45 Master Characters (31 page)
He must battle his demons to maintain his connection to the Divine. He must face temptation and hold fast to his beliefs.
His sense of purpose is so strong he can do nothing else but reach his goal.
How Do Others See the Male Messiah?
Others see him as either good or bad; there is no inbetween. He may be accused of starting a cult.
Many view him as either idealistic, crazy and on a power trip, or as divine, wise and giving.
Many are jealous of his connection with the Divine, especially clergy who feel entitled to such a thing. Think of Jesus and his connection to God, which led him to be crucified by his own people.
In the Bible, David, a Male Messiah, defeated Goliath and helped lead the Israelites to victory against the Philistines.
Developing the Character Arc
The Male Messiah doesn't necessarily change in his character arc but instead grows stronger through his fears.
Look at your character's main goal in the story and then at the fears you've selected to use against him. What does he need to learn to help him overcome his fear? Does he need to learn to be centered in a crowd of angry people? Does he need to face ridicule? Does he need to sacrifice his sense of self to find God?
Very often the Male Messiah needs to learn to let go of the outcome of events and trust the spirit who guides him. He needs to stick to his convictions and fully believe in himself no matter the outcome.
He needs to face his accusers and his own doubts. He needs to stand tall in the face of adversity and attack. He must strongly believe in himself to survive in the long run.
When did his goals and views become strong in his life and why? Were his parents spiritual people? Was he actively involved in religion as a child? Did he speak out for the injustices other kids at school suffered?
Most likely this archetype will help other characters to grow instead of growing himself.
He may find companionship with the Mystic.
And laughter with the Fool.
The Businessman can be a great challenge for him.
The Warlock can be a great adversary.
Assets:
Questions authority.
Is disciplined.
Has a healthy sense of who he is.
Stands up for his beliefs no matter the cost.
Has a strong spiritual belief system to pull him through tough times.
Is willing to sacrifice himself for the good of all.
Renounces material possessions.
Has an inner strength that never dies.
Flaws:
Needs to learn about the inequalities in the world.
Is strong willed.
Tells people the truth even if it's harsh.
Pushes people beyond their limits to help them grow.
The Male Messiah isn't really a villain in the sense of being out for his own gain and desires. He's a villain in the sense of protecting the highest good for all. As the Punisher he'll curse the man who has “fallen” to teach him a lesson. He wants to break the man's ego. He'll kill the man's spirit to transform him into his image.
He may try to justify himself to others but they'll never fully understand his power or the burden he carries. They view his reprimands as harsh and uncaring. Many will leave his side, unable to follow his rules and treatment. Meditating six hours a day seems harsh and silly to most; to the Punisher it's a necessary step to advance. He feels his word is law.
Gives harsh criticism to his followers.
Will curse a man to teach him a lesson.
Wants to break others' egos and spirits.
Feels his word is law.
Won't try to reassure others or play favorites.
Feels the pain of transformation is necessary.
Pushes people beyond their limits.
Osiris in Action
Jonathan Smith (Michael Landon) in
Highway to Heaven
Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) in
7th Heaven
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in
Star Wars