What archetype would you be in an adventure story?
Very few are the heroes or masterminds. Very few are even
the sidekicks or henchmen. Very few are truly the damsel in distress or the
monster. You are most likely an expendable nonentity.
If Star Trek
was real would the Red Shirt consider himself useless? If Star Wars was real would the stormtrooper be amused by his lousy
aim? The nonentities of reality are real people. They have thoughts and feelings.
They have loved ones and are loved ones.
In fiction and reality alike some people are more
important than others. Fair or unfair is absolutely irrelevant. There is a
grand scheme and your importance is your contribution to it, for better or
worse. If your life is insignificant then your death is inconsequential.
The villain considers himself the hero. The hero most
often considers himself a nonentity. They are what they are regardless.
I am a writer of adventure fiction. I create the
characters mindful that they are “real” people with personal thoughts and
feelings. Everyone needs something to believe in. Everyone needs loved ones.
Everyone yearns for a meaningful existence.
Making the unsung heroic, villainy sensible and
insignificance endearing are the acme of adventure storytelling.
Do you know what you are? What part would the real you play if it was a fictional
character in an adventure story? Be honest. The real you cannot be the hero
otherwise.
It takes a good solid third party perspective to see what is happening in this world. To some degree, we have this by way of our historians, but it takes a greater attention to see your place and other's in the preasant day. Life is a real work of fiction that we have to deal with as reality. Are you going to be a main cast member or just an extra?
ReplyDeleteVery insightful. Yes, we need an outside perspective to see our own reality. We need to act according to a role if we are to fill it. No one is a hero because they want to be or a villain because they think naughty thoughts. The part to be played must be actually played.
DeleteInteresting, in fiction the most convincing villains are those who consider themselves the hero and the most convincing heroes are those who underestimate themselves but still have the courage and heart to take action. The same is true of reality; Hero, Villain, or nonentity what we believe does not change who we are it is our actions that decide our ultimate archetype.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY! One thing true to reality and fiction alike is that you are what you sow. Our thoughts are subjective but our actions are what they are regardless. We must do or do not for better or worse... or we are nothing.
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