Hero to the Bone
All the characters in the Bone series by Jeff Smith have defining traits. For example, Smiley
Bone is always calm and collected despite what may be happening around him.
Phoney Bone always looks for different money schemes to swindle others and get
all the profit. Fone Bone, the main character, is different. He is a driven
character with good morals, but he doesn’t have that defining characteristic
like the others. Shown to be an ordinary person, Fone bone makes the perfect
candidate to go through the hero-making process. The normality of the hero’s beginning
makes the story attractive for a reader like me who doesn’t actually like to
read. It is also attractive because I can put myself in Fone Bone’s shoes. He
is not any more extraordinary than the other character, he’s initially the
least competent than the rest. Even as he goes through a physical journey, his
growth came from within.
Despite
having a normal guy as our protagonist, there are still fantastical elements in
the series. How Smith incorporated powers into his characters made the story
more interesting. Rose, is the prime archetype of the hero, but instead of
centering the story around her, Smith uses her as more of an ally for Fone
Bone. Rose is more capable than the other character we follow she also possesses
a special power that is vital to defeating the enemy. Even as a strong
character, Rose has flaws and needs Fone Bone to gain the confidence and
experience to unlock her full potential.
From an outside perspective,
one could could change the story into Rose’s perspective and in turn make Fone
Bone into the ally rather than the opposite, but we are given Fone Bone as our
protagonist. I like the idea that you don’t have to be “the chosen one” in
order to accomplish great victories. We all like to imagine that one day our
call to adventure will come especially as young kiddos. We can’t, however, all
be the hero that saves the world. Bone shows
that it’s okay to be “ordinary” because in your own ways you are extraordinary.
It is interesting to think of Fone Bone as the main protagonist, but it makes sense. He is the one the books follow most closely, and he goes through a hero's journey as well, besides the big, distracting one that Rose experiences.
ReplyDeleteReading the Bone series, I never really thought of how Rose fits the mold of a main protagonist better than Fone Bone, but that's really interesting. I think the fact that Fone Bone lacks a defining characteristic makes him more relatable and likable since we usually don't think of ourselves as having one defining trait, but all the characters around him clearly do.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't remember all of the Bone series from when I was younger, having a character that the main character need to rise towards their level (Rose in this example) gives the main character a bit more of a path to follow. Like if Fone Bone, the normal guy, just was told he was supposed to set out on a quest, without anyone to lead him at least part of the way, any normal person would be confused and lost. Having the ally be a really good main character shows the actual main character how to be a good hero.
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