Marks of a Hero
In chapter 21 of Foster's he talks of heroes or the main characters having physical or mental marks that set them apart from everyone else. I agree with him. In most of the novels I have read the heroes do have some sort of imperfection. In 1984, for example, Winston Smith is a small, skinny and weak person. He works a job given to him by the government and lives his life by the rules of one ruler. He lives in a totaltarian society and hates it. He struggles to find the truth behind his totaltarian leader. Being small and frail makes this significant because he is too small to do any physical damage to the guards or anyone. But through his intelectual abilities he tries to unravel the mysteries of the society that he lives in. So, I agree with Foster when he says "You give a guy a limp in Chapter 2, he can't go sprinting after the train in Chapter 24. So if a writer brings up a physical problem or handicap or deficiency, he probably means something by it." (Foster pg. 200) These deficiencys add to the plot. They add new challenges to the characters.
Leave a comment