The Herculean hero is striving for depth. Constrained by external challenges or internal heroics they are either slaying dragons or destroying themselves.

During times of peace, the hero enacts images of salvation or expiation.

If the image is read shallowly, the hero must conquer the motif repeatedly (continually becoming) leading to self-destruction.

However, if the hero can embody the image with depth, that is to remain within the image rather than use it as instruction, the fantasy image can save rather than destroy.

from James Hillman