Character

How do you create a heroic character that follows the steps of the Hero’s Journey, but make him unique and engaging? This was (and continues to be) my dilemma in The Road of Fathers and the next two books, The Road to Anarchy and The Road from Heaven. Tyrian Fellhawk is the classic young boy, fatherless and angry, who years for something more. He is thrust into adventure and finds a mentor to help shape him.

I remember watching a documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now where Francis Ford Coppola discussed his recasting of the lead actor. Harvey Keitel was originally cast as the main character, Kurtz. But apparently after the first few days, watching the dailies, Coppola decided he was not passive enough. Being a big fan of Mr. Keitel, it makes sense. He has an active personality. He does. He reacts. This doesn’t suit the needs of a character that is observing his surroundings and learning from others.

If you look at Star Wars, Luke Skywalker, at least in the first one, is a wide-eyed, naïve kid who dreams of being a star pilot. Once he embarks on his journey, he is the student of Ben Kenobi, but he also learns from Han Solo, Princess Leia – he makes choices to move forward, but he passively learns and absorbs.

So I ask myself, what made Luke Skywalker engaging?

When I started shaping Tyrian Fellhawk, I had the same question. Simply yearning to be a knight is not enough to carry a story. What I decided to do is give him a principle to stand by. I kept a post-it of the word JUSTICE on my computer as I wrote. When I was lost, I went back to his need for justice. I started simply with a discussion between him and his uncle about justice in the Great River Forest, traced to his father’s exile for making judgment on a local dispute. Then, later, when two boys harass an old shop keeper, Tyrian is angered at the lack of justice and how the boys get away.

So, while I framed Tyrian’s development along the lines of the Hero’s Journey, I gave him his own likes and dislikes, his own humor, his own culture and problems. But, specifically I gave him a principle to always stand by.

I am not sure it accomplished what I intended, but it’s an interesting question.