45 Master Characters (47 page)

Whatever it is, this decision changes her life and pushes her toward a concrete goal. This stage is a reversal of sorts. The whole direction of the hero's life will be forever changed by her decision in this stage of the game.

At this stage, whatever coping strategy she used to get along in the “perfect world” is useless to her now. She abandons it in order to fully move into her archetype and all its attributes. The coping strategy is what kept her from seeing the betrayal. She steps into her archetype using its assets to her advantage.

Think of Thelma in
Thelma & Louise.
She awakens and decides to keep going with Louise. For the first time she doesn't care what her husband will say or what the consequences of her actions are. She has freedom in her sight.

Another part of this stage is the preparation for the journey.

Not being able to see where the path leads, the hero gathers tools she thinks will help her on the journey. As she says good-bye to those around her, she makes an ally whether she realizes it or not. In her mind she has a list of people she thinks will help her if she needs help.

Like Little Red Riding Hood who gathers her basket, the hero finds the tools she thinks she'll need to survive. The problem is that she's still looking for things outside of herself to help her.

Her preparation can include:

Saying her good-byes.

Asking others their opinions on what she should do.

Gathering weapons — guns, money, disguises.

Documenting all the wrongs that have been done to her, as victims of sexual harassment or those being stalked must do.

Gathering clothing and other items she thinks she needs to be seen as beautiful or professional as the women in
Working Girl
do.

If she's an activist she may gather tools to chain herself to a tree she wants to save or create signs that make strong statements. If she's battling the corporate establishment she may make copies of files and data. If she's a mother running away from an abusive husband she'll gather her children, clothing and money before she leaves.

Armed with these weapons the hero feels safer but there's nothing in that basket that can save Little Red Riding Hood from the jaws of the Big Bad Wolf. Essentially it's her courage and smarts that will help her, but she doesn't really trust herself yet.

A mentor may show up but often doesn't have all the information the hero needs because her journey is one where she goes more into herself to find her own strength rather than relying on others.

All the ogres and tyrants step into the forefront:

Self-doubt creeps over her; she thinks, “Maybe they're right, I can't do this.”

She's told she's not smart or prepared enough and wastes time trying to get information she doesn't need.

The male hero comes to save the day for her. Men are told to help and save women as part of their journey as heroes but in doing so women are kept from embarking on their own journeys.

There's also the “man who would understand” as author Adrienne Rich calls him. This man pretends to understand what she's going through, but then stops supporting her. He seemed sympathetic to her cause before her awakening and now deserts her when the going gets tough.

The rules are changed:

• All of a sudden her job will have more work for her to do, pulling her out of her journey.
  

• School will change policies on her, making it harder to get her degree.
  

• Sneaky liars dangle golden carrots just out of her reach telling her, “Go on, waste your time reaching for it.”
  

• The Motor Vehicle Bureau decides to give out her new address to a stalker.
  

Her fear of hurting others may overcome her.