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| From Wikipedia |
Readers root for an active hero. They don't want to see the hero who doesn't want to be here and isn't going to help and is instead going to whine about every little thing that happens to him. They want to see Batman. Things don't happen to Batman. Batman happens to things.
However, as Joseph Campbell noted, most heroes will refuse the call to adventure. This may be because they have changed worlds unexpectedly and want to go home, or because they're naturally passive, or they don't feel like they're suited to being the Hero.
In these circumstances, it's tempting to simply make the hero be braver or smarter because you want them to be, but it's key to introduce change naturally. The character must willingly change, not because you force them to.
But how do you cause this change? I have a few ideas, one of which comes from The Hunger Games. I finally saw it this week, and while I'm not interested in getting involved in the child violence debate currently raging, I do want to talk about a moment that seemed significant to me. (Warning: spoilers ahead!)
Specifically, the moment when they announce that there can be two winners, not one, and Katniss whispers "Peeta." It's transformative for Katniss. She's been silently resisting the Games the entire time, unwilling to get involved more than necessary, waging a war of attrition by trying to stay out of the fight.
When she realized she could fight for Peeta instead of herself, she began to hope. That hope gave her the strength and courage to actively fight to win the Hunger Games, instead of hiding and running. Later, when the medicine heals Katniss and Peeta's wounds overnight, their fighting spirit is re-energized. No longer crippled, they feel that they can win this.
There is a storytelling lesson in that transformation. Katniss is the reluctant hero, but as the Head Gamemaker and any good writer knows, audiences want an active hero to cheer for. If your hero refuses to be forced to act, maybe they can be persuaded instead.
Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear.
The moment of transformation from passive to active is crucial. It has the power to redouble your hero's faith in himself, and the audience's belief in him. It can cement his personality and give him something to fall back on in future times of trial. It cannot be overlooked.
What are some of your suggestions for getting a reluctant character to become dedicated to his cause?
Wow... that's so true! My hero (heroine) is very passive at the moment, and I've been using dreams and premonitions to show her what she's really fighting for, trying to make that transition work... I don't think it is. The thought of giving hope by letting them fight for someone else - someone close to them - is a great way of doing it. I may have to copy Hunger Games :-)
ReplyDeleteYay! I love it when I'm right. XD To be honest, borrowing ideas from a multi-million dollar book can't be that bad of an idea. I found the movie a fascinating exploration of control, power, and the strength of hope and rebellion. I really hope Catching Fire lives up to the first movie.
DeleteI think I wandered off the subject... oh yeah! Let me know if it works out, 'kay? ^_^
I don't particularly have a problem with that because my heroes/heroines are thrown into situations that snowball and require their constant attention. With that said, it's generally due to them protecting someone else, which makes your blog statement ever more true.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I can see how demanding constant attention is a good way to keep your hero from stalling, but connecting them to someone else would definitely give them motivation to continue the fight. ^_^
DeleteMy heroine is definitely a reluctant hero. I'm trying to make her connect with the situation and people so she has a reason to fight. Hopefully it'll work.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! It might help if she makes friends with one or two specific people, and then they get put in danger because of the overarching threat. It'll give her an immediate reason to act, and then she might start to understand why the bigger problem must be solved. [/general unwanted advice]
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