Through the Tunnel

“Archetypal stories occur in many cultures making the long journey home, contemplating the impossible” task or outwitting the formidable enemy are all archetypal plots (Willhelm R2). One of the most universal archetypal patterns in every human beings life experiences is the adolescent struggle for adulthood. In literature, this struggle for adulthood takes the form of a journey or quest. In the story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, one can see powerful recreation of this journey to adulthood. As Natalie Babbot points out, the path the protagonist follows on this journey is, “Mainly unalterable and inescapable” (Babbot 27). The protagonists journey through the tunnel in Lessings story follows “The standard half of the mythological adventure of the hero separation, initiation, return” (27). Separation is the starting point of a protagonists journey, these are the elements that lead the protagonist toward an independent life. Jerry’s mother symbolizes what’s keeping him from growing up, along with the beach which symbolizes the known world. In a story, a protagonist will find a way out of the known world going off on his own, this is his call to adventure.

In “Through the Tunnel,” Jerry’s safety zone is the beach because it resembles his mothers grip on his life, so Jerry leaves his safety zone to go swimming out by the promontories ( ). The herald is the figure or symbol that summons the hero to cross the threshold. In the story, the kids laughter encourages Jerry to cross the threshold ( ). Jerry’s curiosity of what the kids were doing brought him to the next stage of his journey. This brought him to the dangers of the known world. He started to figure out how to solve problems on his own by using nature judgment and the new skills that he gained. A character will run into difficult challenges to overcome. The obstacle the character faces could be as simple as cooking a recipe or as dangerous as battleing fierce compertiters, but the character always observes and prepares. In the story, “Through the Tunnel” Jerry first explores the outside of the tunnel and prepares by training his lungs to support great pressure. After they go through those first two steps, the character comes to his moment of truth, the time when they have to make that split second decision in order to succeed.

That person will have to face his fears knowing that they cant back out know, they will face injury, and death in order to finish what they started. There are also psychological problems that follow them, it may be their greatest fear or something that they had locked away from their memories and comes back to haunt them, whatever the case, they will succeed. In “Through the Tunnel” Jerry goes into the tunnel knowing it’s his last chance and gets bloodied up, and scratched while thinking of octopi getting him and knowing if he does it, no one will find him for at least a whole year. After thinking the situation over, he turns around and goes back home. When a hero returns, they have completed their journey. This place they go to is their safety zone, and that’s when they encounter a parent or guardian. In “Through the Tunnel”, Jerry returns to the villa and encounters his mother.

Also, when they finish their journey, they bring a “Boon” or lesson learned that they use to help them to get to adulthood. The “Boon” in this case would be to never give up if you want to achieve a goal, which in this story would be to get to adulthood. Thus, all heroes on a journey encounter dangers that they must overcome. The hero must leave the safety zone of the known world and enter into a danger zone. It is here that he faces many of his fears and challenges. This is an analogous to parents cutting the apron strings so the child may enter the unknown world on his own and face challenges in life in order to gain maturity. After the heros completed his challenge, he returns to the unknown world and brings a valuable lesson.