[Cassidy Brighton]

Big Fish is a film that depicts the story of a man’s life and relationship with his son as he lies on his death bed. The movie gives the audience many examples that would point to Edward being the main Campbellian hero of the tale. There is one problem with his heroic nature though, being that the end of a hero’s journey is supposed to leave them changed in some way. Edward, on the other hand, spends his last days telling the same tales that have frustrated and confused his son for years. Though we find out that there may be more truth to the stories than initially indicated, this characteristic of Edward does not show that the character has changed as a whole, though the specific adventures he went on may have somehow changed that particular part of his life. Edward is displayed to the audience as the obvious hero. He goes on fantastic journeys and the things that happen to him seem unreal and fictional. His adventures with brightly colored scenes and funny dialogue and interesting characters is attractive to the audience. But Edward also has so many characteristics about him that are not heroic at all.

Upon a deeper look, I identified Edward’s son as the real hero of the tale. Will fits the definition of a Campbellian hero. The first part of this definition is that the hero must embark on an adventure. This adventure for Will is him traveling from his home to his father by plane. His father is sick and he must go to him to be with him in his final hours. He also travels to find the truth about the stories his father told him for years. The next part of the definition is that in a crisis, the hero wins a victory. This could mean a few different things for Will. One example of a victory for Will is finding the deed to the Spectre property and finding out the truth about that. Also, seeing many of the characters from his father’s tales at the funeral after the crisis of Edward’s passing provides a needed clarification for Will. These clarifications are victories after a crisis for Will. The hero in a Campbellian tale leaves his heroic adventure a changed person. This happens to Will. He ends his journey at his father’s home, telling a tall tale of his own. This scene shows an obvious forgiveness and love for Edward as he dies.

Though Edward could easily be defined as the hero of Big Fish, Will’s character development and changes throughout the film makes him a hero as well.

— Cassidy Brighton

[Jeanna Foti]

Cassidy,

I think your analysis of the real hero of the story is spot on. While the fabricated stories of Will’s father might suggest he is the hero, Will, in the end, is able to change as a character and provide his father with a death story fitting for a hero.

I think that Edward, through his stories, tries to fit himself into Campbell’s definition of a hero. If you look closely, the book Edward is reading when he falls asleep is Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces. It is clear through his stories that Edward is trying to fit that mold. He is called to adventure when he realizes he is a big fish in a little pond. He encounters the temptress along his journey: the naked woman he sees in the lake and Jenny, who is in love with him and threatens to come in between his marriage.

Will allows his dad to have the death of a hero in the tale he tells during his father’s last moments. Will is the real hero, in that he allows his father to partake in these heroic stories and continue them, even as he dies. The stories aren’t entirely false, as we can tell with the appearance of all of these characters he included in his stories at Edward’s funeral. While Edward’s story likely didn’t leave him as the hero he painted himself to be, he surely left an impact on all of the people he encountered, due to the large attendance at his funeral. Will allowed his father to die with the belief that he was in fact the hero of story, making Will a hero right alongside him.

-Jeanna Foti

[Darby Daly]

Cassidy,

I definitely agree with your analysis of Big Fish. I had a similar outlook on the characters while we were watching the movie as well. It was difficult for me at first to distinguish who exactly was the hero between the two, but as you said, I think both characters are rightfully heroes in their own way. While the story was primarily about Edward’s life story and how he was the obvious hero when he was younger, Will was just as much of a hero as he overcame the differences he had with his father to be there with him by his death bed and determine the genuine story of his life.

Overall I feel like I could not have said it any better myself, your analysis is pretty much exactly how I felt, and I appreciate the points that you brought up.

 

–Darby Daly

[Sara Cook]

Cassidy,

I agree with your analysis of the film and identifying Will as the hero. While I was watching Big Fish, I thought that it was difficult to identify who the hero was. Initially, I saw Edward as the hero but the ending proves Will as the hero. I agree with you that because Will is more dynamic than Ed, he is a hero. Edward is the hero of the fabricated tales but Will is the life hero.

Will’s ability to forgive, even after his father has missed so much of his life, shows a true selflessness that is noble and heroic. He shows his vulnerability by expressing a need for the truth from his father, despite not talking to him for years. The reliance Will places on the truth and family is revealed once he sets aside his stubbornness.

Unlike Will, Edward’s only heroic attributes are shown in the outrageous tales  that he tells others. When back in “reality”, Edward exhibits only cowardly characteristics, such as ignoring family obligations and emphasis on fantasy over reality. One could argue that instead of being the hero, Edward, in a sense, enables the hero — Will. His stories inspired Will, even if he did not believe them, and his fathers shortcomings formed him into a better man.

[Author]

Posts