How to Make Eragon's Heroes into Heroes

[ultramega10]

Well, since someone started a post about how best to make Galbatorix evil, we should have one for the heroes. Which is, perhaps, the far harder choice. 

 

Keep in mind, we're trying to rewrite the characters, so they become what they were meant to be. So let's try to make our rewrites stay true to their basic concept, if not their portrayal. 

 

For my part, I would probably have Eragon's entitled attitude be a character flaw he has to overcome. Have him get shut down several times by Arya and force him to gradually mature. Have Murtagh chewing him out act as a wake-up call for the character. Another thing I'd do is cut out the constant feasts and parties. They add nothing to the story and only serve to make Eragon seem all the more spoiled.

 

Murtagh, I would have him defect of his own free will. Have him become disheartened with the Varden and take the side of the Empire. This would mean there would be a sympathetic character on the Empires side. Murtagh would provide a POV for the Empire and a chance to see Galbatorix. It might also force the characters to acknowledge their own flaws. 

 

I would have Arya feel resentful of her people. She would be upset at how they just closed themselves off from the world when she was captured. Attention would be paid to the flaws of the elves. And the elves eventually sending troops to help would be a result of Eragon. He and Arya would point out how they can't just abandon the rest of the world. 

 

Roran, honestly, I would have get drafted into the Empire. The entire Carvahall subplot adds nothing to the plot at all. Having him as a POV character could show off the worst aspect of the Empire. It could also have him meet Murtagh and maybe strike up a friendship with him. If Roran makes himself a career and gains great renown as a war hero, set the stage for a great dynamic. You could have Murtagh and Eragon facing off against one another. Maybe Roran and Arya could end up having a rivalry. 

 

Angela um... Well, Angela can dive under a tractor, and I think that would be better for all involved. 

Comments

[epistler]

The absolute first thing I would do to make Eragon actually heroic would be to get rid of the selfishness (or present it as an acknowledged flaw and have him overcome it). Half the reason why he's so unlikeable is that he's so utterly self-centered and self-obsessed to the point that he seems utterly incapable of feeling genuine empathy or compassion towards other people, and especially so when they've annoyed him in some way. The whole point of heroism is putting others before yourself, and Eragon doesn't do this. His only motivation seems to be obtaining as much personal glory and power as possible, with a pinch of petty revenge on the side. Which is not heroic. It's selfish and childish. By all means, have him take to the whole Dragon Rider thing at first because like any naive teenager he thinks Dat Wud Be So Cool, but when he sees the cruel reality of what's going on in the world outside it's like a slap in the face. He stops thinking about personal glory, and his initial terror eventually gives way to a fierce and selfless determination to set everything right.

And don't have him openly revel in slaughtering helpless empire soldiers by the truckload. I mean FFS.

[oblakom]

I like this! One question: how would Saphira fit in this new story?

Saphira has, as main characteristics, being wise, arrogant, vain, and disinterested in anyone who is not Eragon. Her whole character is based on people kissing her ass just because she is a dragon, basically. How would you turn these things into something acceptable without erasing what is the core of her character?

[ultramega10]

Just make her a powerful and cunning animal.

It isn't as though she ever has anything to say.

[epistler]

How would you turn these things into something acceptable without erasing what is the core of her character?

By making them acknowledged flaws rather than handwaving it because "it's okay because she's a dragon and therefore superior". She needs to have more of a nonhuman mindset anyway. Maybe all dragons are just hardwired to think they're the centre of the universe, and to her that's totally normal and it doesn't make sense why anyone would have a problem with it. But after being exposed to the more empathetic, community minded human way of thinking, she starts to adjust. At first everyone finds her rather insufferable, but bit by bit through little remarks and shows of concern she starts to reveal a more compassionate side until she eventually does something which graphically demonstrates that she's changed (eg risks her life to save someone who isn't her rider, something she NEVER does in canon).

[redwyvernheart]

I agree. At first I thought Eragon's selfishness could be an acknowledged flaw but at the end of the day heroes are not suppose to be self absorbed jerks. It would be better to make him being a be positive courageous person which leads to him acting too quickly and being reckless or making mistakes. There can be plenty of face palms that way when he says or does something stupid but honestly meant no harm.

[epistler]

I agree. At first I thought Eragon's selfishness could be an acknowledged flaw but at the end of the day heroes are not suppose to be self absorbed jerks.

Exactly. Recklessness is fine, impulsiveness is fine, being a bit dumb is fine. But being utterly self-centered is not. It just goes too much against what a heroic character is supposed to be, and especially a "traditional fantasy hero", which is what Paolini claims Eragon is.