History Main / MessianicArchetype

* HarryPotter. [[spoiler: To finally vanquish Voldemort, Harry realises that he must sacrifice himself in order for the Horcrux within him to be destroyed. However, once he has "died", he chooses to come back to life to finish the job and kill Voldy in person. Phew - it is a tad complicated!]]

* JC Denton of ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' loosely fits this trope, as he ultimately decides the fate of the world with his actions at the end of the game.

** And, as the trailer for ''MassEffect3'' indicates, everyone is now waiting for Shepard to return to Earth and save them all...

* Gordon Freeman, of ''{{Half-Life}}'' fame: "And yet [[LaResistance unsophisticated minds]] continue to imbue him with romantic power, giving him such dangerous poetic labels as the One Free Man, the Opener of the Way." There's even an Easter egg scene showing him in a stained glass window, complete with crowbar.

* Aang in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. He's a PhysicalGod, he [[TheMessiah has a love of all life, even his enemies]], and [[spoiler:is temporarily killed at the hands of Azula]].

* [[Franchise/MassEffect Commander Shepard.]] Chosen to save the galactic population from imminent genocide? Check! Has a small group of loyal followers (''twelve'' in the second game)? Check! [[spoiler:Brought BackFromTheDead?]] ''Check!'' [[spoiler:And in the worst ending of the second game, s/he performs a HeroicSacrifice in order to destroy the Collector base. It's not canon, but it's still there.]]
** And, as the trailer for ''Mass Effect 3'' indicates, everyone is now waiting for Shepard to return to Earth and save them all...

Some takes on what makes a Messianic Archetype include AllLovingHero, the DarkMessiah (the extreme AntiHero version), TheAntichrist, and The AntiAntichrist. However, keep in mind that AllLovingHero and the Messianic Archetype ''are not synonymous''. AllLovingHero is about a character type with certain personality traits. The Messianic Archetype is about the role the character has in the events of the plot, and can have any personality traits, even overtly villainous ones. Even spawns of The Devil themselves can be Messianic Archetypes (such as the more messianic versions of the AntiAntichrist).

Some takes on what makes a Messianic Archetype include TheMessiah, the DarkMessiah (the extreme AntiHero version), TheAntichrist, and The AntiAntichrist. However, keep in mind that TheMessiah and the Messianic Archetype ''are not synonymous''. TheMessiah is about a character type with certain personality traits. The Messianic Archetype is about the role the character has in the events of the plot, and can have any personality traits, even overtly villainous ones. Even spawns of The Devil themselves can be Messianic Archetypes (such as the more messianic versions of the AntiAntichrist).

* Mr. Carpenter in ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''.

* Chance the Gardener in the film ''Being There'' subverts this by appearing noble, wise, compassionate, and brave - to everyone except his former co-worker (and the audience), who can see that he is actually TheFool - until the TwistEnding, which implies a more literal form of the trope.

* Dennis Quaid's character Willis Davidge in ''Enemy Mine'' is a Messianic Archetype and dies halfway through the movie. Fortunately, he gets better.

* Joe Kenehan from Sayles's ''Matewan''. He's a charismatic leader who's also an ActualPacifist, his first action when coming into town is to heal someone and he [[spoiler: dies at the end.]]

* The 1995 film ''Powder'' (not to be confused with the [[{{Powder}} video game]]), which either replicates the story of Jesus Christ, or replicates the story of ET. Either way, someone deserves some royalties for the story of a boy whose mother was [[LightningCanDoAnything struck by lightning]] when she was pregnant, leading to an outcast son with incredible intellect and human empathy, who can raise the dead by his touch, only to be raised to the heavens when he is struck by a bolt of lightning when refusing to bow to the laws fo society... or something like that.

* The White Prophet [[spoiler:AKA the Fool]] in RobinHobb's ''The Tawny Man'' trilogy.

* Female example: Doyler's mother in ''At Swim, Two Boys''. Among other things, when she's doing laundry, much is made about the transfer of the stains from the dirty clothes to her own apron.

* Subverted with Brother Justin in ''Carnivale''; he's an outwardly saintly Methodist preacher with a "special destiny"... who turns out to be the Antichrist. It takes him, and us, a while to realize that.

* Jesus Christ from ''TheBible''. [[TropeNamer No further explanation needed]].

In media, the MessianicArchetype is a character whose role in the story (but not necessarily personality) echoes that of Christ. They are portrayed as a savior, whether the thing they are saving is a person, a lot of people or the whole of humanity. They endure a sizable [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice]] as the means of bringing that salvation about for others, a fate they do not deserve up to and including death or a FateWorseThanDeath. Other elements may be mixed and matched as required but the Messianic Archetype will include one or more of the following: being the ChosenOne, gaining a group of devoted followers, being betrayed by one of these followers, persecution by nonbelievers, parallels to the PassionPlay, obvious CrucifiedHeroShot, a figurative or [[BackFromTheDead literal resurrection]], and even a SecondComing. Bonus points if the character has the initials JC.

'''Examples:'''

* Lelouch Lamperouge in ''CodeGeass'' often compares himself to a Messiah who produces miracles (through his {{Magnificent Bastard}}ry) and can be seen as a MessianicArchetype at the end of the series. Or more accurately, a DarkMessiah. [[spoiler:[[ZeroApprovalGambit He redirected all the entire world's hatred upon himself so that the world may be united against him as a common enemy, causing peace]].]]

* Aurora in ''Babylon A.D.'' fits this trope to a T, but that's because [[spoiler:she's actually been genetically engineered by the Noelite sect who hope to create a real-life 'miracle' in order to become the Number One religion in the world.]]

** Arguably Galt is an ''inversion'' of at least some components of the trope. His plan of [[spoiler:going on strike in order to bring economic activity to a halt, and thus causing civilization to collapse and rebuild itself]] involves ''witholding'' a "salvation" and forcing society to confront the actual consequences of its morality of Comtean altruism (the morality which is at the core of the MessianicArchetype). Applying FridgeLogic to his plan's obvious consequences (i.e. lots of people die as a result of [[spoiler:civilization's collapse]]) had led to some readers seeing Galt as a DarkMessiah instead of a MessianicArchetype.

* Father Zosima in ''Literature/TheBrothersKaramazov'' is a mix of the MessianicArchetype and TheObiWan.

* Jordan Collier in ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred'' believes he is sent to guide his people, dies and is resurrected. His initials are, unsurprisingly, J.C. His temporary replacement, Shawn, also demonstrates Christ-like qualities, as he heals the sick and befriends drug-addicts. In a slight subversion, Collier is presented as more sinister than most [[MessianicArchetype Messianic archetypes]], and is not above using terrorist tactics in his quest to improve the world. Is it any wonder he's a DarkMessiah? It is also worth noting he really was chosen to guide humanity by what are implied to be the closest thing to good guys from the future to save the world, and for all his sinisterness, the alternative is apparently worse in the long run.

* An episode of ''KingdomHospital'' involved the Reverend Jimmy being found crucified, followed by a series of miracles re-enacting those of the New Testament. Unusual in that his MessianicArchetype status only becomes evident ''after'' he's died.

** The RTD era is a subversion as Waters of Mars thoroughly demonstrates that [[spoiler: once the Doctor starts thinking of himself as a saviour or god, he becomes more of a DarkMessiah]] and that, ultimately, all the messiah metaphors scattered throughout seasons 1-4 aren't meant to indicate anything good. So far Moffat seems to be playing the MessianicArchetype straight.

*** Depending on Shepard's decisions, the end of ''Mass Effect 3'' can see him/her [[spoiler: potentially sacrificing him/herself to stop the Reapers for good, by [[TakingYouWithMe taking the Reapers down with them]] in the Destroy Ending (though Shepard can survive this), sacrificing themselves to create [[TheSingularity a new form of life]] in the Synthesis Ending or becoming the [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence new AI intelligence governing the Reapers]] in the Control Ending.]]

*** The end of ''Mass Effect 3'' sees him/her [[spoiler:sacrificing him/herself to stop the Reapers for good, this time canonically]]. ''And'' in the Control ending, [[spoiler:s/he [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence becomes a supreme intelligence]] the Reapers obey unquestioningly; Reaper!Shepard uses his/her newfound servants to help the people of the galaxy rebuild after the cataclysmic war, ushering in a new golden age]].

* Appears in a number of David Bowie's songs, most famously in the form of Ziggy Stardust. Also spoofed in "We Are Hungry Men," where the "messiah" is JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope and his teachings are completely ignored.
** Interestingly, Bowie's first major film role was as the title character in the movie adaptation of ''TheManWhoFellToEarth'' (see Literature).

%%No RealLife examples, please.%%

* The Counselor in ''TheWarOfTheEndOfTheWorld''.
* The main plot of ''Keeping Faith'' by JodiPicoult is about a little girl named Faith who starts showing signs of being the Messiah after her parents divorce. It starts when she begins reciting Bible passages, even though the only religion she was exposed to was Judaism (and not very much at that). She then starts seeing her "Guard" (a female God), brings her dead grandmother back to life, heals an AIDS sufferer, and develops stigmata (holes in the hands where the nails went into Jesus' hands on the cross). However, after custody is given to her mother [[MeaningfulName Mariah]], all of her messianic acts stop, making it seem like they were just ploys for attention. [[spoiler: But it is left ambiguous as to whether she still gets visits from her "Guard"]].

* Father Zosima in ''TheBrothersKaramazov'' is a mix of the MessianicArchetype and TheObiWan.

* D-boy or Takaya Aiba from ''Anime/TekkamanBlade'' is a JerkAssWithAHeartOfGold version this combined with FantasticRacism and being treated as nothing but mere weapons and experimental subject by the military. Although, when you actualy see his backstory, his JerkAss tendency is VERY justified

* Chrono and Rosette of ''ChronoCrusade'' share duties for this, in a way. Chrono [[spoiler:falls in love with a women known as Mary Magdalene]] and after her death sleeps in her grave for 50 years until he's woken up by Joshua and Rosette. Rosette, on the other hand, is spending her lifespan to give Chrono his powers and in the manga [[spoiler:does eventually die from it...but comes back to life partially through [[{{Determinator}} sheer force of will]]]] [[spoiler:and partially with the help of Mary's soul]]. In the anime this is made [[{{Anvilicious}} even more obvious]] when Rosette [[spoiler:receives stigmata marks that allows her to heal people and harm demons. Both her and Chrono die in the end of the series and ''don't'' come back to life...[[ShootTheShaggyDog although Aion does]].]]

* In ''{{Smallville}}'', this is brought UpToEleven for [[{{Superman}} Clark Kent]]. Where to even start...

* Jordan Collier in ''{{The 4400}}'' believes he is sent to guide his people, dies and is resurrected. His initials are, unsurprisingly, J.C. His temporary replacement, Shawn, also demonstrates Christ-like qualities, as he heals the sick and befriends drug-addicts. In a slight subversion, Collier is presented as more sinister than most [[MessianicArchetype Messianic archetypes]], and is not above using terrorist tactics in his quest to improve the world. Is it any wonder he's a DarkMessiah? It is also worth noting he really was chosen to guide humanity by what are implied to be the closest thing to good guys from the future to save the world, and for all his sinisterness, the alternative is apparently worse in the long run.

** As ThatGuyWithTheGlasses put it in his 5-second version:

** [[TheWho Pete Townshend]] once speculated that Roger Daltrey was the TropeCodifier for the lead singer being played as this, citing [[TheDoors Jim Morrison]] and [[LedZeppelin Robert Plant]] as later examples.

** [[TheWho Pete Townshend]] once speculated that Roger Daltrey [[TropeCodifier was the trope codifier]] for the idea of the lead singer being this, citing [[TheDoors Jim Morrison]] and [[LedZeppelin Robert Plant]] as later examples.

* In the prologue of ''PrincessTutu'', we're told a fairytale about a good Prince and an evil Raven who were locked in a furious battle. The fairytale was unfinished because the writer had died in the middle of writing the tale, but the Prince and Raven escaped the story so as to finish their battle. In the end, the Prince used forbidden magic to stab himself in the heart and shatter it, which [[SealedEvilInACan sealed away]] the Raven at the cost of the Prince's personality and emotions. The story revolves around the Prince--Mytho--having his heart restored piece by piece by the titular magical girl.

* Yui Ikari (''especially'' if you ask Gendo), Rei Ayanami [[spoiler:who was a clone of Yui]] and Kaworu [[spoiler:"[[MemeticMutation He Died For Your Sins]]"]] Nagisa from ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''. Shinji also has some Messianic elements, but ''really'' doesn't want to be one of these, but ended up [[spoiler: acting as the channel for all the souls of humanity, along with Rei and Yui [[AndIMustScream who had let herself be trapped in Eva-01]].]] The parallel goes as far as Shinji forgiving everyone and deciding to redeem them, despite all the shit the world put him through.