Hero's Journey of The Main Character as Seen in David Ebershoff's The Danish Girl

Gustifani, Nadira (2025) Hero's Journey of The Main Character as Seen in David Ebershoff's The Danish Girl. S1 thesis, Universitas Andalas.

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Abstract

This research analyses the themes of self-discovery and gender transformation as depicted in David Ebershoff’s The Danish Girl, which was published in 2000 by Viking Press. This study aims to analyze Einar Wegener's experiences through the lens of Campbell's Hero's Journey, outlining the stages of his major transformation into Lili Elbe and the challenges he faced in the novel. There are three main parts in a hero’s journey theory: Departure, Initiation, and Return. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method. The results of this study concluded that the main character, Einar Wegener, has completed twelve out of seventeen of the Hero’s Journey stages proposed by Joseph Campbell. There are The Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Supernatural Aid, The Crossing of the First Threshold, The Belly of the Whale, The Road of Trials, The Meeting with the Goddess, Apotheosis, The Ultimate Boon, The Refusal of the Return, Rescue from Without, and Freedom to Live. As Einar transforms into Lili Elbe, he faces his difficulties not with a sword or a shield, but with mental strength and existential courage. Thus, Lili's story offers an essential insight into the costs and meaning of honesty in a society that rejects it, interpreting heroism as the bravery to accept truth despite loss.

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