I'll Make a Man Out of You: Mulan's Heroine's Journey
1. Examine a film with a female protagonist that conforms to the heroine’s journey by reflecting on how either Maureen Murdock’s or Victoria Lynn Schmidt’s versions of that narrative archetype encourages us to understand the narrative. Mulan , released in 1998, follows our heroine, Fa Mulan, in ancient China during times of military conflict with the Huns. The Huns, led by the ruthless Shan Yu, are attempting to invade mainland China by breaching the Great Wall. The Emperor orders a large-scale mobilization, with conscription notices requiring one man from each family to enlist. Fa Zhou, Mulan’s elderly father and a renowned military veteran, is conscripted. Mulan pleads with her father not to go, fearing for his life. After Fa Zhou refuses, Mulan cuts her hair and takes his armor and sword, disguising herself as a man so she can enlist in his stead. In today’s blog post, I will focus on Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey and the step ‘shifting from feminin...