Another solid set of definitions and examples here. However, there is one point with which I must take some umbrage:
"Our Common Hero does not wish to become one, thus, he or she outright refuses the Call to Adventure. They absolutely love what they are doing, and have absolutely no desire to leave their beloved pastoral village/neighborhood/cozy high-rise building."
This is not a universal trait to the common hero.
As an example of why this isn't universal, let's look at the hero you use in your cover photo, Luke Skywalker as he is in the original Star Wars. Now, is Luke resistant to leaving Tatooine to go with Old Ben on his search for the princess? Yes he is. But why is he resistant? Is it because he wants to stay on the farm with his aunt and uncle? Is it because he loves the work he does and the planet he calls home?
No. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Luke actively dreams of adventure. He actively dreams of leaving Tatooine to join his friends Biggs and Wedge at the Imperial Academy so they can hone their skills as starfighter pilots together. He also makes it clear that, outside of his family, he has no desire to come back when he does leave. (Recall what he says to Obi-Wan after he finds Owen and Beru dead: "There's nothing here for me now.")
We know Luke values his family because the reason he gives Obi-Wan for why he can't leave is his responsibilities on the moisture farm. However, his responsibilities are not his desires. Luke actively wants to leave. He does not love being a moisture farmer. He does not love Tatooine. He wants adventure. He wants to be a hero. He wants, quite literally, to save the princess. As such, since he is still considered to be one of the poster boys for the common hero while not exhibiting those traits, we can't possibly say that those traits are universal to the common hero.
I agree that Mr. Skywalker may not perfectly fit with my definitions, yet… I fought really hard with a number of search engines and invested nearly three hours of my day just looking for suitable cover images.
Putting our beloved Farmboy Luke up there and titling the article like this, it is me stubbornly mining for fun ore in a tall, dark mountain of boredom :D
I've got no issue with the title, that's perfectly fine. Same with using Luke as your cover. He is a common hero, absolutely. He fits the bill in pretty much every conceivable way.
The issue I'm pointing to is that quote I pulled, because that's the only point in your breakdown that isn't required for this archetype. Every other point you made hit the nail on the head, but the idea of the commoner not wanting to be the hero specifically because they already love where they are and what they're doing? That's key to a specific kind of reluctant common hero, but not to ALL common heroes.
I think of this trope in movies like “The Patriot” where COL Martin does everything he can to not get involved and stay on his farm raising his children, but the war finds him.
Never heard of a commoner hero not wanting adventure, I think this article missed the mark there quite a bit. It is still good and gets a lot right, but everymen always crave adventure. It is the most noteworthy thing about them.
It is the Dreamers who live among the commoners, always looking outside, never satisfied with their everyday boring lives, always wanting adventure. The common hero actually loves the simple life and his or her peace since they are aware that it is them who are maintaining civilization and enabling a better life for others. They absolutely do not want to leave their beloved pastoral village/ tight knit neighborhood/ or wholesome high rise building, and are forced to do so. Anyways, my charactercraft perspective may differ from others, often significantly.
I think it is more common especially in older works. Goes back even into Fairy Tales where Tailors, Miller sons, etc are ejected out into the world and adventure instead of seeking it for themselves.
You are correct, my friend. Just as common as the Dreamer who actually wants to become a hero or a heroine, but has to do their duty to family and community. Commoners are the wheels that make civilization turning, and they very well know what they are doing. Especially in an artisan society, the loss of a carpenter, a potter, a tailor or a shoemaker could have most dire consequences for the entire village.
Lillyana is probably my most beloved character and she only wanted to tend to her watermelon and other crops. But the taz'arans fucked around and they did find out...
Good. I fear modern generations have forgotten who actually built and maintains civilization. Without the common man who drives the truck, farms the field, and builds the building, nothing would be the same.
Another solid set of definitions and examples here. However, there is one point with which I must take some umbrage:
"Our Common Hero does not wish to become one, thus, he or she outright refuses the Call to Adventure. They absolutely love what they are doing, and have absolutely no desire to leave their beloved pastoral village/neighborhood/cozy high-rise building."
This is not a universal trait to the common hero.
As an example of why this isn't universal, let's look at the hero you use in your cover photo, Luke Skywalker as he is in the original Star Wars. Now, is Luke resistant to leaving Tatooine to go with Old Ben on his search for the princess? Yes he is. But why is he resistant? Is it because he wants to stay on the farm with his aunt and uncle? Is it because he loves the work he does and the planet he calls home?
No. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Luke actively dreams of adventure. He actively dreams of leaving Tatooine to join his friends Biggs and Wedge at the Imperial Academy so they can hone their skills as starfighter pilots together. He also makes it clear that, outside of his family, he has no desire to come back when he does leave. (Recall what he says to Obi-Wan after he finds Owen and Beru dead: "There's nothing here for me now.")
We know Luke values his family because the reason he gives Obi-Wan for why he can't leave is his responsibilities on the moisture farm. However, his responsibilities are not his desires. Luke actively wants to leave. He does not love being a moisture farmer. He does not love Tatooine. He wants adventure. He wants to be a hero. He wants, quite literally, to save the princess. As such, since he is still considered to be one of the poster boys for the common hero while not exhibiting those traits, we can't possibly say that those traits are universal to the common hero.
I agree that Mr. Skywalker may not perfectly fit with my definitions, yet… I fought really hard with a number of search engines and invested nearly three hours of my day just looking for suitable cover images.
Putting our beloved Farmboy Luke up there and titling the article like this, it is me stubbornly mining for fun ore in a tall, dark mountain of boredom :D
I've got no issue with the title, that's perfectly fine. Same with using Luke as your cover. He is a common hero, absolutely. He fits the bill in pretty much every conceivable way.
The issue I'm pointing to is that quote I pulled, because that's the only point in your breakdown that isn't required for this archetype. Every other point you made hit the nail on the head, but the idea of the commoner not wanting to be the hero specifically because they already love where they are and what they're doing? That's key to a specific kind of reluctant common hero, but not to ALL common heroes.
I made sure to point this out, because I firmly believe that professional commoners are the everyday heroes who keep society functioning :D
Even touched a bit in the initial segment, when I talked about the evolution of that archetype.
I think of this trope in movies like “The Patriot” where COL Martin does everything he can to not get involved and stay on his farm raising his children, but the war finds him.
Yes, and this is why they say "don't fuck with people who want to be left in peace" because they you will find out real terror.
Fully concur, especially with the bit about Luke wanting to leave and him actively seeking to get away from Tatooine.
Yes, and Luke is both the Chosen One and the Dreamer. He has quadruple the want to leave Tatooine :D
Hahahaha true
I wish I had grown up on freaking Tatooine lol
Never heard of a commoner hero not wanting adventure, I think this article missed the mark there quite a bit. It is still good and gets a lot right, but everymen always crave adventure. It is the most noteworthy thing about them.
It is the Dreamers who live among the commoners, always looking outside, never satisfied with their everyday boring lives, always wanting adventure. The common hero actually loves the simple life and his or her peace since they are aware that it is them who are maintaining civilization and enabling a better life for others. They absolutely do not want to leave their beloved pastoral village/ tight knit neighborhood/ or wholesome high rise building, and are forced to do so. Anyways, my charactercraft perspective may differ from others, often significantly.
I can definitely get onboard this statement, yeah the dreamers are always commoners and dreaming of more.
Yes, and Dreamers are always the ones chasing adventure :D
I think it is more common especially in older works. Goes back even into Fairy Tales where Tailors, Miller sons, etc are ejected out into the world and adventure instead of seeking it for themselves.
You are correct, my friend. Just as common as the Dreamer who actually wants to become a hero or a heroine, but has to do their duty to family and community. Commoners are the wheels that make civilization turning, and they very well know what they are doing. Especially in an artisan society, the loss of a carpenter, a potter, a tailor or a shoemaker could have most dire consequences for the entire village.
I like the stories where their common skills (along with others they acquire) are actually what saves them.
Lillyana is probably my most beloved character and she only wanted to tend to her watermelon and other crops. But the taz'arans fucked around and they did find out...
Good point, I stand happily corrected.
This archetype has crept into some of fiction.
Good. I fear modern generations have forgotten who actually built and maintains civilization. Without the common man who drives the truck, farms the field, and builds the building, nothing would be the same.
Kintsugi
Nanii :3
Fascinating article on the craft of storytelling. I learned a lot here, thank you. And thank you for the honorable mention!
I do hope you had fun reading my previous article of that series :D
Absolutely! Looking forward to more of your posts.:)