Every great story has an unforgettable myth weaved into it
- The Storyteller's Desk
- Aug 13, 2014
- 3 min read
Recognizing the role of myth in the telling of great stories, the birthing of memorable characters, and the immortalizing of legends ... No one remembers the facts and details of events even in one's own life ... it is the myth that grows with time or festers within ... the truth is long forgotten and over time all that remains is the myth.
The importance of MYTH:
A Mysterious Yearning To Harness
one's wildest imagination
The myth of Will Hunting starts to build as early as page four of the Good Will Hunting screenplay. Professor Lambeau at M.I.T. challenges the best class at the university: "I'm putting an advanced Fourier system on the main hallway chalkboard ... I'm hoping that one of you might prove it by the end of the semester." We've already met Will Hunting with his lowbrow friends with whom he gets into trouble as a way of life. The problem is solved on the board and everyone wants to know who the genius is that they've now termed, "The Mystery Math Magician".
Since no one owns up as being that Mystery Math Magician, the professor puts out another challenge: a problem that took the best professors at M.I.T two years to solve. Later the professor hears someone running chalk along the board and turns the corner to find Will in his janitor's uniform with a mop and bucket next to him scribbling on the board. Will responds to the professor's questioning with a bold, "Hey, F#@! You." and escapes. The professor believes the janitor has probably screwed up his problem on the board and turns to correct the mess, instead he finds that the problem has been accurately solved.
Voila! Will Hunting is not any ordinary janitor or just another troubled kid from the projects ... he is now a mythical character ... one like no other ... the kind anyone in the audience would want to trade places with to have Will's unique gift, maybe without the problem that comes with it. A strange empathy sets in place and a deep desire arises to see the character overcome their limiting problem and shine bright to fully realize their gift.
This holds true for all the characters on screen or in books or any other way that you may have come to love and be fascinated with their indomitable persona. Let's consider a character portrayed by Robin Williams in Dead Poet's Society: Mr. Keating — his very first line in the film lays it thick, "So that I become the source of as few rumors as possible, let me tell you that yes, I was a student at this institution many moons ago, and no, at that time I did not possess this charismatic personality. However, should you choose to emulate my manner, it can only help your grade."
This follows on in how the character speaks to the students he inspires; his words plant the seed ... their curiosity does the rest:
“Carpe. Hear it? Carpe. Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
“O Captain, my Captain. Who knows where that comes from? Anybody? Not a clue? It’s from a poem by Walt Whitman about Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Now in this class you can either call me Mr. Keating, or if you’re slightly more daring, ‘O Captain my Captain.’”
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
“I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.”
– John Keating, Dead Poets Society
In conclusion, always focus on the myth of the character and find ways to influence every other character in the story to face this myth and challenge it. The tactic to use will involve the three step process of plant, build, and pay off. Here's a detailed DIY on how to create powerful characters and sequences using this technique.
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