Come on, man! Spoilers! (Destiny)

by Ragashingo , Official DBO Cryptarch, Thursday, September 28, 2017, 14:46 (2453 days ago) @ CruelLEGACEY

Hero mythology comes from an early point in that process. Humans couldn't quite articulate what they were trying to say, but they could tell stories that illustrated what they were trying to say. On what subject? The subject of "how to be the best person you can be, and live in the best manner that you can". That is what hero myths are trying to tell us. "Be this kind of person and the challenges of life won't stop you."

Those aren't the kinds of stories we are telling anymore. Again, look at the Matrix. Neo is 'The One". He just is. That's not a choice he made about how to live his life or conduct himself. He just is. And because he's The One, he's going to succeed.

Notice how the Matrix follows the Hero's Journey structure pretty closely? So why is it really about the opposite of what you say Hero stories are about?

That's totally narcissism. The belief that you are owed success because of what you (think you) are, not because of what you do. We are getting more stories like this because we are more narcissistic as a culture. It's comforting and re-inforcing.

These are the EXACT kind of stories we are telling, to this day. Some are just better told than others.

As far as the Matrix is concerned, you're glossing over the point where the Oracle tells Neo that he is not "the one". Neo leaves his meeting with her believing he is just another guy. What happens next? He chooses to do the right thing, no matter the cost. He chooses to sacrifice himself in the hope of helping his friend. He stands up to the forces of evil/darkness/whatever you want to call it, and rather than run like everyone else does, he confronts it head on (this is spelled out quite literally, in his confrontation with Agent Smith).

In doing all this, Neo BECOMES the One. Heroic actions cannot take place if the hero knows they can't lose. If that's the situation, then they aren't a hero. Neo is put into a situation where he is fully aware of his vulnerability, but he chooses to act like a hero nonetheless.

;)