CS Lewis
- “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.”
Even though the anti-hero trope is popular now, many of my favorite characters are those who are more inclined to make the right choices. In fact, they hold up against temptations and face struggles bravely – even in situations that would understandably bring others to failure. Since I’m constantly wanting to live a life that reflects Jesus, I find it admirable when I see others (including fictional others) brightly displaying the fruits of the spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5: 22-23.
When we read, we devote our thoughts and even memories to other people’s stories. Yet if we can’t learn from the characters or be inspired outside of the novel… even books can be a waste of time.
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things…” Philippians 4:8.
As Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, it’s okay to linger on goods things. I’d like to argue that entertainment (yes, even secular entertainment) can be worthy of our time! Yet let’s look for stories that encourage us to be more like Jesus. Or characters that inspire us when we’re feeling less than heroic. Fictional characters, at least well-written ones, still aren’t perfect, but neither are we! In a well-crafted work, we learn lessons along with the heroes … and also get to ask ourselves what choices we would make in their shoes.
Classic books are classics for a reason, and characters like Jane Eyre or Jonathan Harker fit the hero trope well. But also in more modern books (written within the past 100 years), there are some amazing characters out there. And even more, still to be written!
Without further ado, let me introduce you to some of my favorite fictional heroes!!
(From the last 100 years – I’ll write more about my favorite classics later, haha).
Warning: Spoilers are included in these character summaries!
Favorite hero #1: Adaon Son of Taliesin
This character, from Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain Series, is one of my all-time favorites, despite the fact that he’s only in the second book: The Black Cauldron. (No, he did not feature at all in the Disney movie of the same title).
On a quest to stop an army of the undead, Adaon joins Taran (the main character) and aids the group with helpful prophecies. He’s also a good peacemaker, unaffected by everyone’s hot-headedness. However in Adaon’s prophetic visions, he foresees his own death, and must choose whether or not to carry on. In the end, he does continue the quest – with true joy to be a part of it all. (Even though he knows he’ll never see his fiancée again.)
When the day of his death does come, he lives out the prophecy and sacrifices his life to save his friends. It’s probably a good thing we don’t have to foresee our deaths. Things are often easier when we don’t have time to lose courage. So Adaon’s foreknowledge and his quiet, personal decision to save his friends anyway, displays a crazy level of bravery and loyalty.
And…I can’t help but point out that someone else *cough, Jesus* knowingly went to death in order to save others.
Favorite Hero #2: Remus Lupin
Few books have ever been as wildly successful as those in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. In the third book, a new teacher named Remus Lupin is introduced, and he immediately became a favorite because he treated Neville (another good character) as more than just the token clumsy student. Throughout the rest of the series, Lupin continued to score points, because despite having a horrible and incurable condition that made his life insanely difficult, Lupin never took the unfairness of it all out on those around him. (Unlike other teachers at Hogwarts).
He was the “responsible friend” out of the four Marauders, and such characters (who are also intelligent and truly kind), win my attention time and time again.
Also, I enjoyed his relationship with Tonks so much. Even the fact that he was hesitant to marry her because he thought she deserved someone less dangerous showed a self-sacrificing sort of love. But anyway, his friendliness and kindness in the face of a completely unfair life, earn Lupin a top spot among my favorites.
Favorite Hero #3: Nancy Drew
In every single novel in the famed 56 book series, Nancy Drew whips out new skills and is always a success. For example, when on a trip in Mexico – no worries! She’s fluent in Spanish. If someone asks her to play the piano or guitar, again, easy-peasy. She’s dabbled in the skill enough to amaze everyone. If she lived in Jane Austen’s world, Nancy Drew would be the “most accomplished” girl in the country.
Yet in addition to being very capable, Nancy Drew is also kind and compassionate to those she meets. She ends every book with new friends, and even treats the criminals with a fair level of respect. There’s no vengeful desire in Nancy Drew’s heart. And of course, Nancy Drew is also polite and stylish. She was (and is) most certainly a fictional role model to me – though my sense of style doesn’t really compare, lol.
I also have to give an honorable mention to Carlisle Cullen, an upstanding background character in Stephanie Meyer’s (also very popular) Twilight Series. (Which is entertaining, though not of the highest literary quality, haha). But anyway, Carlisle is worthy of recognition just for having an insane amount of self-control and for spending a very long lonely life helping others, even though that meant battling temptation every single day… None of the other vampires at the start of the series have a perfect zero-murder track record like Carlisle. I sometimes wish the series was actually just Carlisle’s life story, especially since a lot of his motivation for his choices comes from his faith in God. There aren’t too many stories of Jesus-fearing vampires out there!
All that said, what an honor it is to think of ourselves as characters in God’s great story! And what a challenge it is to wonder if we live in a way worthy of being called a hero, especially when the plot around us erupts in conflict or chaos.
So… who are some of your favorite fictional heroes?