Research - Propps 7 Character Roles

Propp believed that there are seven roles which any character may assume in the story:

1. Villian - Struggles with hero
2. Donor - Prepares and/or provides hero with magical agent
3. Helper - Assists, rescues, solves and/or transfigures the hero
4. Princess - A sought for person (and/or her father) who exists as goal and often recognises and marries hero and/or punishes villain.
5. Dispatcher - Sends hero off
6. Hero - Departs on a epic search (seeker-hero), reacts to donor and weds at the end.
7. False Hero - Claims to be the hero, often seeking and reacting like a real hero.

Putting this into the context of a trilogy of my favourite films (The Matrix Films) certain characters fall into these roles quite neatly. Keanu Reeves who plays the character "Neo" can be clearly defined as the hero, but his only difference is that he dies at the end of the series as well as his "Princess" dying in the finale to the last film Matrix Revolutions. "The False Hero" can be seen as the commander of the sci fi city "Zion" as he tries to save the city through the use of brute force, but is overwhelmed by the opposition - the machines. "The Helper" can be seen as captain Morpheus in the trilogy as he helps Neo through his journey into saving "Zion" from ultimate destruction. The character Captain Naomi can be seen as the "Helper", as in the last film she gives Neo her most prized possession in terms of the narrative - her ship to travel the machine city to fight the "villain" the character Agent Smith, who is a program investing the matrix, which in the narrative is the world we are currently in but, not the real world but an illusion. The "Dispatcher" can also be seen as Captain Morpheus as he sends Neo on his way through the Oracle and deciphering Neo's dreams.

Propps 7 Narrative roles show a clear pattern even in modern films in contemporary times. Characters fall into the roles describes quite identically, some with slight differences but the general narrative roles are filled showing that Propps 7 Narrative theory is quite accurate. Even though only one trilogy has been analysed it shows that Propps 7 Narrative roles show some meaning to them and coincide with modern narratives as well as old.

I will try to incorporate these roles into my media product, with a slight twist, as many modern theorists say Propps character roles are outdated, but still show some definition into modern films and the characters in the film.