First, she may be the object which is deliberately sought by the Hero, perhaps finding where the Villain has taken her. The Dispatcher may also be combined with another role, for example the False Hero who then trails along behind (perhaps disguised as a Helper). It can also be the Princess's Father, who gives the Hero a set of quests to be completed before he gains the hand of the Princess. This may be a family member such as a mother or father. The Donor may also be capricious and not easily swayed and may not give up their gift without setting the Hero another task, from a simple riddle to a whole other quest.Īn early role in the story is that of the Dispatcher who sends the Hero on the mission. This role may be combined with that of a Helper. They may typically be Gods, Oracles or Wise Persons, although they may also be as simple as gatekeepers. The Donor is a person who gives the Hero something special, such as a magical weapon or some particular wisdom. The False Hero is thus an usurper, a thief perhaps of the worst kind, who plays on people's good nature to boldly steal in broad daylight. The False Hero will try to steal the Hero's thunder, grabbing the credit and perhaps trying to marry the princess instead. The Villain may also be a tempter, such as when Darth Vader tries to seduce Luke Skywalker over to the 'dark side'.Ī variant on the villain and a potential complication within the plot is the False Hero, who appears to act heroically and may even be initially mistaken for the real Hero. The Villain may seek to prevent the Hero from achieving the goal or may quest after the same artefact. The Villain typically is morally bad, highlighting the goodness of the Hero. This is the clearly bad-guy person such as Darth Vader in Star Wars or Professor Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes. The sharpest contrast against the hero is the villain, who struggles directly against the hero. Other helpers appear along the way as friends or random people who act pro-socially to support the Hero. The Hero is supported in his or her quest by a Helper, often a wise old man or magician, who appears at critical moments to provide support. The contrast between the limitations of this person and the hero may provide a further elucidation of the hero's defining characteristics such as intelligence, determination, courage, etc. In every story there is a major character with whom the reader will normally associate most strongly and who is the key person around which the story is told. Although this person is often a hero in some sense, they may also take another form, such as a victim or a seeker after some treasure or knowledge.
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