Sure, the mentor can be wrong. One of the most prominent mentor archetypes in fiction, Dumbledore, was wrong a few times. He admitted as much himself.
In the opinion of this forum, can the mentor archetype ever be wrong? I don't mean wrong about little, trivial things, but wrong in his overall message to the protagonist? Wrong might be the wrong word, actually.
In my outline, the mentor is advising caution, but the events surrounding this main point of the plot actually calls for greater abandon and trust by the protagonist---NOT caution. Caution will only delay him on his journey.
Can this mentor, who is still very wise, suggest caution which is unwarranted, leading the protagonist down the wrong path temporarily, and still be considered a true mentor? I personally don't think so but I'd like some input if anyone has any. Thanks much!
In the opinion of this forum, can the mentor archetype ever be wrong? I don't mean wrong about little, trivial things, but wrong in his overall message to the protagonist? Wrong might be the wrong word, actually.
In my outline, the mentor is advising caution, but the events surrounding this main point of the plot actually calls for greater abandon and trust by the protagonist---NOT caution. Caution will only delay him on his journey.
Can this mentor, who is still very wise, suggest caution which is unwarranted, leading the protagonist down the wrong path temporarily, and still be considered a true mentor? I personally don't think so but I'd like some input if anyone has any. Thanks much!
In the opinion of this forum, can the mentor archetype ever be wrong? I don't mean wrong about little, trivial things, but wrong in his overall message to the protagonist? Wrong might be the wrong word, actually.
In my outline, the mentor is advising caution, but the events surrounding this main point of the plot actually calls for greater abandon and trust by the protagonist---NOT caution. Caution will only delay him on his journey.
Can this mentor, who is still very wise, suggest caution which is unwarranted, leading the protagonist down the wrong path temporarily, and still be considered a true mentor? I personally don't think so but I'd like some input if anyone has any. Thanks much!
Sure, the mentor can be wrong. One of the most prominent mentor archetypes in fiction, Dumbledore, was wrong a few times. He admitted as much himself.
Bah. Stole my point.
No, and I'm totally in agreement with the Dumbledore comment.
Another good one is Obi-Wan, who while not wrong, intentionally misleads the reader and Luke into believing his father is dead. If Obi-Wan can be remembered fondly after that, any mentor can certainly be forgiven for giving bad advice.
There's some real danger in sticking too closely to archetypes--or what we think they are. That is, to find ourselves creating characters with no more personality than an unsalted potato.
Do salted potatoes have more personality? Just curious.