Analysis of Sun Wukong from Journey to the West using Joseph Campbell’s Concept of Monomyth

This paper explores Joseph Campbell’s concept of the "Monomyth" or "hero’s journey" as a universal narrative structure found across cultures and applies it to the character of Sun Wukong from Journey to the West. According to Campbell, the hero is a central archetype in the collective unconscious, embodying both personal and societal ideals. The hero's journey, characterized by the stages of separation, initiation, and return, provides a framework for understanding the transformative path of self-discovery. Campbell outlines this journey through seventeen specific stages, asserting that these occur repeatedly in myths worldwide. By examining Sun Wukong’s transformation from the "Heaven-born Monkey" to "The Buddha”, through the lens of the Monomyth, this paper reveals how his story mirrors the universal structure of the hero’s journey, reflecting both individual growth and cultural values.