Nikki - Graphic Narrative: Task Three

Character Development - Natalie Rayworth

Matty: I chose this name for this character because I feel that it reflects her age perfectly. It is not a mature name which I think suits Matty because she is still a woman in her teens no matter how responsible she is.

Siblings: 4

Parents: Both

Background: Matty is a girl in her mid-teens, she looks to be between the ages of 15-16 and is wearing her typical everyday outfit of jeans, tshirt and her favourite leather jacket. She is quite short for her age and walks with a limp that occurred from a car accident as a kid. Her dark, curly hair is dishevelled and blowing in all directions as she walks towards the sea front. Matty likes to walk along the pebbled beach when she is finished caring for her siblings for the night and her parents come back from work, which is how she found the fish.

Feminist Theory: While Matty is a female character she is not drawn or represented as an object for the male gaze and she does not need the support or the strength of men in order to be shown on her own in this novel.

Genre: Because this graphic novel has a fantasy genre with both mystical characters and humans I think Matty fits well into the plot as a character because she is still young enough to believe in mermaids and have a sense of naivety when it comes to reacting to things that impact animals and the environment. I do not think that if Matty was any different, older or younger that she would work quite as well because I wanted a character that would care about what is happening instead of brushing it off as ‘life’ like some adults might.

Poseidon: Poseidon is the God of the Sea in Greek Mythology so I wanted to carry on this name so that it is clear who the character is meant to be. My depiction of Poseidon will continue to have the same features that the Greek God is portrayed as in Greek Mythology which will help to further identify the character.

Siblings: ?

Parents: ?

Background: Poseidon is a man of great strength, physically and spiritually. He appears to be an aged man in his features but the way he carries himself is still young. He is shirtless and appears as the direct opposite of Matty, a tall, hulking wall of muscle with white hair down his back. He is a powerful man, ruler of the sea, and this can often be shown through his anger at the unjust circumstances that the humans have caused his land.

Feminist Theory: The type of character that Poseidon is could be argued that he is perpetuating the gender role that men have to be ‘strong’ and look good in films but in this novel it is acceptable, he is strong because he needs to be strong in order to be the ruler of the sea.

Genre: Poseidon fits very well into this fantasy genre as he is arguably one of the most mystical characters that is in the novel and one of the most talked about mystical characters of all time. His character is the driving force of the novel as he is the reason that the government make a move to clean up the ocean which is portrayed through his obvious strength in the way that he is drawn.