Taming Inner Demons: The Heart of Storytelling

“It is only when a man tames his own demons that he becomes the king of himself if not of the world.” - Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell's profound understanding of mythology has been a beacon for storytellers across generations, including myself. His insights into the universal struggles of human nature are particularly resonant in the realm of fiction writing.

In my debut novel, "In the Shadow of the Furies," the protagonist, a young Scipio Africanus, grapples with the most formidable demon of all: fear. This journey mirrors Campbell's philosophy, wherein the conquest of personal demons is pivotal to a character's evolution.

I've always believed that labeling characters (or people for that matter) as simply 'evil' is not just limiting for storytelling but also a disservice to the complexity of human nature. In my stories, the antagonists aren't driven by a desire to wreak havoc on the world; instead, their actions stem from a misguided will to do good for themselves and those they care about, or to achieve what they think of as "justice."

The "demons" most featured in my writing are fear, greed, pride, and simplicity. These elements afflict both heroes and villains alike. A tragic hero succumbs to them, while others triumph over these challenges, one by one. In my book "Rings of Iron," for instance, the demon of simplicity, the allure of easy solutions to complex problems, is what ultimately tests the mettle of Rome. This simplicity, often manifested through a demagogue's rhetoric, is what the Republic needs to rid itself of. However, unlike Scipio, the Roman Republic, in history, emerges as a tragic hero, unable to overcome this critical flaw.

The influence of Campbell’s work extends beyond my writing. For example, George Lucas, when creating the Star Wars saga, drew heavily from Campbell’s concepts. Like Rome, the transformation of the Galactic Republic into the Empire in Star Wars is not a story of growth and expansion, but rather one of decline and fall—a theme echoing the tragic history of republic.

This exploration of inner demons, the personal struggles that define our character and decisions, is more than a narrative device. It’s a mirror held up to our own lives, challenging us to reflect on which demons we battle and how we choose to confront them. Whether in a galaxy far, far away or the streets of ancient Rome, the struggle remains universally compelling.

As Campbell himself might say, it’s in the taming of these inner demons that we truly find ourselves, emerging not just as rulers of our own destiny, but as creators of stories that endure across time.