Disney’s Mulan (1998) is often hailed as an
empowering story of a young woman defying gender roles to save her country.
However, if we examine the film through the lens of Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s
Journey, it reveals a deeper narrative of internal transformation; one
centered around reconciling feminine and masculine identities. Unlike Joseph
Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, which emphasizes external challenges,
Murdock’s framework focuses on the heroine’s internal struggle to achieve
self-integration. This perspective encourages a more nuanced reflection on
Mulan’s journey, one that is not only about victory in battle but about
personal growth and self-acceptance.
The Heroine’s Journey begins with the heroine’s separation from the feminine. For Mulan, this happens when she fails in front of the matchmaker, symbolizing her alienation from traditional female roles. Not fitting the mold of an obedient daughter or future wife, Mulan rejects societal expectations and enters the masculine world by disguising herself as a man to join the army in place of her father. This stage, according to Murdock, reflects the heroine’s belief that power and success can only be achieved through masculine traits like strength and aggression.
Murdock’s model also emphasizes a crucial moment of self-reflection, where the heroine must confront the limitations of her identification with masculinity. In Mulan, this happens when her true identity as a woman is revealed, leading to her exile from the army. Stripped of both her masculine disguise and her role as soldier, Mulan faces an internal battle. This phase represents the "descent" in Murdock’s journey, where the heroine must confront her authentic self and begin the process of healing the split between her feminine and masculine aspects.
The ultimate victory in Mulan’s journey is not just the defeat of the villain, Shan Yu, but lies in Mulan’s ability to embrace both her masculine and feminine qualities. When Mulan returns to the battlefield, she no longer pretends to be a man, but embraces her unique strengths—her intelligence, resourcefulness, and collaborative spirit. Additionally, Mulan’s relationship with Captain Li Shang hints at her balancing of both identities. Though she initially wins his respect by disguising herself as a man and excelling in battle, their connection deepens after her true identity is revealed. By the end of the film, the romantic tension between them grows not because Mulan is one or the other, but because she embodies the best of both masculine and feminine qualities, allowing her to form relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.
Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey highlights this
development as the heroine’s true empowerment: Not through brute force, but by
reconciling her internal dualities and recognizing that heroism goes beyond
traditional gendered definitions of power.
However, while Murdock’s framework provides a solid
framework for analyzing Mulan, it also raises questions about the binary
nature of feminine and masculine traits it relies on. Mulan’s success is
measured within a patriarchal system that still values military achievement,
and while she does redefine heroism on her own terms, she still operates within
a structure that privileges masculine-coded ideals like honor and duty.
Ultimately, we’re encouraged to rethink what it really means to be a hero—and
how societal expectations still shape and limit our understanding of
empowerment.
