World Builder #8

In America, we sustain the myth of the determined, independent individual who pulls themselves up from nothing to become the best, the most powerful, et cetera. This is important to our cultural narrative, to the values imposed on the next generation. Whether that generation embraces or rejects the narrative and its idols is an important factor, too, all of which should be considered with the following prompt:

What types of people are raised up as your society's heroes? What traits do their contemporaries try to take from them? Are these heroes real or fictional, and how much pull do they have? 

If your society values might and bravery, Hercules or Thor would be the type of hero that suits their purposes. Kindness and selflessness would be reflected in a Mother Teresa type character. Cunning heroes like the Coyote of Native American folklore would serve a society in which inventiveness is praised. In asking yourself these questions, consider how old these values are, how deeply they're held, and why they came about in the first place. Consider change: the American values in our old folk heroes and the icons we've made the founding fathers to be sprang up from a society which valued self-determination over the cronyism and good genetic luck that made the kings and lords of their former European rulers. Consider whether the values are lived as well as espoused- some would argue that there is still cronyism and still a luck-of-the-draw factor at play for many Americans today. (Whether you agree or disagree is up to you. This is about writing.) If these traits are practiced and preached, how solidly are they taught and enforced?

These things say a lot about the society you're writing and the characters living within. If brawn is valued over brain, how do your intelligent characters feel about these heroes? Do they also idolize them for different reasons, the same reasons, or do they hate them? If Albert Einstein has inspired an entire civilization, what do the intellectual feel about that? Remember that it's okay to have complex feelings on these subjects- in fact, your characters likely should. Sort through their stories, and maybe even write a myth or legend or two to sprinkle details throughout your own.

All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.