Our Film "VIRAGO" and it's application to Media Theorists- Propp's Character Theory

Vladimir Propp's Character Theory:

Propp theorises that there are six main characters. These character archetypes can be applied to various genre films as well as any form of storytelling. These characters are:

• Hero- Majority of the time, the hero is the protagonist of the film. They most commonly save the princess at the end and earns a reward for their courage and strength in defeating the Villain. They search for something; an artifact or the princess; while on their "quest". An example of a Proppian Hero could be:

Indiana Jones in Raider of the Lost Ark

•  Villain- The binary opposite to the Proppian hero. Have a lack of good morals and seeks power and greed. Commonly, defeated in the end by the Hero. Can often capture the Princess. An example a Proppian Villain could be:

Major Arnold Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark 
 

• Dispatcher- The person who sends the Hero on their quest. The dispatcher doesn't necessarily have to only be one person but also an organisation. An example of a Proppian Dispatcher would be the headmasters from Marshall College who send Indiana on a quest to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazi's do.

Indiana Jones teaching at Marshall College in Raiders of the Lost Ark

 

• False Hero- A character that is first to be perceived as being a "good" character but is revealed to be "bad" and aiding the Villain or uses the Hero for their own benefit. An example of a Proppian False Hero would be:
  
  
  Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark after he leaves Indiana in a pit of snakes
  
  
  
  
  
  Princess- The person or object that the Hero is either searching for or receives as a reward. An example of a Proppian Princess as well as Proppian Donor (Gives the Hero an item to help them) could be:
  
  
  Marion in Raiders of the Lost Ark
  
  
  
  
  Propp's Character Theory applied to "VIRAGO"
  
  
  
  
  Proppian Hero- Our film's protagonist Edward due to him being the one who makes the story progress (leads the quest).
  
  

  

  
  
  Proppian Princess/Villain/False Hero- Our film's antagonist, Elizabeth. She is the physical embodiment of Edward's reward and goal in Virago. She is also first percieved as being good also but then is revealed as being evil; hence she is also a false hero.
  
  

  

  
  
  Proppian Donor- The vicar from the dream sequence who provides Elizabeth with the ring that she uses as evidence that it is really her.
  
  

  
  
  Proppian Dispatcher- Edward's journey through Christianity after Elizabeth's death is the force that sends him through a psychological spiral. His faith is the catalyst for his suicide at the end.