Creepy Martyr Behavior

Chapter 21: Marked For Greatness

               In this chapter Foster suggests that if a character has a scar, or a physical disability, it’s always for a reason. This idea I can totally get behind. As he points out, no one would put their character in say, a wheelchair for no reason, because this gives your character immediate depth and a series of choices. Are they bitter? Do they see every day as a gift? You cannot just have an ordinary character with a disability, because the disability will always shape them in some way. Even if they do not get something out of their disability the characters around them can either pity them to a point of frustration or simply ignore them to the point of neglect. It’s impossible for the disability not to influence the story, no matter how minuscule.

Overall it can work two ways, the disability can reflect something about the insides of the character, maybe something blatant or way deep down. Or the physical can be the opposite of the character, turning him into a martyr. Quasimodo is the bell-ringer of Notre Dame and rarely ventures outside the Cathedral since people despise and shun him for his appearance. We pity him, we feel compassion for this unlucky hero, so pure and in love with Esmeralda on the inside and so twisted and deformed on the outside. SIDE NOTE Did you know that “it is revealed in the story that the baby Quasimodo was left by the Gypsies in place of Esmeralda, whom they abducted”?! Because, I sure didn’t know that. END SIDE NOTE  Eventually he completely overcomes his shut-in behavior when Esmeralda is killed and he leaves his sanctuary of the tower opening himself up to ridicule and hatred (which happened each time he saved her as well) to go and die by her corpse. Creepy, but definitely martyr behavior. None of this would have happened if he was a “normal” young man, especially assuming that the gypsies wouldn’t have left him in place of Esmeralda if he hadn't had disabilities.

            In House of the Scorpion young Matt is a clone. He is branded as “Property of The Alacrán Estate” on the bottom of his foot. This is inevitably his mark for greatness, and it is the basis of the whole book. If Matt wasn’t a clone he wouldn’t face the (many) problems he does. The mark itself comes in to play specifically in two instances:

1. The Alacrán family treats Matt kindly after he is brought into the house wounded until Mr. Alacrán, El Patron’s great-grandson, recognizes him as a clone as soon as they see the branding and reduce his life to a living hell, causing trails that shape his moral fiber.
2. The “Lost Boys” he makes friends with later in the book (after many obstacles) lose faith in him after they see the tattoo, as clones are considered “zombies”, giving him the mission of earning their trust back and strengthening his relationship with them.  

These shape Matt’s adventure and his character. Without the brand he would not be recognized as a clone in these two situations therefore leading a less exciting life (and basically no book).

            Lady Macbeth marks herself (through insanity) when she believes she cannot wash the invisible bloodstains off of her hands. Inevitably this marking leads Lady Macbeth to kill herself, throwing her husband into despair. Thus influencing the ending of the play Macbeth, all because of a mark, which she has imagined but reflects her inner turmoil.

                  In the end of the chapter, Foster asks us to go find out what Harry Potter's scar meant and as a Harry Potter fan I believe the scar is a token of his mother's love; and of his tie to Voldemort. The scar through hurting him helps him realize danger, thereby affecting his character marking him so visibly as someone special. (Not to mention it’s basically a horcrux so that’s really important but we don’t learn that until the last book so…)