"What do you call this sort of Character?" Topic

There are names for Literary Characters.

The 'Antagonist'
'The Hero'
'The Magic Negro'

What is the name for the Minor Character who for some reason siezes te imagination far more than the main ones, often by no intent of the Author?

In Star Wars George Lucas was unaware of how Popular Boba Fett was, and says if he had known he would have given him a better death-scene. Similarly I was always very fond of Finrod Felagund from the Silamrillion – great name, great guy – but hardly the Central Character.

Is there a name for this type of character?

Pat

'Mysterious bit-part'?
'Upstager'?

Cool Red Shirt Dude????

I think the technical term will be something dull like 'supporting character'.

However, here's a few suggestions based on books and movies I've read/seen:

- The Much More Interesting than the Dull as Ditchwater Hero.
- The More Appealing to Women than the So-Called Babe Magnet Who was Sooooo Obviously Written by A Guy.
- The Nice Ordinary Woman who is Far Better than that Self Obsessed Cow who I'm Supposed to Regard as a Heroine.

The Accidental Hero.

Mercutio.

Yea, Parzival! Mercutio is the first character I thought of too. The only good thing in Romeo and Juliet.

My longest-played D&D chacacter used Mercutio as one of his aliases.

- The Nice Ordinary Woman who is Far Better than that Self Obsessed Cow who I'm Supposed to Regard as a Heroine.

I'm not keen on Patricia Cornwell or Kathy Reichs either…

Joking aside (and Mercutio is "The Jester" or "The Sidekick") there's no term I know of for what you describe, though I can think of lots of characters who fit the description— call it High Interest, Low Plot (or B Plot).

Eponine in the second half of Les Miserables fits the description; she's certainly more interesting than Cosette (not that it takes much…)

"The Noble Opposition"?

There is no term for it, but "scene stealer" works for me.

If an author creates, or channels, such a character, he has made a "lucky strike"….

What is a "Magic Negro"?

link

In essence, someone of color (usually a black person, but not always) who has some mystical power that helps the white protagonist out of trouble.

Some of the examples in the "magical negro" link seem a bit of a stretch, as for many the factor of race is really a matter of casting rather than written character. Morpheus from The Matrix is actually "The Mentor" archetype— like Merlin, Gandalf, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Professor Dumbledore, etc.. He is only black because Fishburn happens to be black— and he isn't "subordinate" to Neo in any way (at least in the first film— I've never seen the rest).
I also don't think the term applies to Poitier in To Sir, With Love or Lilies of the Field, as again these characters are not subordinate or secondary, but are rather The Protagonists!

As for Morgan Freeman in Bruce Almighty, his portrayal pokes fun at the trope. He's not mystical because he's black (or briefly a janitor)— he's mystical because he's GOD! (And therefore subordinate to no one.)

The whole term seems a bit of a push to me… like someone's looking for a reason to be offended. Given that Spike Lee originated it, this does not surprise me. On the other hand, the "wise old janitor" is a trope that is wearing thin; and the casting does tend to run a little one-sided here, even if the characters are positive. (Examples: The maintenance man played by Charles Dutton in Rudy and the locker room janitor in Invincible. The former is more fully rounded— his wisdom comes from his own admitted errors in judgment, and is more forcefully administered, so he breaks the mold. The latter example is a sort of an anti-mentor, as he initially offers doubt rather than encouragement.)

Interesting link, Neotacha. Thanks!

On the other hand, the "wise old janitor" is a trope that is wearing thin

Does that include 'Henry..the mild mannered janitor' from Hong Kong Phooey???

The winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Rupert Everett in My Best Friend's Wedding.

JW