What kind of protagonist or writing style is Jack Sparrow?
I want to ask about a certain style on how to present a character. I know Jack Sparrow is from a movie (and I've only watched the movies too) but I want to integrate in my writing how he was presented in the movies.
To be short, he's a protagonist but his screen time is less than the other characters. And also, in every Pirates of the Carribean movie, it's like there is a whole different "arc" for each movie, and it doesn't revolve around "main Jack Sparrow arc" or something like that.
I feel like Jack Sparrow is more of a side character but his presence has a huge impact on each movie arc. And the audience is always waiting for Jack Sparrow to come, even though there is an ongoing story parallel to whatever Jack is doing.
In other words, it's like he's a main character but he's not, because in every arc, he just pops in, contributes something, and pops out. And the other "main characters" progress with the story.
Is there a name for this kind of trope, or style, or like the literary device on how to present a character?
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1 answer
Sir Terry Pratchett had several characters who, like Jack Sparrow, were used sparingly in the stories of others, but had a strong presence both in terms of their impact on the story, and in terms of the way the audience saw them. Pratchett wrote:
Like Death and the Librarian, I tend to use Vetinari sparingly, lest he take over every plot. (The Art of Discworld)
So what is it that gives a character such a presence that they have a strong impact on the story without having a lot of presence, and in their brief time in the limelight they attract a following easily comparable to the main protagonists'?
- The first thing, I think is charisma. They are compelling personalities. In fact, if you think about it, Jack Sparrow is particularly known for his outrageous charisma.
- Second, they are extreme in some way, compared to the more balanced protagonist. They are not bound by rules that most characters in the same story consider binding. They stand out.
- Third, they're badass in whatever it is they do.
Such characters are "too much" for the focus of the story - they are too big, too outrageous. So they are used sparingly, like strong spice.
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