This is a topic of debate since long before the Brothers Grimm ever picked up a pen or the Greeks first started performing their ancient tragedies and comedies. Every author has touched on this topic at some point from Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling: should heroes be of common stock or noble heritage?
There are various twists and turns applied to this trope regardless of which way an author goes with their storyline, but all in all it does come down to heroic lineage versus common lineage. Harry Potter is essentially wizarding royalty raised in humble surroundings. Luke Skywalker is of unknowingly of noble birth from both bloodlines, yet he grows up on a moisture farm on a backwater planet in the Outer Rim Territories. It’s even been hinted …show more content…
On the other hand, working-class peasant heroes are also popular in fiction: Tris from Divergent, Katniss from The Hunger Games, and Kelsier from Brian Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy all demonstrate the deep relatability and authenticity that having a common protagonist can lend to your story.
Which is the superior choice? I think that largely depends on the catharsis that the author is seeking to provide. Let’s look at some pros and cons for choosing a noble over a commoner. First of all, the noble/last scion raised in obscurity is an archetype that gets the most hype because it is a natural inclination of human beings to wish/hope/believe that they are actually a long lost heir to some famous heritage or lineage, and so we enjoy heroes who are noble but raised in obscurity. We like the idea of a person who grew up like us being raised to their rightful place to be as unlike the powers that be as possible. It provides a catharsis that …show more content…
Secret nobles and dashing princes saving the day have been done to death, and it’s so cliched that it almost becomes self parody at this point. Sure, there are cliches to working class heroes too, but finding one in popular fiction who isn’t secretly noble or blessed with powers due to their lineage that were previously unknown is very rare. I often wonder if common heroes are belittled or disregarded in fiction more than others because they recognize the power of everyday people to change and affect the world around them either through action or mindset. Prince or pauper, heroes need to communicate that message very clearly, or else how will people recognize the tremendous power they have? Food for thought, aspiring writers. Give your narrative a strong dose of reality, and let the little guy stand up for the little guy instead of making him secretly one of the big guys. Inspire the future with common heroes, and make your mark on the world with every heroic
There are various twists and turns applied to this trope regardless of which way an author goes with their storyline, but all in all it does come down to heroic lineage versus common lineage. Harry Potter is essentially wizarding royalty raised in humble surroundings. Luke Skywalker is of unknowingly of noble birth from both bloodlines, yet he grows up on a moisture farm on a backwater planet in the Outer Rim Territories. It’s even been hinted …show more content…
On the other hand, working-class peasant heroes are also popular in fiction: Tris from Divergent, Katniss from The Hunger Games, and Kelsier from Brian Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy all demonstrate the deep relatability and authenticity that having a common protagonist can lend to your story.
Which is the superior choice? I think that largely depends on the catharsis that the author is seeking to provide. Let’s look at some pros and cons for choosing a noble over a commoner. First of all, the noble/last scion raised in obscurity is an archetype that gets the most hype because it is a natural inclination of human beings to wish/hope/believe that they are actually a long lost heir to some famous heritage or lineage, and so we enjoy heroes who are noble but raised in obscurity. We like the idea of a person who grew up like us being raised to their rightful place to be as unlike the powers that be as possible. It provides a catharsis that …show more content…
Secret nobles and dashing princes saving the day have been done to death, and it’s so cliched that it almost becomes self parody at this point. Sure, there are cliches to working class heroes too, but finding one in popular fiction who isn’t secretly noble or blessed with powers due to their lineage that were previously unknown is very rare. I often wonder if common heroes are belittled or disregarded in fiction more than others because they recognize the power of everyday people to change and affect the world around them either through action or mindset. Prince or pauper, heroes need to communicate that message very clearly, or else how will people recognize the tremendous power they have? Food for thought, aspiring writers. Give your narrative a strong dose of reality, and let the little guy stand up for the little guy instead of making him secretly one of the big guys. Inspire the future with common heroes, and make your mark on the world with every heroic