Title character

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The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of the work might consist solely of the title character's name – such as Michael Collins [1] or Othello – or be a longer phrase or sentence – such as The Autobiography of Malcolm X , Alice in Wonderland , or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer . The title character is commonly – but not necessarily – the protagonist of the story. Narrative works routinely do not have a title character, and there is some ambiguity in what qualifies as one.

Contents

Examples in various media include Figaro in the opera The Marriage of Figaro , Giselle in the ballet of the same name, the Doctor in the TV series Doctor Who , Dr. Gregory House of the TV series House , Harry Potter in the series of novels and films, [2] and Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet in the play Romeo and Juliet. [3]

Definitions

There is no formal, prescriptive definition of a title character or title role, but there are general standards accepted by tradition.

The title character need not be literally named in the title, but may be referred to by some other identifying word or phrase, such as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, [4] Simba in The Lion King , Aang in Avatar: The Last Airbender , Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland , [5] or more vaguely as in the play An Ideal Husband , which ostensibly refers to the character Sir Robert Chiltern. [6]

A title character is typically fictional, such as Alice in the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , Robinson Crusoe in the book of the same name, or Jean-Luc Picard in the TV series Star Trek: Picard ; but can be a non-fictional dramatization, such as Annie Oakley in the musical Annie Get Your Gun , [7] Erin Brockovich in the film of the same name, [8] or Thomas More in the play A Man for All Seasons . [9]

Although it is common for the title character to be the protagonist, it is not unusual for the principal antagonist or a key secondary character to be named in the title instead. Examples of titular antagonists include Sauron in the book and film series The Lord of the Rings, [10] Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula , [11] or Francisco Scaramanga and Julius No in the James Bond novels and films The Man with the Golden Gun and Dr. No, [12] . The protagonist and antagonist can arguably both be title characters, as in the films Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster or Smokey and the Bandit. In the novel and TV series Shogun , the feudal lord Toranaga is the title character, but the protagonist is John Blackthorne. In the 2003 revival of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom , Whoopi Goldberg had the title role of Ma Rainey, but the lead was Charles S. Dutton as Levee. [13] In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , the Wizard of Oz is the title character, but is a minor supporting character. [14] In the musical Bye Bye Birdie , Conrad Birdie is the title character, while Albert Peterson is the protagonist. [15] In the video game The Legend of Zelda , the title character Princess Zelda is the damsel in distress, and the protagonist is Link. [16]

The title character need not be the subject of the title in a strict grammatical sense: Uncle Tom is considered the title character of Uncle Tom's Cabin [17] and Lee Marvin is often described as playing the title character in the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance , as his character (Liberty Valance) is named in the title, even though the grammatical subject of the title is the person who shot him. [18]

The concept of title character may be interpreted to include unseen characters, such as Godot in Waiting for Godot , [19] Rebecca de Winter in the 1938 novel Rebecca , [20] or Jason Bourne in the 2012 film The Bourne Legacy . [21] Status as the title character has been attributed to named objects, such as the bus in the film and musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert , [22] or the imaginary 6-foot rabbit Harvey in the play and film of the same name. [23]

Titular

The general noun phrase "title character" can be replaced with a descriptive noun or phrase which is then further described using the adjective "titular". For example, the title character of Dracula can be referred to as the book's "titular vampire", [24] the title character of Hamlet is the "titular prince of Denmark", [25] and the title character of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the "titular wizard". [26] [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Wizard of Oz most commonly refers to:

<i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</i> 1900 childrens novel by L. Frank Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. It is the first novel in the Oz series of books. A Kansas farm girl named Dorothy ends up in the magical Land of Oz after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their home by a cyclone. Upon her arrival in the magical world of Oz, she learns she cannot return home until she has destroyed the Wicked Witch of the West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protagonist</span> Main character of a creative work

A protagonist is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a story contains a subplot, or is a narrative made up of several stories, then each subplot may have its own protagonist.

<i>The Marvelous Land of Oz</i> 1904 childrens novel by L. Frank Baum

The Marvelous Land of Oz: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, commonly shortened to The Land of Oz, published in July 1904, is the second of L. Frank Baum's books set in the Land of Oz, and the sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). This and the next 34 Oz books of the famous 40 were illustrated by John R. Neill. The story features the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodsman, and introduces Princess Ozma and Jack Pumpkinhead to the Oz mythos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Gale</span> Fictional protagonist in Oz novels

Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by American author L. Frank Baum as the protagonist in many of his Oz novels. She first appears in Baum's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels. In addition, she is the main character in various adaptations, notably the classic 1939 film adaptation of the novel, The Wizard of Oz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizard of Oz (character)</span> Character from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. The character was further popularized by a stage play and several films, including the classic 1939 film and the 2013 prequel adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bert Lahr</span> American actor (1895–1967)

Irving Lahrheim, known professionally as Bert Lahr, was an American stage and screen actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion, as well as his counterpart Kansas farmworker "Zeke", in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adaptation of The Wizard of Oz (1939). He was well known for his quick-witted humor and his work in burlesque and vaudeville and on Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tin Woodman</span> Character from Oz series

Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman, is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He first appeared in his 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappeared in many other subsequent Oz books in the series. In late 19th-century America, men made out of various tin pieces were used in advertising and political cartoons. Baum, who was editing a magazine on decorating shop windows when he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was inspired to invent the Tin Woodman by a figure he had built out of metal parts for a shop display.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarecrow (Oz)</span> Character in L. Frank Baums fictional Land of Oz

The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely naïve. Throughout the course of the novel, he proves to have the brains he seeks and is later recognized as "the wisest man in all of Oz," although he continues to credit the Wizard for them. He is, however, wise enough to know his own limitations and all too happy to hand the rulership of Oz to Princess Ozma and become one of her trusted advisors, though he typically spends more time having fun than advising.

The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character who appears in the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), created by American author L. Frank Baum. In Baum's subsequent Oz novels, it is the Nome King who is the principal villain; the Wicked Witch of the West is rarely even referred to again after her death in the first book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wicked Witch of the East</span> Fictional character

The Wicked Witch of the East is a fictional character created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is a crucial character but appears only briefly in Baum's classic children's series of Oz novels, most notably The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).

<i>Wicked</i> (Maguire novel) 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is an American novel published in 1995, written by Gregory Maguire with illustrations by Douglas Smith. It is the first in The Wicked Years series, and was followed by Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz. In 2003, it was adapted as the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Wicked. The musical is in the process of being adapted into a two-part feature film, with the first film scheduled to be released in November 2024 and the second film in November 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Witch of the North (Baum)</span> The Wonderful Wizard of Oz character

The Good Witch of the North, sometimes named Locasta or Tattypoo, is a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is the elderly and mild-mannered Ruler of the Gillikin Country. Her only significant appearance in Baum's work is in Chapter 2 of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), in which she introduces Dorothy Gale to Oz and sends her to meet the Wizard, after placing a protective kiss on her forehead. She makes a brief cameo appearance at Princess Ozma's birthday party in The Road to Oz (1909), but is otherwise only mentioned elsewhere in the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juliet</span> Character in Romeo and Juliet

Juliet Capulet is the female protagonist in William Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet. A 13-year-old girl, Juliet is the only daughter of the patriarch of the House of Capulet. She falls in love with the male protagonist Romeo, a member of the House of Montague, with which the Capulets have a blood feud. The story has a long history that precedes Shakespeare himself.

<i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</i> (1910 film) 1910 American silent fantasy film by Otis Turner

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1910 American silent fantasy film and the earliest surviving film version of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, made by the Selig Polyscope Company without Baum's direct input. It was created to fulfill a contractual obligation associated with Baum's personal bankruptcy caused by The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays, from which it was once thought to have been derived. It was partly based on the 1902 stage musical The Wizard of Oz, though much of the film deals with the Wicked Witch of the West, who does not appear in the musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jellia Jamb</span> Fictional character

Jellia Jamb is a fictional character from the classic children's series of Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. She is first introduced in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), as the head maid who works in the royal palace of the Emerald City which is the imperial capital of the Land of Oz. In later books, Jellia eventually becomes Princess Ozma's favorite servant out of the Emerald City's staff administration. She is also the protagonist of Ruth Plumly Thompson's 1939 novel Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz. Her name is a pun on the phrase "Jelly or jam?"

Adaptations of <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 children's novel written by American author L. Frank Baum. Since its first publication in 1900, it has been adapted many times by L. Frank Baum and others: for film, television, theatre, books, comics, games, and other media.

The Wicked Years is a series of novels by Gregory Maguire that present a revisionist take on L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, its 1939 film adaptation, and related books.

Nathan Keyes, born Nathan William Gumke, is an American actor, known for his roles as Kevin Levin in Ben 10: Alien Swarm and Ansel in Maya Dardel.

References

  1. ↑ Walshe, Shane (2009). Irish English as Represented in Film. Peter Lang. p. 258.
  2. ↑ Bell, Christoper E (July 30, 2012). Hermione Granger Saves the World: Essays on the Feminist Heroine of Hogwarts. McFarland. p. 21.
  3. ↑ "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet". Richmond Shakespeare Festival.
  4. ↑ "The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien, Analysis of major characters". SparkNotes.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Paul C (July 29, 2009). "The Last King of Scotland, the Last N----r on Earth? The Ethics of Race on Film". Contemporary Aesthetics.
  6. ↑ Rice, Randy (November 14, 2008). "Review: An Ideal Husband at The Gamm". Wisdom Digital Media.
  7. ↑ Hoffman, Warren (February 18, 2014). The Great White Way: Race and the Broadway Musical. Rutgers University Press. p. 57.
  8. ↑ Hammer, Tonya R (April 2008). Myths, Stereotypes, and Controlling Images in Film: A Feminist Content Analysis of Hollywood's Portrayal of Women's Career Choices. p. 58. ISBN   9781243451705.
  9. ↑ The Best Test Preparation for the Advanced Placement Examination in English Literature & Composition. Research and Education Assocn. 1990. p. 83.
  10. ↑ Skogemann, Pia (2009). Where the Shadows Lie: A Jungian Interpretation of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Chiron Publications. p. 145.
  11. ↑ Constanzo, William V (November 18, 2013). World Cinema through Global Genres. John Wiley & sons. p. 211.
  12. ↑ "From Fleming to Film: The Search for Scaramanga". www.bakerstreetdozen.com. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  13. ↑ Hill, Anthony D (September 2, 2009). The A to Z of African American Theater. Scarecrow Press. p. xxxiv.
  14. ↑ "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Summary & Characters". Education Portal.
  15. ↑ ARNOTT, CHRISTOPHER (23 June 2016). "Goodspeed's 'Bye Bye Birdie' Staying True To Original '60s Musical". courant.com. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  16. ↑ Lambie, Ryan (23 November 2011). "The Legend Of Zelda: why Link is one of the most enduring characters in videogaming". Archived from the original on 2013-06-20.
  17. ↑ Sharma, Raja (2012). Ready Reference Treatise: Uncle Tom's Cabin.
  18. ↑ Casillo, Robert (2006). Gangster Priest: The Italian American Cinema of Martin Scorsese. University of Toronto Press. p. 153. ISBN   9780802091130.
  19. ↑ Sharma, Raja (2012). Ready Reference Treatise: Waiting for Godot.
  20. ↑ Buzwell, Greg (25 May 2016). "Daphne du Maurier and the Gothic Tradition". British Library . Archived from the original on 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  21. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (August 9, 2012). "The Bourne Legacy – review". The Guardian.
  22. ↑ Tavener, Simon (February 28, 2013). "Priscilla - Queen of the Desert (Tour - Oxford)". What's on Stage: Theatre News.
  23. ↑ "Review: On Theater: 'Harvey' hardly looks his age in Laguna". Daily Pilot. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  24. ↑ Robinson, Sara Libby (2008). Blood Will Tell: Blood and Vampires as Metaphors in the Political and Popular Cultures of Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, 1870--1914. p. 131.
  25. ↑ Saxon, Theresa (October 11, 2011). American Theatre: History, Context, Form. Oxford University Press.
  26. ↑ Grimes, A. C. (6 September 2019). "The real meaning of these Wizard of Oz characters". Grunge.com. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  27. ↑ Booker, Keith M. (2011-03-17). Historical Dictionary of American Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN   978-0-8108-7459-6.
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