St Luke Quote by Sarah Rees Brennan
““Elliot was left to trail behind. As he did, he thought about Luke talking about literary tropes—the fearless hero, the valiant heroine, and where did it all leave him? Sidekick: a horrible indignity, Elliot refused to accept it. And the other idea was some sort of lurking, jealous figure: an Iago, a pathetic pseudo-villain waiting in the wings to plot and bring the hero down. He wasn’t going to plot against Luke, who had dumb daffodil hair and said “tropez,” for God’s sake.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Empyrean, 2021
A sidekick resists being reduced to a supporting role, fearing the loss of agency and identity.
In simple terms: Sidekicks fear being seen only as helpers.
Key Takeaway
Validate each character’s unique contributions beyond supporting roles.
Themes
identity
agency
heroic archetypes
sidekick dynamics
Mood
empathetic
inspirational
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- team projects
- leadership training
- creative writing workshops
- mentorship programs
Key Concepts
narrative theory
character agency
role reversal
Questions to Reflect On
- How can sidekicks assert agency without disrupting the hero’s journey?
- What structures support equal recognition in collaborative narratives?
A Different Perspective
Risk of undermining teamwork if every role seeks protagonism.
