Troy – ETB https://etbscreenwriting.com Screenwriting Tue, 28 Dec 2021 00:38:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 Hamilton & Troy: Epic Hero Stories https://etbscreenwriting.com/typestuesday-a-classic-example-of-power-of-idealism/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=typestuesday-a-classic-example-of-power-of-idealism https://etbscreenwriting.com/typestuesday-a-classic-example-of-power-of-idealism/#respond Tue, 17 Apr 2018 06:00:48 +0000 http://etbscreenwriting.com//?p=9615 Types Tuesday

Power of Idealism Month

This month is Power of Idealism month. We’ll be examining the type of Character who strives for excellence and never settles for second-best. Life is grand opera, where every emotion is heightened. They can’t just feel pain, they feel extreme pain. A romantic gesture isn’t enough, it has to over-the-top. “Complacent” or “satisfactory” isn’t in their vocabulary.

Throughout April, we will look at epic heroes, separated lovers and those coming of age. These Characters are dramatic types who are never satisfied and treat life as a never-ending pursuit of something better. They are passionate, intense and will never settle for anything less than the best. Even then, they will keep reaching for something better.

Hamilton

Hamilton is the musical portrayal of the life of Founding Father, First Secretary of the Treasury and face of the $10 bill, Alexander Hamilton. In the musical, at least, Hamilton is a Power of Idealism Character. His best friend, Aaron Burr, is Power of Truth.

Their conflict lies in Burr’s jealousy- he spends the musical asking “how could a bastard orphan” achieve everything that he does? Unlike Burr, who plays it safe, Hamilton always succeeds. Their argument lasting decades reaches its tragic end when Burr shoots Hamilton dead in a duel.

Every one of the songs that Hamilton himself sings relates to his relentless pursuit of crafting America in his own image. Everyone suffers for him- his wife Eliza, her sister Anjelica, his son and his political rivals. Hamilton breaks hearts and creates enemies as he embraces his epic destiny. It is not until later in his life, as the War of Independence is over and Thomas Jefferson arrives at the White House, that he faces defeat.

Everything that Hamilton does, he does for the American Project. Nothing else matters to him, because ever since his impoverished childhood, he’s had to write his way out to thrive. Talent serves him well, up to a point. His loss of a normal, happy life was America’s gain. In this musical, at least, it could be argued that Hamilton couldn’t have asked for a better death.

Epic Hero Stories

There are three Power of Idealism stories- Separated Lovers, Coming-Of-Age and Epic Hero. Hamilton is the latter, as is the 2004 historical film Troy. These stories follow legends, warriors, and icons who are doomed to die in a noble cause- often in war. In Hamilton’s case, it was his refusal to back down. His greatness cost him his life, but he will always be remembered for his achievements.

Other Power of Idealism Characters in Epic Hero stories are Colonel Robert Shaw (Matthew Broderick) in Glory, King Leonides (Gerard Butler) in 300 and William Wallace (Mel Gibson) in Braveheart. All these Characters sacrifice themselves for glory and honor, and their stories will live on.

Lyrics

Some of these lyrics from various Hamilton songs sum up Hamilton’s attitude and the Power of Idealism mindset. They also demonstrate how Hamilton is part of an Epic Hero story:

You could never back down

You never learned to take your time!

Alexander Hamilton

 

[King George] ain’t ever gonna set his descendants free

So there will be a revolution in this century

Enter me!

[…] Don’t be shocked when your hist’ry book mentions me

I will lay down my life if it sets us free.

[…] I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory
When’s it gonna get me?
In my sleep? Seven feet ahead of me?
If I see it comin’, do I run or do I let it be?
Is it like a beat without a melody?
See, I never thought I’d live past twenty
Where I come from some get half as many

[…]I’m past patiently waitin’. I’m passionately
Smashin’ every expectation
Every action’s an act of creation!
I’m laughin’ in the face of casualties and sorrow

Hamilton, My Shot

I may not live to see our glory!

But I will gladly join the fight!

And when our children tell our story…

They’ll tell the story of tonight

Hamilton, Story of Tonight

HAMILTON: If they tell my story

I am either gonna die on the battlefield in glory or Rise up!

WASHINGTON: Dying is easy, young man,

Living is harder.

Hamilton and Washington, Right Hand Man

ELIZA: Look at where you are
Look at where you started
The fact that you’re alive is a miracle
Just stay alive, that would be enough
And if your wife could share a fraction of your time
If I could grant you peace of mind
Would that be enough?

CHORUS: How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive?
How do you write like you need it to survive?
How do you write ev’ry second you’re alive?
Ev’ry second you’re alive? Ev’ry second you’re alive?

Full Company, Non-Stop

 

 

 

 

 

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Battle Speeches – Power of Idealism https://etbscreenwriting.com/battle-speeches-power-of-idealism/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=battle-speeches-power-of-idealism https://etbscreenwriting.com/battle-speeches-power-of-idealism/#respond Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:06:05 +0000 http://etbscreenwriting.com//?p=1736 mel-gibson-braveheart-etbscreenwritingThis is an excerpt from a wonderful blog:  Fencing With The Fog written by MaryAn Batchellor:

…What is the purpose of the pre-battle speech in film? Does it have a purpose other than exposition or is it just a standard prerequisite of any war story?

BRAVEHEART – In Braveheart, William Wallace gives a pre-battle speech that became a defining moment in the film. What differs it from the same narcoleptic moments in Alexander? Wallace’s speech tells us as much about his character as it does the justification for the battle. It gives us another piece of Wallace’s motive for being there instead of serving solely as exposition.

Yes. Fight and you may die. Run and you will live, at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that, for one chance to come back here as young men, and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but the will never take our freedom?

GLADIATOR – Maximus gives his troops a similar speech in Gladiator — similar because it, too, is a look inside the motives of the leader. But because it tells us what the men believe about life and death, Maximus’ speech also serves as exposition.

Three weeks from now, I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be and it will be so. Along the line, stay with me. If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled for you are in Allysium and you are already dead. What we do in life echoes in eternity.

TROY – This film has two pre-battle speeches — Achilles’ speech to his Myrmidons and Hector’s speech to battalions of Troy. Achilles’ speech is about his character. He wants his name to live forever.

Myrmidons, my brothers of the sword. I’d rather fight alongside you than any army of thousands. Let no man forget how menacing we are. We are lions. You know what’s there waiting beyond that beach? Immortality! Take it. It’s yours!

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – This pre-battle speach is not a speech. As Balian prepares Jerusalem to defend itself, he gives no pep talk. But he believes that no man is a servant to another and makes each man a knight by administering the same oath to them that he took at his father’s deathbed. This serves no expository purpose that I can see but solely demonstrates the character of the leader.

Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless. This is your oath (he slaps a young teen as his father slapped him) and that is so you remember it. Rise, a knight!

I think all of these examples work, but why do they work? The one thing I see in each one is that the battle speech, like other dialogue in the film, also serves to reveal character.

ALEXANDER – So why does the speech in Alexander not work for me? Aside from being entirely too long and boring, it has several long pauses of silence as we watch an eagle or inaudible shots while the opposing army looks at each other. Even if we wanted to care at the beginning of the speech, by the time it’s over we’re too exhausted to give a rip how the battle turns out.

You’ve all honored your country and your ancestors and now we come to this most distant place in Asia where across from us Darius has at last gathered an army– (cut from speech to no audible dialogue and follow long descent of an eagle and then go back to Alexander mid sentence) — but look again at this war and ask yourselves, who is this great king who pays assasins in gold coins to murder my father, our king in a most despicable and cowardly manner? Who is this great king Darius who enslaves his own men to fight? Who is this king but a king of air? These men do not fight for their homes. They fight because this king tells them they must. When they fight, they will melt away like the air. We are not here today as slaves. We are here as Macedonian free men! Some of you, perhaps myself, will not live to see the sun set over these mountains today but I say to you what every warrior has known since the beginning of time, conquer your fear and I promise you, you will conquer death! When they ask you where you fought so bravely, you will answer, I was here this day at Gaugamela for the freedom and glory of Greece! Zeus be with us!

Conclusion? Well, first of all, I think pre-battle speeches have to serve some purpose other than pure exposition but what I don’t know is if it’s critical that the speech also reveal character.

Laurie’s Notes: I believe it is critical that a battle speech reveal character.  Each kind of leader sees the world differently and fights for different reasons.  Each kind of leader inspires followers differently.

All of the examples in MaryAn’s post above are Power of Idealism leaders.  Power of Idealism leaders believe that life and war should involve a grand passion or great ideal. They see the world in terms of sweeping epic poetry or as a struggle for individuality and freedom of operatic proportions against impossible odds.

Power of Idealism leaders are inspiring and challenge their followers to give their all to a glorious cause.  They create a sense of special destiny and often link their mission to the grand heroism  or glories of the past.
Often these characters lead their followers into a lost cause or an impossible battle.  They know the odds are grim and victory is improbable but they charge in anyway.
What they are after is valor, honor and a grand and glorious legacy—the kind of immortality to inspire others in story, song or legend.
One of the best examples of this kind of leadership is that of King Leonidas and his Spartans at the Pass of Thermopylae.
Leonidas tells his men in 300:  “This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time… Spartans, prepare for glory!”

Power of Idealism leaders inspire and challenge their followers to give their all to a glorious cause. They create a sense of special destiny and often link their mission to a grand heroic tradition (knighthood) or the glory of the immortality (Elysian Fields).  What they are after is valor, honor and the kind of immortality to inspire others in story, song or legend.

Another example of this kind of leadership is demonstrated in King Leonidas’ battle speech to his Spartans at the Pass of Thermopylae in the film 300.

KING LEONIDAS  “This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time… Spartans, prepare for glory!

In contrast, a Power of Will character fights for more territory, revenge or total domination and uses any means (fair or foul) he deems necessary.  This kind of leader and his followers are characterized by the burning desire for MORE!  Gordon Gekko, a Power of Will leader in Wall Street, gives a kind of battle speech to inspire the stockholders to throw out the old management of a company he is trying to take over.

GORDON GEKKO  “I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them! The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed — for lack of a better word — is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms — greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed — you mark my words — will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.

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