"It's a dangerous business going out your door...you might step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Tolkien plants a seed of purpose into his characters, a goal for them to achieve. This got me thinking about some of my other favourite literary characters who have embarked on a journey, not to wander aimlessly or to run away from their problems, but to achieve their goal. This list may seem a bit eclectic, but they are amongst some of my favourite characters. If you have others to add, then please share them in the comments below; I'd love to hear about them!
Dr Frankenstein - Frankenstein
This is one of my all time favourite novels and I really wanted to begin with Dr Frankenstein's physical and metaphorical wanderings. From the outset, the reader is confronted with notions of journey, hardship, and extreme locations in Shelley's 1818 classic. From the very beginning, with Robert Walton's introductory letters whilst on his travels from London to Russia; then later Frankenstein's own journeys through the heart of the Swiss mountains, northern Italy and France, travel is the background for the deeper questions of ethics and scientific morality. The dramatic landscapes often reflect the turmoil both Frankenstein and his creation are suffering. I love this book, and travelling along through nineteenth century Europe has to be one of my favourite parts of it. I've delved deeper into the topic of nature in Frankenstein and you can read that here if you're interested.
Jane Eyre
"I was experiencing an ordeal: a hand of fiery iron grasped my vitals. Terrible moment: full of struggle, blackness, burning! Not a human being that ever lived could wish to be loved better than I was loved; and him who thus loved me I absolutely worshipped: and I must renounce love and idol. One drear word comprised my intolerable duty - "Depart!" "
Jane Eyre is another favourite character who undertakes travel, not because she wants to but because she feels she must. She strives to do the right thing, to be independent and to live a good life; and to achieve these things she must leave her beloved Mr Rochester and take the road. This trip almost kills her, yet under the kind care of Diana, Mary and their brother St. John Rivers, she is taken in and a new phase of her life is about to start. This trip only lasted a few days but it had significant impact on the course of Jane's life and the decisions she is to make later in the novel.
Odysseus: The Odyssey
Odysseus is one of literature's favourite travellers and one its oldest. Composed sometime toward the end of the eighth century BC, the Odyssey was verbally, past on from mouth to mouth, often by travelling minstrels. The whole notion of travel is an important one in the world of Ancient Greece, but there are still many tips to be learnt from Odysseus own travels. Firstly, he has a goal in mind. From the outset we know that Odysseus' main goal is to return to his wife and son on the island of Ithaca. Secondly, prepares himself as best as he can before he embarks, often through the kindness of strangers. This includes water, wine, food, means of transport and weapons for defence. Thirdly, he shows kindness and manners to those whom he meets on the way and is often rewarded because of it. These three tips do not make his journey uneventful, but they do keep him on the right track and eventually reach his destination.
Katherine Mary O'Fallon: Mrs Mike
"I began a new paragraph, writing the words that had to be written. 'Then we are going to Hudson's Hope, where Mike is stationed. We'll take the train from here to Edmonton. From Edmonton we must travel seven hundred miles by dog sled. Mike says the trip will take two or three months.' "
When 16 year old Katherine Mary O'Fallon marries Sergeant Mike Flannigan of the Northwest Mounted Police, she finds herself embarking on an adventure into the heart and soul of Canada's wildest, untouched regions. This was my favourite book when I was a teenager; the thought of taking off, leaving the civilised world behind, spoke to me even then. Having led a sheltered, privileged life until then, Kathy is suddenly forced to grow up on this journey into womanhood, as a woman, the young wife of a respected policeman, and one of the few white women in a land where people still followed the old traditional ways of their ancestors. The harsh lifestyle of life in Northwest Canada makes this book tough reading and although it is criticised today for its treatment of Indigenous people, I think it is done fairly and with a sense of compassion, empathy and understanding rarely seen in writing from that time.
Bilbo Baggins: The Hobbit
Of course I had to include Bilbo and his journey away from the safety and comfort of The Shire, and into the dangerous world of dwarf treasure, dragons and elves. I think Biblo must be one of the most reluctant of our wanderers (see the above quote!), but I also think that he grows the most on his travels. Supported for the most part by his motley crew of dwarves and Gandalf, Bilbo goes from lamenting the loss of his warm, comfortable life and home, to embracing the journey that he is on and his own unique part in it. The mistrust shown to him by the dwarves' leader, Thorin, only serves to fuel Bilbo's determination to be worthy. This is a wonderful book for journeys and adventures, for growth and self-development. If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend you do so.
Dorothy : The Wizard of Oz
"Dorothy walked back into the house. First, she changed into a clean dress. It was a pretty one, with blue and white checks. Then she put on her pink sun-bonnet and filled a basket with some bread. The last thing she did was to remove her worn old shoes. Then she tried on the shoes that had belonged to the Wicked Witch of the East. They fitted perfectly. 'Come on, Toto,' she cried. 'Let's go to the Emerald City and ask the Great Wizard of Oz how to get back to Kansas!' "
I love that Dorothy takes the time to dress nicely, and pack a lunch before she embarks on her adventure. Additionally, like only a couple of our other wanderers, Dorothy does not undertake her journey alone. She is joined by like-minded characters, who must undergo their own journeys, to achieve their own goals and realise their dreams. Those who wander with friends share their burdens and the trials aren't so heavy.
Pierre Aronnax: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The wonderful marine biologist Pierre Aronnax is invited to join the Abraham Lincoln on its search for an unidentified sea monster. This part of his journey is planned, and he embarks on it with excitement and anticipation. The second part, however, his rescue and subsequent capture by Captain Nemo of the Nautilus is not. Aronnax has the comfort of two companions: Conseil and Ned Land; both of whom play an important role in Aronnax's journey but also in their own journey towards freedom. The year that Aronnax spends on board the Nautilus submarine is one of terror, but also one of knowledge, adventure and an experience that his scientist's mind will never forget. The Nautilius travels all round the world, down the Pacific Ocean to Australia then west through the Indian Ocean, and to the Red Sea and then over to the Mediterranean. From there they head through the Atlantic and dive deep to the southern part of the planet to explore Antartica. As far as distance, Aronnax and his companions probably travel further than any. The misadventures that the three companions face along the way, ensures that a deep sense of loyalty and friendship is cultivated, even once they have escaped.
There are others that I could have mentioned, Don Quixote, Pilgrim's Progress, Gulliver's Travels, The Old Man and The Sea, but I think I've prattled on enough for today. Please share any of your favourite travellers in the comments below or your thoughts on those I've shared here. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jane Eyre has been a long time favorite, but Mrs. Mike I discovered in adulthood. I hadn't thought of it for the longest time and now must see if I can find a copy to re-read! Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteJane is such a role model in so many ways, isn't she? Mrs Mike has always been an inspiration for me and I love re-reading it. I hope you can find a copy.
DeleteBlessings, Kirsty x