The words of Joseph Campbell, “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek,”

accurately describe the theme of the 2003 film Finding Nemo. The film is an example of Campbell’s
monomyth, also referred to as a hero’s journey. In the animated film, Marlin, the hero, must find and
rescue his son. Although he is afraid, Marlin forces himself to journey into the open ocean. Throughout
the film, Marlin experiences the three major stages of Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, including the
separation, the initiation, and the return. On his journey, Marlin also discovers that he must overcome
his fears in order to save his son.

To begin, the stage of separation introduces the viewer to Marlin’s ordinary world. Marlin is an
extremely cautious clownfish who has experienced the devastating death of his wife. He lives with his
son, Nemo, in a safe sea anemone in the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Marlin is very
protective of Nemo and worries about everything. The call to adventure occurs when Nemo is taken by a
scuba diver and Marlin realizes it is up to him to save his son. Ultimately, Marlin meets his mentor, a
kind-hearted, absent-minded, blue tang fish named Dory. Dory knows what direction the boat that
captured Nemo went, and she attempts to help Marlin rescue Nemo. Not only does Dory help Marlin to
find Nemo, her optimism helps Marlin to confront his weaknesses, find his courage, and overcome his
fears. Her optimism is clearly expressed when Dory sings to Marlin, “When life gets you down, you know
what you gotta do? Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming,
swimming” (Finding Nemo). Dory serves as Marlin’s mentor and loyal companion as the two fish journey
to find Nemo and to find Marlin’s bravery in the process.

The most crucial part of the initiation stage for Marlin is the road of trials. This is where the hero
must endure a series of trials to fulfill his journey. The road of trials experienced by Marlin is important
in leading Marlin to Nemo, but it also changes the hero from his old self to his new self. Marlin’s road of
trials consists of a hungry shark, the monster with huge teeth, the jellyfish forest, and the belly of a
whale. Each test advances the journey and helps Marlin to be bold, conquer his fears, stop worrying
about everything, and to trust in others. In Finding Nemo, the trials begin when Marlin enters the open
ocean and is put in danger by Bruce, despite the shark pledge: “"I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating
machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food” (Finding
Nemo). The trials continue when Marlin and Dory encounter the monster at the bottom of the ocean
and must work together to escape the hungry monster and discover clues about Nemo’s whereabouts.
Further trials in the jellyfish forest reveal Marlin’s inability to trust others. By not trusting Dory’s advice
to swim over the trench, Marlin puts Dory in danger. He must then summon his bravery and return to
the trench to save Dory. The sea turtle onlookers describe Marlin as having “serious thrill issues”
(Finding Nemo). This observation demonstrates how Marlin has changed over the course of his journey
and how his new-found bravery enables him to save his son Nemo.

Marlin and Nemo are reunited and the journey to save his son is complete. However, the return
to the ordinary world does not mean the hero’s journey is over. It is only after Marlin returns to his coral
enclave that he embraces the final stage of the hero’s journey and realizes that the real purpose of his
journey was his own transformation. Marlin’s journey has made him a different clownfish. At the
beginning of the film, Nemo said his dad was “scared of the ocean” (Finding Nemo). Following the
return, Marlin is confident, easy-going, and can finally tell a good joke. He demonstrates the full extent
of his transformation when he sends Nemo off to school with his final words of advice: “Now, go have an
adventure” (Finding Nemo).
 In conclusion, Finding Nemo is a hero’s journey which includes the three major stages of the
separation, the initiation, and the return. Through his journey, the once fearful Marlin becomes a hero
to his son and the entire ocean community. The journey allows Marlin to save his son and enables him
to conquer his fears. Ultimately, Marlin learns how to let go, take risks and have an adventure.