Oh! What are men
compared to rocks and mountains? - Pride and Prejudice
In honor of the bicentennial of Pride and Prejudice’s publication this year, I thought I’d talk
about heroes. I know...SUCH a hardship, right? :-)
And from who better to draw inspiration, than the witty
word-weaver, Jane Austen?
I love a well-written heroine, but not
even the best heroine can outshine the perfect hero (for me), so I thought I’d
start off our Valentine’s week with PART1 of 3 swoon-worthy posts ;-).
As we think of Austen's men, one thing to keep in mind is their very ‘humanness’. They are not perfect, sometimes their character flaws are quite obvious – but throughout the stories their
imperfections are met with the perfect match in their heroines.
They are vulnerable and fallible - which makes them realistic.
That’s why we end up
liking…or loving them. That's also why they are memorable.
Though there are more Austen heroes, for time’s sake I
have chosen one example under each of the six categories. People may or may not agree with these categories, but I
believe they cover most hero-types in novels or movies out there.
(and some heroes are nice combos of two different types)
The Six
Categories I've discovered are:
The Reluctant Hero
The Subtle Servant
The Good Guy
The Best Friend
The Reformed Rogue
The Anti-Hero
Though many of you will prefer the latter two hero-types, I’m
going to save those for Part 3 and discuss the ‘less popular’ two today.
Please remember, less popular does not mean less important. In fact, The Subtle
Servant is one of the most quietly beautiful hero-types out there. Our dear,
Casey Herringshaw, has a beautiful example of one in her current WIP and my hero in book 3 of my Mitchell's Crossroads series is a Subtle Servant too.
So, let’s get on with the first two, shall we?
The Reluctant Hero
This is not to say these men do not want to be heroic. This
type of character has the heart of a hero, but doesn’t always show those
characteristics until situations or circumstances (or the right woman) force
them into the fray. Unfortunately, this is often viewed as indecision or
weakness of character. He doesn’t truly realize his
‘hero potential’ until he must become the lead man in the situation, or in the heart of the woman he loves. Insecurities
may cloak his awareness of his own heroism, but he will rise to the occassion.
Edward
Ferrars – The wrong thing for the right reason
One of Sense & Sensibilities quiet heroes is Edward Ferrars. Our first impression of him in the novel is this:
"He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when
his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an
open, affectionate heart. His understanding was good, and his education had
given it solid improvement.”
Everyone makes mistakes, right? But not everyone stands
by their poor choices to honor their own promises. Though Edward's
character appears weaker than his romantic counterpart, Eilnor Dashwood – and
certainly less constant than his fellow hero, Colonel Brandon, Edward’s
compassionate nature and anchor-to-duty becomes apparent when he is forced to
take a stand – even against his supercilious mother and sister. And he does
exhibit character growth. In the beginning of the novel, he has NO control over
his life –and has allowed his mother and sister to make choices for him. By the
end – and through poor choices and convenient circumstances- he becomes
the owner and creator of his life. Elinor sees him as a hero - and he's a great match for her, because doesn't long for a raging romance, but a steady flame. She gets it in her perfect hero.
Not dark or dashing, but a good heart and someone who
will choose to do the RIGHT thing, even if it hurts.
(Edmund Bertram from Mansfield Park would fit within this
type, IMO)
Some movie and book examples of this type of hero are:
Mary Connealy’s heroes: Alex and Logan in the Sophie’s
Daughters series.
Patrick O’Connor strikes me as a reluctant hero in Julie
Lessman’s Christmas novel, A Light in the
Window.
Ryan Reynolds’ character in The Proposal and maybe even
Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. Mr. Fantastic from The Fantastic 4 could fall
into this category too.
The Subtle
Servant
This hero is also one that obtains less glory from ladies
who prefer dark-and-brooding. This type of hero usually makes himself known in the
subtle, small, and quiet ways – being available, observant, and faithful. In fact, being noticed is the furthest thing from his mind.
He
may not charge onto the field on his steed, but he will seek out a heart-sore
woman and carry her through the rain to shelter. He will rescue a ‘fallen’ woman
from a life of destitution, he will provide a means of income for a ‘good’ man
who has lost his inheritance, and he will hold on to love in an unassuming, yet
strong-as-steel, sort of way.
I absolutely LOVE this type of hero – even though he’s not
as popular. There is a quiet strength about him and an undeniable sense of
faithfulness.
Colonel
Brandon – is a sensitive and subdued man
who suffered the loss of his lady-love when his parents refused the match –
then his lady fell into the life of promiscuity and finally died, so he took her illegitimate child into his care.
Now, after years in the army and unmarried, this sensitive man finds a
‘kindred’ spirit in the young Marianne Dashwood. Due to Marianne’s indifference
to him, and the apparent age-gap, Colonel Brandon maintains a friendship with
the family, and ready service to
them, but does not pursue Marianne. Brandon’s acts of kindness are sprinkled
throughout the story in quiet, and finally, grand ways – until Marianne sees
him for the hero he truly is.
I think he is a reserved romantic, whereas Marianne is an
overt one. The nice comparison between Colonel Brandon and his counterpart,
Willoughby, is to show that the true test of love is in trial and time. Colonel
Brandon succeeds on both counts.
Some examples of a Subtle Servant in movies and books are:
Red Shirt in Laura Frantz’s fantastic novel, Courting Morrow Little.
Wade Sawyer and Grant Cooper in Mary Connealy’s Montana Marriages series.
I think Griff from Laurie Alice Eakes novel Choices of the Heart might fit here too
Maybe Jack Buchanan from Liz Curtis Higgs amazing novel, Mine is the Light, might fall into this mix too.
Okay - it's your turn.
Can you think of a book you’ve read…or one you are writing,
where the hero matches either of these descriptions?
What about all you Austen fans out there? Do you have a
soft-spot in your heart for any of the ‘quieter’ Austen heroes?
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Pepper Basham writes Blue Ridge Romances peppered with grace and humor. Though she dabbles in all types of genres, she enjoys focusing on historical and contemporary romances for now. She's a pastor's wife, mom of five, speech-language pathologist, and lover of jazz. She also remains in awe of God's kindness in providing His amazing love for her life, His unending mercy for her sins, and His awesome creation of chocolate for her mental health. You can find out more about Pepper at her personal blog
Words Seasoned With Salt www.pepperbasham.com
