Archetypes in Genre: The Unsullied
For every ten to twenty barbaric cretins presented as a threat in the works housed under the umbrella of The Genre Triad, readers, viewers and, in the case of video games, players, can fairly predictably count on there being a character who is presented as an example of in-world purity and light. This character represents the idealistic and healing, usually a soft-spoken individual who is pacifist, or who at least seeks to do the least harm possible in order to fix a situation.
Now, how each of these genres tend to differentiate their own version of this character may vary from one tale to the next, but one facet of ‘The Unsullied’ is almost universal across them- this character is almost always a female. As a matter of fact, while compiling the outline notes for this piece, the only immediate examples I could think of for all three of the Triad areas were female characters.
In science fiction, the Unsullied individual is typically possessed of some unique genetic mutation or cultural aspect that serves as a form of ‘plot armor’, keeping them alive or unharmed for, as some would say, ‘reasons’. When this aspect is first introduced, it is usually vague, hazy, and largely unexplored. One example would be Sera, from the video game ‘Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga’. First appearing in the Junkyard, the world setting of the game, inside of a hermetically sealed pod container, she is immediately identifiable as different from everyone in that realm by way of her having jet black hair, which is otherwise unseen in the Junkyard. Later on, she is able to cease a demonic frenzy which overtakes the character of Gale by merely singing a song, which brings him back into control of himself. How she is able to do this is unknown at this point, and the fact that the entities that control the Junkyard want her brought to them by whomever can do so further tags her as vital and unique. In this first entry of the duology of games, she also does not have a blended half-demonic form, implying that she is somehow ‘purer’ than the other inhabitants of the Junkyard.
In the horror genre, the Unsullied often goes by another, genre-specific tag that fans of horror are widely familiar with: The Final Girl. Here, the Unsullied is usually a pure virgin type who often survives the monster or threat, broadly popularized by the slasher films of the 70’s and 80’s. In Clive Barker’s ‘Hellraiser’, Kirsty is portrayed as a somewhat naïve and gentle soul, a young woman who is unfortunately brought face-to-face with some of the most iconic and dreadful creatures in all of the genre, the Cenobites, and their high priest, Pinhead. Though they should be able to tear her mercilessly limb from limb, Kirsty is able to avoid their temptations and assaults, and even uses the Lamarchonde Configuration puzzle box to send them and her lecherous uncle Frank back to the bizarre hellscape that they call home.
In fantasy, the Unsullied is actually more formidable than in sci-fi and horror. Often, this Unsullied is a young woman of some considerable skill, be it with magic, blade or bow, and she is not the sort to simply shrink away like a wallflower from confrontation. Revered and prophesied to be a heroine or savior of some sort, the Unsullied of fantasy is also almost always presented, in visual storytelling, as classically attractive. For instance, the primary examples I come upon for these characters are Buffy, of Vampire-slaying fame, and the trio of witchy sisters from Charmed.
One might assume that, in order for these characters to be ‘unsullied’, that they would, per force, have to be virgins, or be almost completely devoid of vices, at least. This, however, doesn’t necessarily track. What makes them ‘unsullied’ in genre fiction’s Triad is that they are portrayed as somehow both morally superior to the vast majority of their peers and fellow cast members of the tale, and that they are somehow fated to be involved in the ultimate resolution of the story or series, usually as the savior, and sometimes, as a form of martyr.
But that’s enough rambling from this storyteller for now, ladies and gentlemen. Next time, we’ll be taking a look at one of my least favorite but undeniably influential character Archetypes, ‘The Machiavellian’. Until then, folks, take care of yourselves, and keep reading.