Eragon (character)

Eragon is the main protagonist of the Inheritance trilogy, written by Christopher Paolini.

Role in Eragon

At the beginning of the novel, Eragon is a 15 year old teenage boy. He lives with his Uncle Garrow and cousin Roran. His mother, Selena, was Garrow’s sister, but disappeared after delivering Eragon to the care of Garrow and his wife soon after he was born. Throughout the first book, Eragon does not know the identity of his father and knows very little about his mothers idenity as well.

Early on in the novel, Eragon finds a mysterious blue stone in the Spine, an untamed range of mountains near Carvahall, the small village, Carvahall, he calls home. After being unable to sell the stone, Eragon soon finds it hatches into an infant Dragon, a species thought to be extinct, and manages to keep her hidden for a time. He names her Saphira, and their bond begins to develop (see Dragon Riders). As Saphira continues to grow, however, it becomes apparent to Eragon that he will not be able to hide her much longer. When the king's servants, the Ra'zac, enter Carvahall in search of the stone, Saphira forces Eragon to flee with her. The Ra'zac proceed to Eragon's farm in their search and burn the place down, with Garrow, Eragon's uncle, still inside. Eragon, arriving at the farm too late to save Garrow's life, swears vengeance.

Eragon is sought out by Brom, an old man who the villagers consider a storyteller. Brom had previously learned of Saphira's existence, and now wished to accompany them on their quest for vengeance. Together, Eragon, Saphira, and Brom set out from Carvahall. During their travels, Brom taught Eragon swordsmanship, and though at first Eragon demonstrated his pathetic inexperience, constant training soon corrected this inability. Eragon and Saphira also strived to learn more from Brom about the Dragon Riders. Later, when Eragon discovered that he could use magic, Brom began to teach him how to use it. Eragon wondered how a village storyteller knew all this, but was not told. Brom also warned Eragon that he would soon have to choose between allying himself with the king, Galbatorix, or the king's enemies, the Varden. Eragon chooses to acompany the Varden in their epic battle against the empire.

The trio then went to Teirm in order to trace the shipments of a special oil the Ra'zac use, hoping that it would lead them to the Ra'zac's lair. In Teirm, they stayed with a Varden ally who helped Brom rescue Saphira's egg, Jeod. There, Angela, a witch of some power, predicted Eragon's future. She revealed that he will have a long lifespan; the great powers of the land will struggle to control him; he will fall in love with a royal; he will leave Alagaesia forever; and he will face betrayal from within his own family. Eragon also met Angela's werecat, Solembum, who spoke to him, telling him that when he is in need of a weapon, he should look under the roots of the Menoa Tree, and that he should speak his name at the Rock of Kuthian to open the Vault of souls when all seems lost his power is insignificant. In Teirm he learned to scry - to view things he has already seen, through the use of magic. This led to him later having dreams of a beautiful maiden who is imprisoned and who needs his help. Eragon decided then to check every prison they pass along the way in search of this maiden.

As the trio reached Helgrind, the Ra'zac's lair, Eragon learned that Brom was part of the Varden, and that the king was once a Dragon Rider until he betrayed the Riders and destroyed their order. Soon after, the Ra'zac attempt to capture Eragon, but he escapes, along with Brom and Saphira. The next night, however, the Ra'zac ambush and successfully capture Eragon, Brom, and Saphira. Fortunately, they were rescued by a mysterious young man named Murtagh, who was also tracking the Ra'zac. Murtagh freed them, but not before Brom was mortally wounded by a dagger meant for Eragon. Brom died shortly thereafter, but not before telling Eragon that he was once a Rider, that his dragon was named Saphira and that she was murdered in front of him on Galbatorix's orders. After creating a tomb for Brom, Eragon and Saphira agreed to travel with Murtagh, and travel in search of the hidden Varden.

Eragon decides to travel to Gil'ead, a place in which he can contact the Varden, with whom he has now decided to ally himself. While in Gil'ead, Eragon is captured and imprisoned in the prison where the maiden is held. There, Eragon learned that she is an elf. Murtagh and Saphira staged a daring rescue, and Eragon escaped with the elf. This does not occur without incident, however. Eragon and Murtagh, who are both by this time skilled swordsmen, easily overcome the Empire's soldiers -- but they are confronted by Durza the Shade, one of the most powerful beings in Alagaesia. Eragon himself duels Durza, and he realizes that he is hopelessly outmatched. Murtagh, however, shoots Durza between the eyes with an arrow, and he is presumed dead. The three companions and the unconscious elf flee Gil'ead.

The elf remains in a self-induced coma as the trio flee across the Hadarac Desert and out of the borders of Galbatorix's empire. When they reach free land, Eragon tries to speak with her mentally. After discerning that he is not an enemy, the elf, Arya, reveals to him the location of the Varden, and also the cause of her ailment. She had been poisoned, and it is such that if she does not receive the antidote soon, she will die. They must reach the Varden if they have any hope of saving her life. The travellers are then pursued by the Empire and a small army of Kull that are heading in the same direction. In the ensuing chase, Eragon and Murtagh race on horseback to Farthen Dûr, the dwarven mountains that house the Varden. Eragon and Murtagh easily outstrip their pursuers, for their mounts, Snowfire and Tornac, are both powerful stallions who gallop at great speeds. Before they enter, Murtagh, who has been reluctant to go to the Varden all along, reveals that he is the son of Morzan, first and last of the Forsworn, a now-dead group of treacherous Riders who served Galbatorix and aided him in destroying the Dragon Riders.

The trio reach the Varden just in time to save Arya, and there they meet the leader of the Varden, Ajihad. Eragon and Saphira are received with honor, and Murtagh, for his own safety, is kept in a "cell" -- which turns out to be a very nice bedroom where sumptuous meals are delivered. Eragon and Saphira also meet Hrothgar, the King of the Dwarves. Since Ajihad plans to send Eragon to Ellesméra to finish his training, he is assessed in magic and swordmanship by two cruel aides of Ajihad, The Twins, who delight in tormenting Eragon. A fully healed Arya rebukes them and spars with Eragon herself. Although he loses, Eragon passes the test in Arya's eyes. During this time, he begins to realise he finds Arya exceedingly attractive, (Saphira notes on this) and feels 'strange' around her. While with the Varden, he meets up again with Angela and Solembum.

A few days to a week after Eragon's arrival, war becomes imminent: an intercepted message reveals that a legion of Urgals is marching toward the Varden. In the battle that follows, a seemingly endless tide of Urgals seems poised to take the fortress. Within Tronjheim, the cone-shaped Dwarven city located at the center of Farthen Dûr, Eragon is confronted once again by the menacing Shade, Durza (the only way to kill a Shade is with a blow through the heart). Eragon is greatly outmatched by the Shade, and it seems as if all hope is lost. Thanks to a sudden distraction from Saphira and Arya, however, Durza's attention is averted long enough for Eragon to kill him with a quick stab through his heart. Durza dies, but Eragon pays a terrible price for his deed: the Shade inflicts a great wound on Eragon's back which will have a long-time debilitating effect on him in the future. Upon the Shade's demise, the evil lock Durza had on the Urgal's minds is released, causing the remainder of them to flee. Eragon faints from his weariness and affliction, and is tormented by pain. His mind is healed by the mental presence of the Mourning Sage, who urges Eragon to follow Arya and seek him out. It becomes certain that, in order to triumph over Galbatorix once and for all, Eragon must seek future tutelage in the sequel, Eldest.

Role in Eldest

After killing Durza, Eragon gains the appellative of Shadeslayer. Ajihad is killed by stray Urgals; and The Twins and Murtagh disappear, and are believed to be dead. Before they leave for Ellesmera he is asked to join Orik's clan, Dûgrimst Ingeitum. He agrees to this. In Eldest, Eragon and Saphira travel to the elves’ capital city of Ellesméra, where he is instructed by an Elfish Rider, Oromis, and his golden dragon Glaedr. Oromis reveals that he once instructed Brom and Morzan. Eragon learns many things from Oromis: extensive knowledge of the Ancient Language, world history and the Riders’ history, various magical techniques including melding matter and energy and drawing energy from external sources, the twelve spells of death, aerial combat, and much more. He scrys a war brewing between the Varden and the Empire and departs at once to aid the Varden in the battle. By order of Nasuada (to whom he has sworn fealty), he becomes leader of the Du Vrangr Gata (The Wandering Path—these are the spellcasters of the Varden). However, the scar across his back that Durza gave him during their fight causes him to have very painful spasms, and as such he fears that he might never fight again and that his training is all in vain. He is cured of this injury magically during the Agaeti Blodhren, or "Blood-Oath Celebration", supposedly by the spirits of the dragons that appear. Whilst also undergoing a transformation that would normally happen to dragon riders over many years, he becomes (almost)an Elf. The only human physical trait that remains is the need to shave, although a simple spell is used to singe the hairs off(he gains the pysical abilities of an elf-their sharpened senses, their athletic abilities and the looks of an elf).

Running parallel to Eragon’s story is his cousin Roran’s, Garrow’s son. The Ra’zac return to Carvahall in search of Roran this time, as the king had planned to use Roran as bait to make Eragon return to the Empire. Many in the village are killed, and Roran’s fiancée Katrina is taken. Determined to rescue her and also determined to protect the villagers from another attack, Roran moves everyone who is willing to follow him out of Palancar Valley. They stop at Teirm to gather information, and Roran and a few others meet Jeod, who is delighted to see Eragon’s cousin, but surprised when Roran knows nothing of what has happened to Eragon. Jeod then reveals that Eragon is now a Dragon Rider, and that Brom was once a Rider too. Jeod and the villagers steal a massive ship belonging to the government and sail it to Surda, a neighboring country that is allied with the Varden against Galbatorix—and where the battle will take place. The pirated ship arrives just as the battle is at its peak, and the Varden sends Eragon to check if the ship is friend or foe. The Carvahall people are stunned to see a magnificently attired Eragon riding a great blue dragon, and he warns them not to come close to the battle. Roran, however, kills The Twins, who had also survived, thereby saving the Varden from their massacre.

Eragon turns the tide of the battle until a new Rider appears upon a red dragon. The Rider knows of magic that surpass Eragon's power. At that time exhausted, Eragon is easily outmatched, but upon recognizing the fighting style of the Rider, he forces off his helm. Eragon is amazed to see that it is Murtagh who stands before him. He had been kidnapped by The Twins (who were allied with Galbatorix) and taken to Urû'baen, where his Dragon hatched for him. Both he and his Dragon, Thorn, were forced to swear loyalty to Galbatorix in the ancient language and are thus his unwilling servants. Murtagh then reveals they are both sons of Morzan and Selena and therefore brothers. When Murtagh is about to capture Eragon (Galbatorix wants him alive because Saphira is the only known female dragon), Eragon reminds his brother about their friendship before Murtagh was forced to swear loyalty to Galbatorix, and Murtagh subsequently finds a loophole in his orders, leaving Eragon. Before he leaves, Murtagh steals Zar'roc, saying that it was his rightful inheritance since the eldest son was supposed to have it, not the youngest.

After the battle, Eragon introduces his cousin to the Varden leader Nasuada and the elves’ ambassador Arya in Nasuada’s tent, and then imparts his newfound knowledge of his family to the three of them. Later, Eragon agrees to help Roran rescue his fiance, Katrina, from the evil clutches of the Ra'zac, and seek justice for the numerous crimes they have committed.

Romantic Attachments

When Eragon had his fortune read to him by Angela, he was told that he would fall in love with "a wise woman of noble birth and beauty beyond measures," though the woman might not love him back. It is very obvious throughout the story that Eragon is infatuated with the wise, beautiful Arya, princess of the elves, though she is uninterested in him. The fact that Arya is an Elf, is so much older than him, and is also a princess counts against him. She tells him quite bluntly that she enjoys his company only as a friend and has no interest in him romantically whatsoever; she sees him almost as a child, as he is so much younger than she is. Arya and Eragon have little in common, and Eragon's interest in her seems to be limited to an infatuation.

He has shown some interest in girls that he has met in his travels, such as the lovely sorceress Trianna. Some fans believe he will end up with Nasuada, his liegelord and the leader of the Varden. Although Nasuada is attractive and extremely intelligent—in accordance with Angela's prediction—it should be noted that although Nasuada is a political leader, and is called "the Lady Nasuada", she is not of true aristocratic birth, but rather the daughter of a powerful rebel lord. This goes against the prophecy. Also, although Nasuada is only a year older than Eragon, she has shown interest in Eragon's older brother Murtagh, and Murtagh himself admires Nasuada a great deal. Eragon respects Nasuada and she is fond of him, but as of the second book in the trilogy they have not shown romantic interest in each other, even when Murtagh was captured and supposedly killed, and later when he betrayed them.

It is most likely Eragon will end up with Arya—his dream in the 'Deathwatch' chapter of the first book hints at this strongly. In the dream, a company of elves, led by a tall man and a tall woman, board a ship to sail away from the land and as they leave, two dragons circle in the sky above the ship. This suggests that the man and woman are Dragon Riders, and there are only two male Riders—Eragon and Murtagh. Eragon has already been established as an Elf Friend, and there are very strong hints that Arya will be the third Rider in the last book of the trilogy. Eragon's fortune mentioned him leaving for another land and never returning. Most readers of the books, even those who do not support the Arya/Eragon match, believe that they will end up together in Book III of the trilogy.

Others aver that the woman he saw was Katrina, fiance to Eragon's cousin Roran, or Elva, a girl whom Eragon accidentally cursed in a horrendous mistake while trying to bless her by magic.

Appearance

Eragon is human in appearance, with intense brown eyes and thick eyebrows. However, on his palm he has the Gedwey Ignasia, marking him a Rider and, after the Blood-Oath Ceremony, his face becomes more angular, pale, and smooth— all Elfish qualities, including his eyes becoming slanted and his ears pointed. He is 'fairer than any human, and more rugged than any elf'. He calls himself a 'princeling' after first seeing himself. All blemishes on his body are erased-scars, burns etc. However, he retains some human qualities, including the need to shave.

Personality and Abilities

Eragon is an intelligent boy—he proves this with the speed with which he learns new things. However, he greatly lacks emotional intelligence, maturity and sensitivity, a flaw that becomes more and more noticeable as the story progresses. His emotions are also often childlike.

In Eragon, he acts like a shallow, selfish and angry teenager, which is natural and quite understandable, seeing as he is a teenager throughout the trilogy. He begins to develop a certain unbecoming arrogance in Eldest, stating that he no longer considers himself a human but rather an elite Dragon Rider—a sentiment that develops further when he is later transformed by dragon magic. His faint insolence and arrogance is also visible in his first meeting with the Varden lord Ajihad, who is merely amused by the boy's ego, while in contrast impressed by Murtagh's pride.

Eragon asks a lot of questions during the first and second books (maybe because of growing up as a farm boy), which on the one hand shows his ignorance and lack of understanding, and on the other hand points to his curiosity and willingness to learn.

Strengths

Elf-like qualities, such as magical and physical strength, granted in an elvish ceremony
A master swordsman
A skilled archer
A gifted hunter and woodsman
Able to use magic, and call upon Saphira for extra power
Good reflexes
Learns quickly
Literate
Capable of astral projection(this ability is used to read the minds of and become one with living things around him)
Is very intelligent^{[citation needed]}

Weaknesses

Lacks emotional maturity
Forgetful
At times rushes into things brashly, and it is often Saphira's common sense that keeps him on track. He does not always think or judge people and situations clearly.
His judgement is often clouded due to his feelings for Arya.

Titles

Eragon Shadeslayer
Dragon Rider
Elf Friend
Vassal of the Varden Leader
Clan member of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum - ruling clan of the dwarves
Argetlam
Firesword
Silver Hand

Possessions

Cadoc, a spirited colt that Brom bought in Therinsford along with the mighty stallion Snowfire. Cadoc was named after Eragon's grandfather and bore Eragon far south until Brom died. He was sold in a village after Brom's death.
Snowfire, a great white steed who originally belonged to Brom, who swore to guard him as long as he lived. When Brom died, Eragon sold Cadoc and thereafter rode Snowfire, fulfilling Brom's promise. There are few (non-elven) horses to equal Snowfire, except Murtagh's magnificent grey stallion Tornac.
Zar'roc, a Rider's sword that belonged to Morzan. This ruby blade was taken from Eragon by Murtagh in the Battle of the Burning Plains on the border of Galbatorix's empire and Surda.
The diamond-studded belt of Beloth the Wise, one of the greatest treasures of the Riders. It is possible for Eragon to store magical energy in the gems, and later call upon the energy when it is needed, such as when he loses strength in battle.
Two dragon saddles, one an engraved pleasure saddle meant for comfortable long-distance travelling and one a lighter saddle built for speed and aerial combat (by Brom).
An Elvish yew bow and a quiver of yew arrows fletched with swan feathers; a weapon sung by Queen Islanzadi.
Dwarven armor gifted to him and Saphira by the dwarf lords.
Magically enhanced faelnirv, an Elvish drink made from crushed elder berries and spun moonbeams which on its own give plenty of energy, but if enhanced, gives even more. He receives it from Oromis, and drinks a little bit at the end of Eldest.
Oromis's scroll of his poem from the Agaetí Blödhren (Blood-Oath Celebration).
Brom's ring with a yawe on it which proclaims him Elf Friend.
A metal necklace with a hammer on the end that protects him from being scryed.
The blue dragon Saphira, his friend and partner.

Portrayal in film

Eragon is played by Edward Speleers in the movie adaptation of Eragon. In the movie he is 17 years old, not fifteen. Also, he has blue eyes instead of brown, as well as blonde hair. Eragon also acts very dumb and selfish (more so than in the book) and makes some silly mistakes.

Criticism

Eragon has been accused of being a Mary Sue/Gary Stu [1], saying that his flaws are glossed over by the author and that he is too unrealistic.

It has been said that it is unreasonable to claim that Eragon, a rough uneducated farmhand, could perfect the complex art of swordfighting, learn to read and write, learn to perform magic, and learn how to ride Saphira in less than a year. Besides, Eragon is really dumb anyway, so it is entirely impossible for him to have done all that wonderful stuff! Maybe his brilliant twin took his place... [2] One positive review stated that he was unusually hardy. [3]

Supporters of the Mary Sue/Gary Stu theory point out that Eragon is practically perfect: powerful, influential, loved by every good character and only a teenager as well. Evil characters have also been said to be fixated on him. Paolini himself asserts that Eragon is a reflection of himself, yet writes in his second book 'Acknowledgements' 'who really isn't all that bright, now is he?' talking about Eragon. Though Paolini also said, "When I first invented Eragon, he was me. Writing about yourself is probably one of the easiest things for a fifteen-year-old author to do. However, I found that as the story progressed and Eragon did things that I've never done—such as fighting monsters and flying a dragon—he evolved into his own character, which I'm very happy about."[4] Eragon is also considered by some to be a moody or depressed character [5], a trait common for Sues. His relationship with Arya has also been considered self-indulgent on Paolini's part; one Amazon.com writer notes that "the things in this story just felt like a boy's fantasy daydream, down to the attractive elf chick in tight leather of all things." [6] Having a relationship with a strong, overall attractive female (as Arya is described) is also a common element on Sueism.

Also, although Eragon was supposed to be a hero, in the second book his morals seemed to almost disappear. Instead of fighting fairly, like a true "good" hero, Eragon kills normal soldiers by breaking into their minds. If a magician was going to do it, maybe that would've justified it. But killing ordinary soldiers that have no magic without a fair fight is unheroic, and a character that does as such cannot be labeled a "good" character. One essay analyzing his character goes so far as to proclaim him to be a sociopath based on the way he acts throughout both books [7]. The author of the essay cites evidence of Eragon's actions and compares them with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders's criteria for diagnosing Antisocial personality disorder. The author found evidence for six of the seven key traits of APD exhibited by Eragon at multiple times in both books, though moreso in Eldest than in Eragon.

Trivia

He is the title character of the first novel, and is often compared to Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars films [8].
Christopher Paolini originally intended for Eragon to be an author surrogate.[9]
His second name is never revealed.

External links