The Eccentric Sage: My Favourite Type of Character
Being a writer, I nowadays see movies and books through more and more of a writerly lens each day. Spotting the subtext within dialogue, watching the curve of the story arc, examples in good world-building, and analysing how the theme of the story is portrayed through each scene via characters and plot.
If you’re familiar with “The Hero’s Journey” and other such philosophies, you may also spot certain characters or character roles just like I do. The plucky young protagonist, the wise mentor, the comic relief, the antagonist. Then there are the really specific character tropes that some geek out over. The misunderstood rebel, the lovable rogue, the princess that becomes a badass warrior, or even the most subversive ones like a buff old wizard or a redeemed villain or a gentle giant.
Having recently written such a character in my next novel without even realising it, I’d now like to discuss one of my favourite (if not niche) character tropes! Now hear me out, because this is as specific as it gets. I love… ancient or immortal beings, that act and behave like cranky old people.
Follow me.
I’m so accustomed to deities and immortal characters being wise, calm and world-weary. They’ve seen so much and achieved many things. Some may even be jaded and indifferent to the passage of time since they’ve seen it rotate around them for so long. So, I find it so incredibly entertaining when such a character acts like Old Man Higgens down the street who sits on his porch in his rocky chair all day. Some octogenarians in real-life are right grumpy old farts indeed, now imagine living to be as old as the elves of Middle-Earth.
Honestly, I wouldn’t help but be a touch grouchy myself. And I’d dare say the most quintessential example of what I’m talking about, is Aughra from “The Dark Crystal”.
Now I absolutely adore the movie and it’s now become one of my favourites, and when the Netflix series “Age of Resistance” released, I fell in love with the world, story and characters all over again! Aughra has more life and personality breathed into her character in the series, adding more depth to her behaviour and actions. But her geriatric sass despite her role as Thra’s eyes and ears is something I find so endearing. Like tying a human element to an otherwise very non-human individual. When an Arathim attempts to latch to her head and control her mind and body, she’s barely unfazed as she grabs a hold of the poor thing and not only berates its efforts but self-deprecates in the wittiest way I’ve ever seen!
“You dare try to control Aughra? Aughra can barely control Aughra!”
There are very few other examples I know that slip into this cool category of characters, but I did also love Jetfire from “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (which when I was around 14 was my favourite movie at the time).
And perhaps to some degree, Gandalf could also fall into this small pantheon, especially in Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”, when the world had not yet expanded into more serious territory like “The Lord of the Rings”. If I recall correctly, Gandalf had a great deal more cheek and aloofness than future renditions would have him show!
Finally, it seems this trope has flowed into a character of mine in the sequel to my WIP. A great, ancient, four-winged owl of divine origin that’s more than happy to whack you with his staff if you don’t keep that racket down!
What other quasi-immortal, cantankerous wise-folk do you know of that I’ve missed? Id love to hear more of them!
Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day!
Daniel
