything else he could’ve gone for.

Works Cited

Bazzett, Michael. The Popol Vuh. Milkweed Press, USA, 2018.

Campbell, Joseph. “Myth and Dream” In Hero With A Thousand Faces, Princeton, 1949.

Leeming, David. The World of Myth. Oxford University Press, 1992.

Long, Liza. Your Hero’s Journey: Telling Stories that Matter. Idaho Pressbooks, 2020. idaho.pressbooks.pub/write/chapter/your-heros-journey-telling-stories-that-matter/

Faith Cornell graduated in the fall of 2024 from the College of Western Idaho with her AA in English Literature. She has enjoyed reading from a young age and would like to edit books after getting her bachelor’s degree. Faith enjoys creating stories and art, watching video essays and theories, and exploring nature in her free time. “A Shadow of a Hero” is a myth she wrote based on a fantasy dystopian series that she has been working on since 2018. Some authors who inspire her are Maggie Stiefvater, Suzanne Collins, and Marie Lu.