The Africans believed that the doll contained the spirit of a person not in the living world. Also many of the dolls where said to have supernatural spiritual powers. To me the study of myths helps increase my self-knowledge and a sense of my own internal spiritual power. I feel as I have a better understanding and appreciation for other cultures. Such as Campbell I too feel more tolerant of the diversity of the world around me through the study and understanding of myths.
Myths help people to develop together and individuals to develop within themselves.
Myths are often associated with symbols and statues of an archetype for that time. Just as Barbie is a symbol for the women of the twentieth century in America, a wooden doll with a large belly was the archetype for the women in Africa. These symbols developed into a myth that would eventually prepare young girls for womanhood. These archetypes help the development of the child into motherhood through experience with the doll. In the novel Gilgamesh , Gilgamesh is left standing in awe at the city of Uruk.