Fly High, But Sore Alone
Never Stand Next to the Hero
My first thought when I read the title of this chapter was
why? Best friends will be best friends, but isn't it the lover of the hero
whose really in danger. Yea, no. This chapter proved me wrong as a matter of
fact and after thinking about it, I agree with the book. I had originally
thought of Sky High for this chapter, yet the outcome of that movie is on the
contrary to this concept (because just like the book said someone will always
find a way to prove someone wrong). Sky high, a movie that intentionally
separates heroes from sidekicks, actually allows the sidekicks to be the heroes
of the story.
Instead of jumping to conclusion,
I continued reading and found that it’s usually the sidekick, best friend
character who gives the hero their initiative into war; not the lover. I found
that interesting. The book’s example that let me digest this information and
truly understand what concept was the Iliad. The infamous Trojan War, where the
hero backs down and his best friend takes his armor to impose as him, yet ends
up dying. The death of his best friend is what motivates our hero to continue
fighting. Without the sidekick the hero would often become stagnant and well
never end up doing anything; in the end, not being a hero.
QUESTION!!! Would there ever be a hero in the world of literature
without sidekicks and a lover???
So, my real connection is
to The Hunger Games. Yes once again, but for a good cause. We all know that
Katniss is the hero to the story, symbolizing rebellion and freedom. Who’s the
sidekick though? Personally, I don’t know if there’s exactly one. I feel like
most generic teenage girls would say Peeta, but no! He’s the lover. So who,
this made me actually think and break the books down (all three). It was a
while before I finally figured out that it was Primrose, Katniss’s sister. The
one who silently gave Katniss the hope, the will, and strength to continue
fighting just as the book says. To further continue with that, she’s also the
one who dies in the third book, while being the true hero (sidekick) she was.
Further in this chapter
the author addresses a prominent and important idea that is so basic that it’s
difficult.
CHARACTERS ARE PRODUCTS OF WRITER’ IMAGINATIONS BUT ALSO READERS’
IMANGINATIONS.
For characters with
significance to stories, authors are required to provide traits that will allow
the reader to understand the type of person this character is; however, it’s
also the reader’s subconscious’ job to create a connection to that character.
Why do I say it that way you may ask? Well, because humans don’t exactly mean
to do this ever, it just happens. That’s why the audience will often find
themselves undergoing an emotional attachment to fictional beings. They are not
real people - this is what Foster drills into our mind. But the developing of
these heartstrings are for publicity and the big bucks. Honestly, that’s what I
think.
