The hero isn't within

I've been thinking for some time about stories and fiction and wanted to take some time to express a similar thread I see in most good fiction.  Take a few moments to reflect on books or movies that you've read recently that would classify as fiction with a normal protagonist, theme, plot, etc.  For some, you may be thinking of Lord of the Rings, Batman, the Lion King, or even 24!  One of the similarities I've noticed is the almost laughably predictable climax in these dramas where the protagonist or hero confronts the antagonist and nemesis in the story.  You typically find the drama ramp up as the two foes battle and they usually each have blows against each other that wound or hurt their foe.  In this way the story expresses the comparable ability of those in the fight and suspends the resolution for a bit longer.  In addition to this back and forth, the hero typically is overcome by the antagonist and seems to lose the fight.  Take for example Batman's battle with the Joker in The Dark Knight, or Thorin in the last Hobbit movie.  For each, the antagonist seems to have the upper hand and the victory, before the protagonist overcomes the odds and the likely ending and wins the confrontation.  To use a boxing analogy, it often is as if the protagonist loses the majority of the rounds before connecting on a knockout blow to win the fight.

At times as I've read or watched these depictions I've been annoyed by the predictable scene and the portrayal of the protagonist as being bested before delivering one lucky or skillful blow that defeats the antagonist.  Why can't we see a hero who wins quickly or soundly?  Why can't the protagonist avoid the near defeat?  Now some of this is part of the power of story, of developing drama and tension and pulling at the audience's emotion by increasing that drama or tension, but I think there's more to it.

One of the greatest impacts story can make takes place by developing a protagonist that the audience can identify with.  This is done by opening the hero up to reveal their flaws and vulnerabilities.  Isn't that what we love about Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins?  They seem so ordinary, just like us!  The reality is that we each are aware of flaws or vulnerabilities in our own life and long for heroes who overcome those flaws and their foes.  That's what draws us to story and ignites our imaginations.

I've recently picked up the Chronicles of Narnia again (first time as an adult) and just finished the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  It's been years since I last read it, but its funny to read it now as and compare my thoughts and feelings with those I had as a child or teen.  One of the things I've noticed is that I've never identified with Peter, the older brother in the story.  Something about his character is too right, too good, too absent of flaws.  Don't get me wrong, I love Peter, but I've always found commonality with Edmund.  Not because I wanted to, but because Edmund is a character that possesses deep flaws; selfishness, and jealousy from the very outset.  Those are emotions I could  see in myself.  One of the aspects of Narnia that I've always appreciated is Edmund's transformation.  It's remarkable to watch his change from the petty boy wanting only turkish delight to the king willing to trust Lucy and follow his High King Peter into battle.  Edmund's transformation happens not because of something within him, where he became brave and overcame his fear and foes, but it happened because he had an encounter with Aslan.  That's ultimately what I love about Narnia or Lord of the Rings for that matter.  The heroes don't find the solution to their problems within themselves, but they find it outside of themselves in someone else.  Ultimately that's the type of story that I love because it serves as such a clear metaphor to the life we are called to live in Christ.  Each of us are filled with flaws, vulnerabilities, and challenges to overcome, but our ability to do so isn't something we can accomplish unless we learn to look to Christ, yielding ourselves to His Spirit, and abiding in Him.  In that sense all good stories, that is stories in which we so vividly identify with the protagonist, portray them as not getting out of their circumstances or overcoming their problems through their own wit, skill, or strength, but as they find the True Hero outside of themselves.