True
protagonist of
Science
Fiction is an idea rather than a character
An idea as we know is the basis of all invention, creations
and developments. Whether these are scientific, social or philosophical in
nature an idea is the driving force behind and at the basis of all these.
An ‘Idea’ is defined as “an image
or concept formed and existing in the mind. Ideas give rise to actual concepts,
or mind generalizations, which are the basis for any kind of knowledge
whether science
or philosophy.”
However, I shall also be enumerating that though I do feel that an idea is the
basis of Science Fiction (hence, the most crucial aspect), I do not consider it
to be the ONLY element of importance in the genre.
As Napoleon Hill has very rightly
said “Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes.” How else can one explain
the existence of a galaxy eons away from the Earth without any plausible
explanation? How cam robots not only be created but also become a fatal threat
to humans, who are supposedly the greatest of creation? How can aliens whose
very existence is doubtful, pose grave danger for the entire world?
All these phenomena germinate in
ones mind as seedlings of ideas and thus, form the central basis of Science
Fiction. However, here one must point out that though an idea is the mother of
all Science Fiction; Science Fiction is not solely an idealistic creation.
Science Fiction is the only literary form which depends heavily on
technological advancements, whether already in existence or at least
theoretically possible by the known laws of science. This definition thus makes
it clear that even though Science Fiction is based on ideas and imagination it
is not a hollow literature and has no place for the supernatural.
However, since the inception of
Science Fiction in both forms of literature and visual media there has been a
plethora of dazzling ideas. The studying of Science Fiction convinces one that
the idea is the main element forming the entire concept of the creation- be it
film or literature. The ideas prevalent in this genre are so powerful (as
obviously they fabricate the entire theme) that the characters of the story are
more often than none over-shadowed. The character however important on the
surface is in fact reduced to a tool which is used to implement the main idea.
Thus, Science fiction is one media in which the need of a forceful plus
brilliant idea overlooks the requirement of a similar character. A Science
Fiction novel of character is almost “an oxymoron”.
To understand and elaborate this
debate further, one must comprehend what exactly is meant by Science Fiction.
Science Fiction is an extremely broad term and field to define. But it can be
said that Science Fiction is “ a broad genre of fiction that often involves
speculation based on current or future sciences or technologies” Science
Fiction differs from fantasy as within the story its imaginary elements are
largely possible within established laws of science.
Therefore, as Science Fiction is
concerned with exploring the consequences of such differences it is rightly
termed as the “literature of ideas”.
Therefore,
even though an idea is the foundation upon which a story is built; the
materials (characters) used to build the story can alsonot afford to be feeble
and weak. However, feeble or strong, the characters of Science Fiction can
NEVER be free from their environment. Even though the idea is the root of a
story and the character is the structure built on the root one can not separate
the two to study the character separately. The characters of Science Fiction
novel are products of their environment (environment being the main theme or
idea). Science Fiction is one such genre that treats humans as a species which
has evolved as a result of the environment. Science Fiction is based on the
principal that should the conditions change, the characters in the novel or
story will also change.
Moreover,
as the Science Fiction is an astoundingly vast genre, some novels are such in
which the ideas or rather beliefs of the writer are propagated by using the
characters as mouthpieces. In such cases the idea as well as the character
becomes the two pillars of the novel. Isaac Asimov’s novel, ‘Foundation’
propagates his view on violence by condemning it. To put across his point if
view he makes his character (Hardin) comment “violence is the last resort of
the incompetent”.
Thus,
Science Fiction is truly and primarily a genre of ideas with many other
elements which make it what it is. Though it has many a times been criticized
for the unsubstantiability of its characterization. In a genre in which people
are the products of their environment it is rather difficult for the characters
to react or act in ways other than the ones they are conditioned to react in.
Whereas, mainstream fiction has discarded the idea as “mere incident”; idea
remains at the heart of Science Fiction. However, to conclude it can be said
that, as Science Fiction exists in a world of change and focuses on external
events, the idea (which is the root cause of change or occurrence) becomes
extremely crucial and all other elements such as characters become secondary.