The Heroic Quest: Shadow-Journeys, Negative Journeys, and the Peril of the Call Unanswered in the Writing of G. Willow Wilson

Abstract

Abstract Undertaking a close reading of the narrative structures of G. Willow Wilson’s two fantasy novels, Alif the Unseen and The Bird King and her memoir, The Butterfly Mosque, I explore how Wilson exposes the shadow side of the heroic quest structure (in which the quest is not undertaken), especially as it relates to women’s heroic journeys. She does this by portraying unconventional heroines and exploring the negative quest, or the call to adventure unanswered. Wilson highlights the catastrophic consequences of refusing to embark on the heroic journey after the potential hero is summoned by the call to adventure. Wilson also reimagines Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey in order to create a path for alternative heroes and heroines to flourish. She deftly uses narrative structure to situate unconventional heroines within their own contexts, especially with relation to Muslim women (both those who choose to veil and those who do not). Finally, Wilson demonstrates that women can embark on the Hero’s Journey in both its original form and in a remapped version suited to their circumstances.