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My Great Fantasy Thesis
I know, you're wondering, "What the heck is this?" It's basically an analysis of some major works in the fantasy genre and how they relate. The concept is simple. In the majority of fantasy stories, there exists a basic relationship among the main characters. This relationship can be referred to as a trinity or triumvirate. For the most part, fantasy stories will have three key characters with different roles: a destroyer (who brings renewal from destruction), a builder, and a preserver. It is a concept which finds roots in some of the major religions of the world, ranging from Christianity to Hinduism. Here's a simple chart to show you.
Story/Religion
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The Destroyer
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The Builder
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The Preserver
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Christianity
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Christ: he destroys the bands of death and hell, destroys the wicked, brings everlasting life from that destruction
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God the Father: he created our spirits, created the universe, made commandments to follow
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The Holy Ghost: preserves us from evil by guiding us, allowing us to receive revelation, etc.
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Hinduism
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Shiva:
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Brahma:
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Vishnu:
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Star Wars
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Luke: destroys the Sith and the Empire, destroys the wickedness in his father, brings peace to the galaxy and his father from that destruction
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Leia: leader in the Rebel Alliance, instrumental in building the New Republic after the fall of the Empire, must also help rebuild the Jedi Order
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Han: preserves by bailing Luke out at the first Death Star, blows up the shield generator at the second Death Star, kills lots of stormtroopers along the way
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The Wheel of Time
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Rand: must destroy the Dark One, doomed to break the world again and bring a new Age from that destruction
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Perrin: blacksmith, symbolic of building; forged a new nation almost by chance and became an instant king
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Mat: an incredible general and soldier, men follow him without hesitation, and he always wins
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The Lord of the Rings
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Frodo: must bear the Ring until he destroys it
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Gandalf: builds by serving as Frodo's mentor; must organize forces to fight Sauron
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Sam: watches out for Frodo, takes the burden of the Ring when Frodo is incapacitated
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Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
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Simon:
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Miriamele:
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Binabik:
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Okay, let's get crazy!
Story/Religion
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The Destroyer
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The Builder
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The Preserver
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Branches of the U.S. Government
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Executive: enforces law, declares war, commander-in-chief of military
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Legislative: creates laws and other regulations
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Judicial: preserves the Constitution by judging cases and new laws
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