You Can Never Go Home Again: The Return to the Same Fold
part 2: The return to the same fold
The first way a hero can go home again is to return to the same fold. That means that the system controlling the world of the story didn’t really change despite what else happened during the story. Let’s look at some examples:
The Norm Breaker has had more change and growth than their normative system. Phil in Groundhog Day (1993 film) has gone through a tremendous amount of change during the course of his story, but he returns to the same fold, just one day after it all began. His view of that fold maybe be completely different, but the fold itself is the same. This is a common pattern for Comedies.
Other examples: Clueless (1995 film), Elf (2003 film) as in the North Pole, and Big (1998 film).
The rogues in the story continue to dupe their unaware systems. The tricky trio of Jamison, Freddy, and Janet in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988 film) are ready to take on their fold—the same empty-headed rich people who have more money than they know what to do with. This con dream team is more than happy to fleece this fold while the fold remains completely unaware. This is a common pattern for Rogue Heroes in Satires.
Other examples: Kevin in Home Alone (1990 film), Cat in the Hat (1957 book), and Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986 film).
The triumphant journey has changed the Norm Breaker, but the system remains unchanged. After a grueling adventure, Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games (2012 film) returns back to her same fold. She may be changed forever by what has happened, but her fold is not…yet. Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is going home again. This is not the most common pattern for Dramas, usually their journey also spurs change in the system, but not always. Sometimes they have to figure out how they fit in a place where people have not changed.
Other examples: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1884 book), The Martian (2015 film), and 12 Years a Slave (2013 film)
The story stops where it started. Llewyn Davis, from Inside Llewyn Davis (2013 film), is stuck. He doesn’t seem to learn from his own mistakes or grow in any way. He likewise is stuck in the same system—one that does not reward him for his behavior or lack of growth. This can be a common pattern in Modern Stories. There is no real end to Modern Stories, that leaves us pretty much in the same place as we started.
Other examples: Manchester by the Sea (2016 film), Juno (2007 film), and The Social Network (2010 film).
Other Kinds and Types of stories can have the Hero return to the same fold at the end of the story, but these are the most common patterns we were able to identify. What purpose does it serve in the story to have the Hero return to the same fold? How is the return part of the overall journey and growth of our Hero? Does this dynamic provide any commentary about the fold or system we are living in? Look for the Return to the Fold Dynamic in the stories you are consuming.
Next week: Part 3: The Hero Returns to an Improved Fold