Emerson Worst - Bestowing Boons

 Emerson Worst - Bestowing Boons

April 26th 2026

    As I was looking back at "The Hero With A Thousand Faces," I found myself looking back at one of the key moments of the Hero's Journey. One of the ending stages, where it states that the hero can now bestow "boons" that they have gained from the journey. I began thinking and wondering about what a "boon" exactly is. It could be something physical, like treasure won from a heroic quest that the hero now gives to his friends and his home. It could also be a lesson learned, and now the hero can share that wisdom with his peers.
    What makes this specific step interesting to think about is the fact that it could be hidden in plain sight, and very easy to miss. Take for example, Cold Fever, where the only mention of a boon is the letter sent at the very end of the movie. It's practically a blink and you'll miss it. Another example would be The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, specifically the movie, where the Hobbits get home, and everything around them is silent. In this instance, perhaps the boons they give to their fellow Hobbits is simply the life of peace that they fought hard to protect. It's not physically giving or sharing anything with them, but by witholding that information, they still give their peers a gift.

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