Fear

Feb. 11th, 2021 11:11 pm
epistler: (Default)
[personal profile] epistler posting in [community profile] antishurtugal_reborn
Wow, this place has really gone dead lately. Rest assured, though, that the next chapter spork should be posted soon! Promise!

Meanwhile something has occurred to me, which is that at some point during Eldest, Eragon stops ever feeling any sort of (believable, shown on the page) fear. I think the last time it ever happens is when he tells Saphira he's scared because he doesn't know when he's going to have another back scar pain attack and doesn't know what to do about it. 

From pretty much that point onward he acts like a goddamn robot in dangerous situations. He doesn't panic, he doesn't get sweaty palms or a racing heartbeat - but rather more relevantly, his decisions and behaviour don't ever change as a result of feeling fear. He doesn't irrationally lash out or make stupid decisions because he's afraid. He doesn't freeze up or retreat or even say something stupid because he's afraid. In fact the only time Paolini really bothers to give him some token show of fear or trepidation, it's when he has to... give a speech. Not when he has to, oh, face off against the ultimate evil king of evilness (let's pretend) and his dragon who's the size of a goddamn castle. Nope. Cool as a cucumber. He's calm and clear-headed all the way through.

And it's both unsympathetic and fucking ridiculous.

Date: 2021-02-11 12:37 pm (UTC)
From: [personal profile] hidden_urchin

So many people think that a badass character has to be fearless. What they don't quite get is that what makes a character badass is when they're shown overcoming the obstacle despite their fear.

Date: 2021-02-11 01:26 pm (UTC)
From: [personal profile] hidden_urchin

It's a subset of a larger problem in amateur storytelling: writers overlooking that genuine internal conflict is critical to establishing character and generating empathy.

Date: 2021-02-11 12:46 pm (UTC)
oblakom: (Default)
From: [personal profile] oblakom
I think he also kind of panics in that chapter where Saphira tries to ra--ahem tries to seduce Glaedr and then attacks him and Glaedr puts her back in her place. He doesn't know how to reach her and has a panic moment (that Oromis immediately solves by telling his to use the Sue-Horse).

Date: 2021-02-11 01:18 pm (UTC)
oblakom: (Default)
From: [personal profile] oblakom
In Italian it has a bit more emotions. I don't know what is it? Maybe the translators tried to help a bit XD

But it's a pity, really, because the way people face fear is one of the differences between heroes and villains in many stories.

Date: 2021-02-11 03:40 pm (UTC)
rhyson: (Default)
From: [personal profile] rhyson
Yoda never freaks out. I get the sense he's been tempered by age, is past the point of caring about the small worries like other people's opinions, and knows by now that panic doesn't help.

Oromis never freaks out. I get the sense that he just doesn't care. The sooner he gets Eragon out of his hair, the sooner he can get back to staring at a wall. Oh, but he has to make it a teaching moment so he can pretend he did his job.

Date: 2021-02-11 03:44 pm (UTC)
rhyson: (Default)
From: [personal profile] rhyson
I wonder if Eragon being a middle-class, American boy is what helped him sell in the first place? He's not just relatable to the intended audience, he's one of the intended audience. Your average middle-class American doesn't have to worry about dragons swooping in from the sky, but public speaking, ooh, what a nightmare.

Date: 2021-02-11 04:01 pm (UTC)
rhyson: (Default)
From: [personal profile] rhyson
When I say it like that, it seems likely...

Date: 2021-02-11 09:09 pm (UTC)
torylltales: (Default)
From: [personal profile] torylltales

He doesn't irrationally lash out or make stupid decisions because he's afraid.

I was about to argue, but then I realised that "because he's afraid" is the qualifying statement. ;)

Date: 2021-02-11 11:41 pm (UTC)
baronleduc: (Default)
From: [personal profile] baronleduc
Wow, this place has really gone dead lately.

Well, if you want, I can share with you my crappy writings and my recents WIPs, so you will spork the shit outta them. Can't confirm if they'll be better than what you're working with TSiaSoS at the moment. :P

Anyway, on the subject!

I do not have my Eldest hardcover copy with me, but I do remember this precise part you put out as an example of Eragon's turn into psychopath. However, was it before or after he turned as a super vegan elven ?
Edited Date: 2021-02-11 11:42 pm (UTC)

Date: 2021-02-13 02:52 am (UTC)
torylltales: (Default)
From: [personal profile] torylltales

I've started to notice that with Kira, too. Aside from a few hints here and there of Kira being afraid of fighting, of the alien jellies, or concept of being host to a sentient parasite, etc., she's mostly just emotionally blank for most of the book. There's little to no fear or worry about anything much, not even laser gun battles with Lovecraftian horrors in a foreign environment.

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