Chapter 21

Marked for Greatness

Main Points

• The physical qualities of characters always tell us something.
• Thematically
• Spiritually
• Metaphorically
• Psychologically

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Main Points

• Physical deformity often lends itself to moral deformity.
• Heroes are always marked in some way, which sets them apart.
• Injuries are often symbolic of the destruction of possibilities, spiritual and physical.

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Updated Examples

Shaun Murphy is a young, autistic surgeon who has a savant syndrome relocates from a quiet country life to join the surgical unit at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, a move strongly supported by his mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman. Having survived a troubled childhood, Shaun is alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, but he finds his niche using his extraordinary medical skill and intuition to save lives and challenge the skepticism of his colleagues. The Good Doctor (tv show)

Lord Tyrion, a member of royalty, has dwarfism. Often underestimated and undermined due to his disability he suffers throughout most of the show by being disowned by his family and being seen as less of a human. His disability leads him to help out the opposing family to the throne and leads him to be seen as a hero by the audience. Game of Thrones (tv show)

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