Hero’s journey in the Secret of Moonacre - film review
The hero’s journey (or Monomyth) is a narrative characteristic commonly found in almost every movie. This is the cycle that the lead goes through to create a complete and satisfying narrative. I will use the movie “The Secret of Moonacre” to demonstrate this. This is a film I have loved for a long time, largely because of its enchanting storyline and the magic woven through it.
The journey normally begins in the Ordinary World for the character. In “The Secret of Moonacre” this establishes Maria in the luxury of affluent Victorian styled London (although the exact placing is debatable as the costumes and architecture is not accurate to the period.) Maria’s life seems good and happy living with her father and governess until her father suddenly passes away. This means she will have to move in with her Uncle, Sir Benjamin.
The second element of the hero’s journey is the call to adventure. In the movie this happens when Maria is given a large ancient book from her father’s will. It is a book of the folklore of the valley in which she now lives. It tells the legend of the Moon Princesses who were guardians of the environment and begins to suggest that she may in fact be the next one. Next comes the refusal of the call. For Maria, this is her judgement that the content of the book is nonsense. This is partially influenced by her lessons from Miss Heliotrope. Her ultimate refusal however comes following her conversation with Marmaduke the chef, who suggests that she is in fact the next Moon Princess, prompting her to run away from her possible future. This pushes her story into the next adventure.
Having fled the fear she faced in her new home, Maria progresses into the next part of the Hero’s Journey, meeting her Mentor. She hides in a tree trunk and discovers the home of Loveday, the last Moon Princess, who failed to complete the task that now faces Maria. Loveday is understandably excited to meet Maria and begins to try and teach her the path she must walk in order to be successful. However Loveday holds back details of her history with the Merryweather family and this ultimately holds Maria back from properly crossing into the special world section of her journey.
Maria’s proper crossover into the special world surrounding her comes from learning more about her new home and beginning to accept the dresses she is left which are characteristic of the Moon Princess’s attire. This gradual acceptance leads her into a world beyond her wildest dreams.
Maria then learns more about the legends and stories of the magical valley she now lives in. she begins to respect and love the magic around her and begins to wear the Moon Princess dresses she is left every morning. This is the beginning of her crossing the threshold into the magical world of her ancestors. As she learns more she learns from Marmeduke about the feud with the Noir clan. We begin to learn more about the magic specifically surrounding her. This leads to her to sneak into the Noir clan castle. This leads her into her ordeal of being chased and nearly captured by the Noirs. She however finds what she believes to be the key to saving the valley.
After some confusion over how to find the pearls, and actually getting hold of them she realises that they must be returned to the sea. She tries to throw the pearls into the sea but they come back to her and attach themselves to her dress. She realises that she must sacrifice herself to save everything she cares about. So she jumps off the cliff and into the sea. This is the beginning of her road back.
Maria’s resurrection comes as the curse is lifted from the valley. The white horses gallop out of the sea, with the unicorn carrying Maria, well but exhausted. She has saved the, so they keep her safe. Everything goes back to normal. Love day and Benjamin’s relationship is rekindled and the valley is saved. All is well. She has returned with the “elixir”.
The journey normally begins in the Ordinary World for the character. In “The Secret of Moonacre” this establishes Maria in the luxury of affluent Victorian styled London (although the exact placing is debatable as the costumes and architecture is not accurate to the period.) Maria’s life seems good and happy living with her father and governess until her father suddenly passes away. This means she will have to move in with her Uncle, Sir Benjamin.
The second element of the hero’s journey is the call to adventure. In the movie this happens when Maria is given a large ancient book from her father’s will. It is a book of the folklore of the valley in which she now lives. It tells the legend of the Moon Princesses who were guardians of the environment and begins to suggest that she may in fact be the next one. Next comes the refusal of the call. For Maria, this is her judgement that the content of the book is nonsense. This is partially influenced by her lessons from Miss Heliotrope. Her ultimate refusal however comes following her conversation with Marmaduke the chef, who suggests that she is in fact the next Moon Princess, prompting her to run away from her possible future. This pushes her story into the next adventure.
Having fled the fear she faced in her new home, Maria progresses into the next part of the Hero’s Journey, meeting her Mentor. She hides in a tree trunk and discovers the home of Loveday, the last Moon Princess, who failed to complete the task that now faces Maria. Loveday is understandably excited to meet Maria and begins to try and teach her the path she must walk in order to be successful. However Loveday holds back details of her history with the Merryweather family and this ultimately holds Maria back from properly crossing into the special world section of her journey.
Maria’s proper crossover into the special world surrounding her comes from learning more about her new home and beginning to accept the dresses she is left which are characteristic of the Moon Princess’s attire. This gradual acceptance leads her into a world beyond her wildest dreams.
Maria then learns more about the legends and stories of the magical valley she now lives in. she begins to respect and love the magic around her and begins to wear the Moon Princess dresses she is left every morning. This is the beginning of her crossing the threshold into the magical world of her ancestors. As she learns more she learns from Marmeduke about the feud with the Noir clan. We begin to learn more about the magic specifically surrounding her. This leads to her to sneak into the Noir clan castle. This leads her into her ordeal of being chased and nearly captured by the Noirs. She however finds what she believes to be the key to saving the valley.
After some confusion over how to find the pearls, and actually getting hold of them she realises that they must be returned to the sea. She tries to throw the pearls into the sea but they come back to her and attach themselves to her dress. She realises that she must sacrifice herself to save everything she cares about. So she jumps off the cliff and into the sea. This is the beginning of her road back.
Maria’s resurrection comes as the curse is lifted from the valley. The white horses gallop out of the sea, with the unicorn carrying Maria, well but exhausted. She has saved the, so they keep her safe. Everything goes back to normal. Love day and Benjamin’s relationship is rekindled and the valley is saved. All is well. She has returned with the “elixir”.
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