The Hero
Vogler says in Freudian terms the heroes journey is one from a state of pure ego, the self seen as separate from the rest of the group, to being a complete & integrated member of the whole. The other archetypes in the story representing other fractured elements of the self that must be experienced on the journey leading to wholeness.
If it helps reread that last bit again and imagine we are on a spiritual retreat together. We're sitting in the spa, Voglers in there with us, his resemblance to Cheech Marin is even more striking now that you can see him up close. Behind us pan flute music is being piped out of pretty decent quality speakers, not Bose but definitely some good Sony ones. Voglers looking deep into your eyes now and asking you to understand that your heroes journey is a metaphor for the self finding completeness. In the blissful quiet of the californian desert which is seen in the background, sitting in the spa which has some kind of pyramid roofing, this seems right and true.
Emilys backstory leading up to her living in the small village is all about pure ego. The self raging against everything that is defined as her life. Meeting her kindly aunt and uncle and befriending the fairy could all represent elements of the self moving towards finding a shared identity. The gnomes and Martin being elements of the self that she is now at war with within herself.
"That's good, you're getting it", says Vogler as more people join us in the spa and somebodys hand brushes against your knee.
The initial problem I possibly have with this is, do I fully accept Freud's notion of finding wholeness through a shared identity? I do believe it's important to be a functioning member of society, but functioning doesn't necessarily mean agreeing, does it? In mapping out Emily's conclusion I will probably have to draw up a theory of what I believe to be wholeness. That will help me know where to steer my last two acts towards, and how to shape my characters towards a main story goal.
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