enduring fictional characters

[anotheranon]

fanthropology asks today: What characters of today might be as well recognized and loved in 200 years as Holmes still is now?

Interesting comments. I think that Han Solo will endure more than either Luke or Leia. I don't know enough about the Star Trek franchise to know whether Kirk will endure as some sort of archetype in the future. I'm tempted to guess Malcolm Reynolds, but it's a fair argument that he is derived from Han Solo and/or any other number of noble characters adhering to Lost Causes(TM).

Thoughts?

Comments

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

It's actually way more basic than that.

The Greeks broke it down thusly:

-- Man versus man

-- Man versus nature

-- Man versus himself

You can take any character and ultimately trace it back to these three archetypes.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

See, now I'm thinking: how does this break down for Star Wars characters (whatever may be said of the actors' abilities, it's the fandom I'm most familiar with). Han Solo = man vs. nature (or, Empire = exterior authority), or man vs. himself (selfish mercenary vs. Rebel captain?)

Luke Skywalker = hero's journey, man vs. self (whiny brat trying to find his potential as new Jedi)?

Hmm...

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

I'd say "Gandalf" ... a character who had wide recognition through the original books and many paintings, figurines, etc., even before Ian McKellan planted his excellent version in a broader public's minds.

And there's Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, X-men ... again, not because of recent movies, but because they've lasted a long time in the short-attention-span 20th/21st (so far) centuries in many different medias.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Kirk and Spock, no question. Star Trek has had an enormous impact on popular culture that's only becoming more evident as time goes on. And Indiana Jones is now the stereotype of the dashing archaeologist/adventurer. My odds are on them.