Everyone! That might sound like a simplistic answer, but it’s true. Yes, I come from the generation that watch the Cartwrights always win on Bonanza and Marshall Dillon get his man on Gunsmoke. So? It was the integrity and grit of the individuals that kept us watching and hoping.
Now, I’m not talking perfection, knight in shining armor Sir Galahad type, though a bit of that from time to time is a nice change of pace. I’m talking heroes who rise above circumstances or stand for something. Of course this type of belief is viewed today as naïve and often takes a backseat to the anti-heroes persona. But guess what? Even those who read and write using anti-heroes, talk about some noble quality of the characters and how they won or proved to be right. It is a need within the human psyche to grab onto something outside of ourselves to pull us up and lift us out of the mundane or ease our troubled minds.
Choosing a hero for a novel is critical. He must have flaws and good quality for the reader to connect with yet fit within the story setting. Meaning, a 17th century man should not have 21st century morals or thought patterns. He must act within the parameters of his environment but enough humanity to be real for today’s readers.
With an ensemble cast in The Huguenot Sword, I strive to create three distinct heroes among the men making up the rogue Protestant group: Arsène Lamonreaux, the roguish devil may-care, Philipe Bourdias, the stalwart, unflappable friend, and Dominic Charbonier, the nobleman torn between family and faith. All have strengths, all have weakness and all must make difficult choices. Do these sound like classic archetype? Of course - and here’s why.
The novels that survived centuries did so because they contain heroes that transcend time and societal changes due to personal attributes and themes. For example: How many re-tellings of Robin Hood have captivated generations? What about Don Quixote? Or even Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice? The first is the wrongly accused noble turned outlaw in Robin of Locksley, the dreamer and romantic knight-errant in Don Quixote, and finally the arrogant and prideful Mr. Darcy of Pemberly. All these touch the heart, emotions, hopes and aspirations in some way.
Basic human nature doesn’t change, nor do the challenges and struggles of life. A good hero must make the reader feel he - and thus they - are lifted beyond the troubles, having learned and conquered. In short, the hero needs to symbolize hope, even when he fails. This is why such heroes like Robin Hood and others defy time and inspire generations – hope. It is a theme I place in all my books. Perhaps that’s old fashion, but something the older things still work.