Deconstructing Characterization in Chosen
Ted Dekker's Chosen is a timeless tale of good versus evil in a fantasy story setting in which the heroes triumph despite the fact that all odds are against them. The book chronicles the lot of four teenage warriors who are attempting to protect their homeland from a force of evil known as the horde. Along the way, they learn much about themselves, the nature of the world, and about the interminable battle of good versus evil. A thorough analysis of Chosen reveals that the mind is more powerful than the body, the fight against evil is continual, and good has an everlasting need to prevail.
The characterization of Johnis, the central protagonist in this story, demonstrates that the mind is much more powerful than the body. Johnis is highly unlikely to lead a mission of forest dwellers on their quest to save their homeland, simply because he is so small. Moreover, he is prone more to mental exercises -- such as reading -- than physical ones. As such, others view him as too tiny and unsuited for the challenges that will await those who accept this dangerous mission. However, Johnis proves that by utilizing his wits, he actually is a quite capable leader of the quartet sent to protect the homeland of the forest dwellers. He is able to demonstrate this fact quite readily by demonstrating his worth in antagonistic situations, such as when he is able to trick the pernicious Teeleh into freeing him and...
Thus, his characterization proves that one's mental prowess is more valuable than one's physical prowess.
Another important theme in this work is the notion that the battle against evil is a continual one, which one must fight in some way everyday. There are several different ways in which the author is able to demonstrate this fact. Since this book is merely one in a series of works, the reader knows that despite the happy ending in which the characters celebrate their success thus far, they will have additional challenges and threats from evil in the near future (or in the next book). However, some of the basic principles of this book are designed to illustrate the continual nature of evil. The primary plague that threatens the forest dwellers is a disease which has overwhelmed the forest, and requires people to bathe daily to keep from turning into such evil and dying. Thus, water is valued in the novel. This fact is evinced when Johnis appraises a stranger and think, "...this man looked healthy. As if he'd had all the water he needed." The continual need for bathing and water that actuates the surviving forest dwellers is indicative of the constant need to counteract the effects of evil, which is one of the major themes in this work of literature.
Perhaps the most salient theme in this work is the need for good to ultimately triumph over evil. This sentiment is…
