Crossing the Threshold: The Fourth Stage of the Hero’s Journey

In The Hero With a Thousand Faces, American writer and professor Joseph Campbell identified crossing the threshold as the fourth stage of the hero’s journey. Crossing the threshold happens when the main character leaves their comfort zone (the “ordinary world”) behind for the first time to embark on a quest, entering the “special world.”

In the late ’90s, Christopher Vogler, a Hollywood film producer and writer, created a seven-page memo titled “A Practical Guide to The Hero With a Thousand Faces” to help screenwriters wrap their heads around Campbell’s monomyth structure. The memo was later developed into a screenwriting textbook, The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers (1992).

The crossing of the threshold is a crucial part of a story structure and moves the narrative towards the crux of the adventure. Use these tips to help you as you write this pivotal plot point.

• Define the threshold: Give your character a physical boundary they must traverse to enter the new world. Whether it's opening a door, boarding a train, or crossing the river, having a threshold that defines a break from their life helps signify the pivotal nature of the moment.
• Establish a threshold guardian: Threshold guardians are archetypes that provide a necessary test to prove your hero’s commitment to their quest. Your hero must overcome an obstacle to compel the story forward. A threshold guardian can be anything that gets in your hero’s way, such as a treacherous mountain journey, an encrypted computer database, or a deftly skilled sword-fighter.
• Isolate your hero: Once your hero crosses to the other side, the road back to their old life should be obscured. This will help provide a compelling reason for your character to commit to the quest. The only way back is to complete the journey ahead of them.

Here are some examples of crossing the threshold from iconic works of film and literature.

1. 1. The Wizard of Oz (1939): In the film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s life is turned topsy-turvy when she’s picked up by a terrible tornado. She lands in a strange and unfamiliar world. She encounters Gilda, a good witch, who becomes her mentor. Gilda gives her a pair of ruby slippers and a quest that Dorothy must complete before she can leave Oz. Dorothy accepts the quest and crosses the threshold as she skips down the yellow brick road in search of the wonderful wizard of Oz.
2. 2. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): In the film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, at the instruction of their mentor Gandalf, set out on foot to carry the ring far away from the Shire. Sam and Frodo cross the threshold when they reach a point in a field that marks the farthest Sam has ever strayed from home. Frodo recounts one of Gandalf’s words of wisdom to encourage his friend to cross the threshold, leave their comfort zone behind, and proceed with the journey.
3. 3. Star Wars (1977): In Star Wars: A New Hope, Luke Skywalker comes upon a droid in possession of an urgent message from Princess Leia, in which she requests the help of the reclusive Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi. After a series of events, including the murder of Luke’s uncle and aunt, Luke and Obi-Wan flee Luke’s home planet of Tatooine, crossing the threshold to embark on a quest to a new world.

In The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campell breaks up the hero’s journey, also known as the monomyth, into seventeen distinct steps:

1. 1. The call to adventure: Something, or someone, interrupts the hero’s ordinary life to present a problem, threat, or opportunity.
2. 2. Refusal of the call: Overcome by their fear and insecurities, the hero initially hesitates to embark on this journey.
3. 3. Supernatural aid: A mentor figure gives the hero the tools and inspiration they need to accept the call to adventure.
4. 4. Crossing the threshold: The hero embarks on their quest.
5. 5. Belly of the whale: The hero crosses the point of no return and encounters their first major obstacle.
6. 6. The road of trials: The hero undergoes a series of tests or ordeals to begin their transformation. Often, the hero fails at least one of these tests.
7. 7. The meeting with the goddess: The hero meets one or more allies, who pick them up and help them continue their journey.
8. 8. Woman as temptress: The hero is tempted to abandon or stray from their quest. Traditionally, this temptation is a love interest, but it can manifest itself in other forms, including fame or wealth.
9. 9. Atonement with the father: The hero confronts the reason for their journey, facing their doubts and fears and the powers that rule their life. This is a major turning point in the story: every prior step has brought the hero here, and every step forward stems from this moment.
10. 10. Apotheosis: As a result of this confrontation, the hero gains a profound understanding of their purpose or skill. Armed with this new ability, the hero prepares for the most difficult part of the adventure.
11. 11. The ultimate boon: The hero achieves the goal they set out to accomplish, fulfilling the call that inspired their journey in the first place.
12. 12. Refusal of the return: If the hero’s journey has been victorious, they may be reluctant to return to the ordinary world of their prior life.
13. 13. The magic flight: The hero must escape with the object of their quest, evading those who would reclaim it.
14. 14. Rescue from without: Mirroring the meeting with the goddess, the hero receives help from a guide or rescuer in order to make it home.
15. 15. The crossing of the return threshold: The hero makes a successful return to the ordinary world.
16. 16. Master of two worlds: We see the hero achieve a balance between who they were before their journey and who they are now. Often, this means balancing the material world with the spiritual enlightenment he’s gained.
17. 17. Freedom to live: We leave the hero at peace with their life.

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