The Seven Basic Plots - Christopher Booker [205]
From boy to king (David)
Another instance of a young hero who grows up in the shadow of the Dark Father until he eventually succeeds to the kingdom is the biblical story of David, recorded from Jewish legend in the two books of Samuel and the first book of Kings. We look here at just the first part of his story, up to the point where he becomes king, because of its particularly subtle emphasis on the fact that, unlike his dark, onesided antagonist, young David is in masculine and feminine terms so well balanced, and therefore always potentially whole.
The story begins with King Saul having just won a series of tremendous, bloody victories over his country's enemies, but incurring the wrath of God for his disobedience. Saul has failed. He is becoming a dark figure. God decides that his days as king are numbered. At this point we meet David as an obscure young shepherd boy, and almost the first thing we learn about him is that he plays the harp beautifully, a first intimation of his softer, feminine side. Then follows the most familiar episode of the story when the great enemies of Israel, the Philistines, invade, led by their champion, the boastful giant Goliath, representing `dark masculine' strength at its most brutal. Alone of all the Israelites the little shepherd boy dares to step forward to challenge the giant. Goliath looks down in contempt, because it is emphasised that David was not only young but `fair of countenance'; again the softer value. And of course it is not because David is stronger than Goliath that he wins the contest, but because he is cleverer and more imaginative. Like so many other little heroes confronted by giants in folklore, he catches Goliath out on the blind spot of his selfregarding stupidity, his limited awareness. David has the wider vision to use the little slingstones which enable him to attack from out of the giant's reach; and having slain Israel's greatest enemy by his combination of manly courage and intuitive imagination, he becomes his country's greatest hero.
At first Saul welcomes the emergence of David as his leading general. David marries his daughter, the Princess Michal, and becomes the inseparable friend of Saul's son Jonathan, a'light alter-ego, emphasising that David is now almost a son to Saul himself. But increasingly Saul becomes jealous and bitter towards the happy, balanced, harp-playing young man. He turns more and more into a moody, scheming, heartless Dark Father, inwardly possessed by the `dark feminine, making a succession of treacherous attempts to kill David. David is driven increasingly into the position of being a hunted outlaw, first in the wilderness of Israel itself, then in exile in the land of the hated Philistines. As Saul, `above the line, sinks ever further into darkness, David is being polarised ever further into the shadows `below the line: But never for a moment does he lose his balance, his sense of loyalty, his true feeling and his ability to see whole. Even when he has a chance to kill the sleeping Saul in the darkness of the cave, he merely cuts off a piece of Saul's coat to show that he has no desire to cause Saul injury. In the `shadow realm, in short, he is developing more and more completely into Saul's `light opposite, integrated and whole, while Saul in the `upper realm' becomes ever more dark and unbalanced. Finally the nightmare gathering round Saul comes to a climax. He and his army suffer a huge defeat at the hands of the Philistines, Jonathan is killed, Saul himself commits suicide in despair. David is recalled by popular acclamation from the `inferior realm' of his exile, and the seemingly perfect hero becomes king.'
From boy to king (The Lion King)
One of the most popular Hollywood movies of recent times was the Disney Studio's animated version of this basic theme, The Lion King (1994).2 This begins in Africa with different species of animals and birds congregating in the bush round Pride Rock, home of Mufasa, king of the lions and acknowledged lord of all the other animals. Their gathering symbolises