Ask any author, the story’s main character (MC) must be the true embodiment of the tale. If your MC doesn’t live and breathe the plot, then your book won’t read correctly and you will lose readers. Though an author creates and shapes a character, soon this figment of their imagination takes on a life of its own. Performing a total character transformation several chapters in can devastate a plot. This is why it’s critical for an author to know their characters.In Once Left the Field of Valor, Damien Shaw is no exception to this rule. With the story being told in a first-person point of view, Damien is the story. For that exact reason, I shall dissect his character and divide his profile into several parts. The first installment will focus on Damien before the reader ever meets him. I want to let you know a little about where he’s from and what relationships shaped the character before he is first introduced.
Damien began life as the second son of a farmer in upstate New York near Canada. He was his mother’s favorite child. She always protected him and gave him the attention he lacked from other relationships. Damien and his mother shared many precious memories, and she had one of the greatest impacts on him. Their relationship shaped Damien’s compassion which would come into play many time during his journey.
Equally important was the strained relationship he had with his father. Though a functioning one, Damien and his father never quite saw eye to eye on most issues. Damien was a dreamer with a rebellious side while his father was no nonsense and straight forward. His father showed favor to Damien’s siblings, especially his older brother. There was bad blood and countless arguments as Damien got older. His father seemed to doubt his potential at almost every turn. His relationship with his father gave him a deep motivation to succeed that would benefit him when times got tough.
The other relationships that made a large impact on Damien were with his siblings. His older brother James, their father’s clear favorite son, was both protective and sarcastic with Damien. As many older brothers do, James would tease and pick on Damien but staunchly defend him from others. Damien adopted James’ sarcasm, which appears several times in his thoughts and monologues.
Perhaps the most important impact came from his younger sister Annabelle. She was the person who Damien missed most from back home. He loved her dearly and never wanted to disappoint her. She always saw him as the person he wanted to be even in his darkest times. Her faith allowed him to find the good within him even at his worst moments. Damien could have faith in other because Annabelle had faith in him.
These relationships played a major factor in who Damien was before the war. Besides the aforementioned attributes, others would say Damien was confident, charming, honorable, witty, and kind. Only so much can truth comes from appearance though. For this reason, the next character profile will exam Damien’s relationship with himself in Damien Shaw Part 2: A Tortured Soul. I hope you have enjoyed this initial look at the MC of Once Left the Field of Valor, Part 2 will be coming soon.
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