Propp's Character Theory

Vladimir Propp was a Russian and soviet formalist scholar.

Propp believed that there were 8 character main types. The emphasis was on looking at characters not as representing real people but as functions whose role was to move the narrative forward.

1. The hero (seeks something) - on a quest, or trying to solve something.
2. The villain - struggles against the hero.
3. The princess/prize - an object which is deliberately sought by the hero. (She may be a reward).
4. The Donor - a person who gives the hero something special (magical weapon).
5. The Helper - The hero is supported in his or her quest by a helper.
6. The Princess' father - Gives the task to the hero.
7. The False hero - Appears to act heroically, tries to steal the hero's thunder.
8. The Dispatcher - An early role in the story. The dispatcher sends the hero on a mission.
9. The Rogue Hero - (Captain Jack Sparrow) Not the most villainous or the most heroic character, so could be termed as a rogue. 

I personally agree with Propp's character theory as I can distinguish the eight different character types in films. Each character has a function that moves the narrative forward. I personally believe that the film will no be able to progress without it. All characters also have a main intention in which they want to achieve. For example in the 2009 horror movie, Orphan, Esther's main intention is to slowly kill off all of the family members, so that she can have a relationship with him. She uses her past experiences to convey this as she has had several sexual encounters with many men and getting raped young. She grows this fascination to act like a little girl and to get a family. Esther is the movies protagonist as well as the villain in which is a subversion as the hero of a movie is usually the main character. The hero in this case is the mother in the family Kate Coleman although it is not apparent throughout. She kills Esther at the end of the movie when she reveals herself as a 33 year old woman. The hero's helper is the little girl in the family, Max Coleman as she helps the family differentiate Esther's unpleasant ways which leads to her revealing her evil past. Stereotypically and according to Propp's character theory, Max supports her mother throughout the film to help her achieve the quest she has been set or given.

However, in the horror movie Carrie (1976), the eight different character types are not present. For example, Carrie is the main character of the movie and can be portrayed as the villain as she gets revenge by killing everyone. In this case, she could be viewed as the false hero, yet she does not try to steal anyone's thunder. This does not match Propp's character theory and goes against it as it can prove that Propp's character theory could be incorrect. Carrie also does not have a dispatcher that is prominent as all plans end up failing in the movie. The eight character theories may be there in the beginning, but end up being taken out of consideration. This can prove that Propp's character theory may not be reliable as I cannot distinguish the eight different character types in every horror movie. Not every character moves the narrative forward being labelled one of Propp's eight different character types.