Every author has a point they wish to make. Even if it’s just a comedy and the author wanted to make people laugh, that’s a point. But betcha the author also wanted to make a point along the way.
As I wrote in:
I wanted to tell a tale my own way, but my views of the world certainly come into play. So what are the themes of Tranith Argan beyond the surface level plot?
It’s spoilers from here on, so if you haven’t read the tale, or at least made a good start, don’t read the rest if you don’t want even mild spoilers. For discussing the themes is itself a mild spoiler. Don’t worry, I won’t give too much away.
The main theme of the epic, and really of my entire life, is the futility of prejudice. This theme runs throughout the entire tale. Each character is making blunder after blunder, though you probably haven’t noticed yet because we haven’t seen the outcome to many of the decisions yet. But trust me when I say that Felanar has been making mistake after mistake, Kara has been making mistakes, Ravesfel has been making mistakes, the people of Brindledown, the people of Tranith Argan, the saarks, the dragons, it just doesn’t end.
For me, the author, it is amusing for me to see them make these mistakes — knowing what is coming — but that’s the pleasure of having growth in characters. It’s fun to see them learn and grow.
So yes, the futility of prejudice. I dislike prejudice. It limits us. It guides us in wrong directions. It divides us when we should recognize that we are more alike than not.
How could it be otherwise? It’s always more effective to work together, all of us, rather than ignore one group or another, or dislike a segment of society.
There are some people who prove themselves irredeemable, I’m not a blind optimist, and society must deal with those.
And there are certainly groups we are more comfortable around since they match our birth socioeconomic group more than others. But the moment you think badly of another person just because they are part of a group, you are putting up obstacles in your path. You are making it harder on you as well as on that group. Society is less effective because you chose prejudice.
And in Tranith Argan, the characters need to work together in harmony to overcome their obstacles. If they put smaller obstacles in their path on top of that, it just makes things all the harder.
And I call it the futility of prejudice because prejudice does not accomplish anything except making you feel superior, but you are not superior, so it’s a falsehood. Nothing good is ever easier with prejudice. Much that is bad is easier with prejudice, but we don’t want to be bad. So prejudice is futile when you are trying to accomplish something.
As Felanar will learn.
Even the dragons will learn. Yes, the dragons are putting obstacles in their path because of prejudice. You will see.
That's so awesome!
Interesting I look forward to seeing how they develop from their mistakes.