Doctor Strange
Introduction
It can be said that the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are heroes’ journeys most simply because they are about superheroes taking a path to overcome challenges to achieve a goal. Doctor Strange is one of many pieces that fits the classical definition of The Hero’s Journey.
1. Ordinary World
The movie starts with Stephen getting preparing for surgery, he cleans his hands and put on a surgery suit. A syringe is being filled with a liquid, and someone is foot tapping and a doing little dance move as he performs his surgery. Stephen performs a very advanced surgery, he makes lots of money out of it and he makes other people feel inferior while doing the surgery.
2. Call to Adventure
The call to adventure happens when Doctor Stephen Strange, the famous neurosurgeon is on his way to a Neurological Society dinner and gets into a car crash which ruins his hands. This accident disrupts his normal life, ruins his career, and he realizes everything is going to change.
3. Refusal of call
The refusal of the call happens when Dr. Strange finds one of his patients playing basketball, who he refuses to operate on because it was impossible to fix him. The patient tells Strange the place where his healer lives. However, the healer's treatment uses magic and Strange is now extremely frustrated. He is very reluctant and has second thoughts about her treatment.
4. Meeting the Mentor
After rejecting the Ancient One, she shows Strange her magic by hypnotizing him and showing Strange different dimensions that exist in this universe. By believing in the magic and accepting the Ancient One's cure, Strange begins his adventure, accepts the call, and begins an emotional, physical and spiritual journey towards learning magic.
5. Crossing the Threshold
The first road of trail occurs when the Ancient One sends Strange to Mount Everest and tells him to find his own way back with magic. This develops the rising action when Strange is able to make the portal in time of distress and passes his first test. This boosts his confidence and he becomes better every time he studies something new.
6. Tests, Allies, Enemies (unconditional love)
Dr. Strange experiences his unconditional love when the Ancient One is about to die. She explains to him how she exists in the Dark Dimension. Also, Strange should accept that she is dying and he can't do anything to fix it. The Ancient One tells Strange that when she tried to look at Stephen's future, the only thing she could see is his capacity for goodness and he always excelled but not because he creates success but because of his fear of failure what kept him from achieving his goals. It also was keeping him from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all, "it's not all about you [Strange]."
7. Approach To The Inmost Cave
While trying to learn about the ancient ways Dr. Strange is thrown into a battle with Kaecilius, and his Zealots (name of his army) attack Strange. He summons a whip made of pure energy to block their blades and attacks. They then continue their fight, as Strange manages to knock Kaecilius away as he searches for a weapon. While Kaecilius was distracted, The Cloak of Levitation (his magical coat) convinces Strange to lock Kaecilius in the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak (a magical cage), finally ending their long and brutal fight. After trapping Kaecilius in a cage, Strange leaves the place and goes to his hospital to recover from all the injuries. Strange knows that Kaecilius will come back with a big comeback and he starts preparing himself for the big fight.
8. Final Fight
The final battle happens between Dormammu, Kaecilius and his Zealots teaming up and attacking Strange. The setting takes place in Hong Kong Sanctum. Strange reverses time and restores Hong Kong. Strange also saves the world by making Dormammu beg for mercy. When the Hong Kong Sanctum is in jeopardy, Strange enters the Dark Realm with a time loop spell by using his time stone making Dormammu live the same moment over and over again. After bargaining with Dormammu Strange offers a deal, if he leaves Earth forever, Strange will get rid of the time loop. Dormammu accepts his bargain and leaves Earth, leaving Kaecilius to fail and die.
9. Return to Earth
After winning the battle with Dormammu, Strange returns back to New York and becomes Sorcerer Supreme and the guardian of the New York Sanctum. He returns to his studies in both the martial arts and his magical powers to perfect it even further.
Conclusion
Dr. Strange is one of the best examples of a person going through the Hero's Journey. His simple and ordinary life were completely changed over the course of the Hero's Journey and the end result shows how he became one of the most dynamic characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Emerging from this final conflict, having saved the world and being resurrected as a true hero, Dr. Strange is a changed man. As the new Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange returns home with his new magical powers, which he plans to use for the benefit of mankind.
