Fantasy Fiction is a very wide and popular genre. Fantasy fiction spreads across numerous generations and appeals to just about any person of any age, gender or race. Despite the wide appeal of the fantasy fiction genre, I couldn't help but notice that several texts (whether it be books, movies or even video games) have similar archetypal characters that have been prevalent in many famous pieces of work.
One of the most common archetypes in Fantasy Fiction is the inclusion of the "Wise Old Man" or mentor type character. This person is always old and depicted as wiser than the clueless protagonist. If there were perfect examples of similar characters than A Wizard of Earthsea and the Star Wars saga provides many different characters that often have the same characteristics, mannerisms and even appearances.
Wise Old Man
Obi Wan Kenobi - Star Wars
Ogion - Earthsea
The Earthsea mini series from 2004 obviously looked at 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope as an obvious inspiration to the appearance of Ogion. Both have brown drab-looking brown robes, a white beard and very powerful. Ogion is a powerful wizard while Obi Wan Kenobi is a Jedi Knight. Both characters are crucial to the protagonist's journey to become more than the average boy they were at the beginning of the story. Once Ged from Earthsea save his village from getting slaughtered by a group of Karg riders. Ogion realizes Ged's power and wants him to be trained.
Obi Wan did a similar action when C3-PO and R2-D2 landed in Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine. Little did Luke Skywalker know was that the two robots came off of Princess Leia's ship. He talks to Obi Wan about the message R2-D2 received which prompts Obi Wan to train Luke Skywalker to be a Jedi. Obi Wan feels that only Luke Skywalker is powerful enough to take down The Emperor and Darth Vader's tyranny.
The Hero
Ged - Earthsea
Luke Skywalker - Star Wars
Physical similarities are obvious although Ged was depicted as having red skin in the books and not a prissy blonde boy like in Sy Fy Channel's mini series which is played by Shawn Ashmore. However, both characters are nothing special at the beginning of their journey as Ged is a Blacksmith living with his father while Luke Skywalker is a farm boy living with his Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen. Ged's mother is dead while Luke Skywalker's mother died at birth while he thinks his father died during a battle with Darth Vader.
Both characters do rash and immature decisions that danger themselves and puts them into more danger. Ged's impatience makes Ogion send the boy to the School of Wizards in the Island of Roke. From there, Ged tries to resurrect a spirit from the dead and this has dire consequences. He releases his own evil spirit.
Luke Skywalker irrationally fought Darth Vader at the end of The Empire Strikes Back (1980) before his Jedi training with Yoda was complete. Many of you will already know this is the scene where Luke gets his hand chopped off by Darth Vader's lightsaber and Darth Vader says "I am your FATHER".
In the end of both tales, Ged realizes the shadow he released is his own "evil" side. The two beings become one after Ged names him "Ged". As for Luke Skywalker, his journey became complete after convincing Darth Vader can become "good" again. Darth Vader becomes Anakin Skywalker again for a brief moment before he passes away.
References:
Hallmark Entertainment. (Producer) (2004, December 13) Earthsea [Television Broadcast] United
States. The Sci Fi Channel
Kurtz, G. (Producer) & Lucas, G. (Director). (1977). Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [Motion Picture]. United States. 20th Century Fox
Kurtz, G. (Producer) & Kershner, I. (Director). (1980) The Empire Strikes Back [Motion Pictures]. United States. 20th Century Fox
Le Guinn, U. (1993; 1968). A Wizard of Earthsea. In The Earthsea Quartet (pp.13-167). London: Penguin.
Le Guinn, U. (1993; 1968). A Wizard of Earthsea. In The Earthsea Quartet (pp.13-167). London: Penguin.
Being a Star Wars fan myself, I too saw the similarities between Earthsea and Star Wars. Also I thought Ogion and Gandalf, and Jed and Frodo (both from Lord of The Rings obviously) were very similar in terms of characteristics, and the journeys they take
ReplyDeleteI was going to say the same thing. These type of characters can be found through all sorts of fiction. Even movies like The Matrix, with Morpheus and Neo, exhibit these kind of characteristics.
DeleteHi Damian, you've certainly made a good start to thinking about the idea of archetypes in fantasy. It might be useful to include a few other examples (rather than just two) in future to provide more support for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYou could also show that you have drawn some kind of conclusion to the question, rather than just citing similarities or differences. For example, 'both characters make rash and immature decisions', how does this make them an archetype? Do you mean to say that the characters experience some kind of bildungsroman (look up this term if you don't know it), and that this a common theme for most fantasy stories?
Also, please use APA referencing where applicable.
Good work though, I can definitely see some clear ideas emerging!
Damian, if you could reply to the questions I posed above this week, that would be great. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI looked up that word you mentioned. Yes, I feel both characters grew up to become "men" in both Earthsea and Star Wars as they both overcame immense obstacles and became better afterwards. Ged from Earthsea became matured after he joined with his Shadow. In Return of the Jedi, Luke eventually became a Jedi Master and even made Darth Vader a good guy in the process.
DeleteThis is a common occurrence in the fantasy genre too. Spider-Man is another example I can come up with at the top of my head. He was immature with his new powers and did not stop the robber that killed his Uncle Ben. After this uncle died, he became more responsible and used his powers to help others.
Yes, good blog. but point of order. The archetypes are dramatic forces as much as they are characters, and so do not need to be wise old men with white beards! In some Russian folk takes (e.g.: Baba Yaga) the mentor is a little mouse. The mentor can be any agency that advises the hero early in the story. Also note that mentors must die or be removed from the story at some point so the hero can get on with being a real hero!
ReplyDeletePicky things haha, but Orion didn't send Ged away in the book, he chose to go. But it doesn't matter haha, because it still makes your point. He did rash things. Choosing to go was rash, but some people learn the hard way, and learning the hard way is for me a greatly interesting part of the heros archetype.
ReplyDelete