A Typical Novel Hero (Charlie Salter)

A detailed Summary of A Typical Novel Hero (Charlie Salter)

Eric Wright is an author who has developed into one of Canada's greatest mystery writers. Wright portrays Charlie Salter, the detective in his series of novels, as a heroic character. As defined in the dictionary a hero is... "A man of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; a prominent or central personage in any remarkable action or event; hence, a great or illustrious person" ( Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary). In

many of our novels today heroes are characterized by their romantic appeal, physical strength,and by valor in battle. Therefore, by examining Charlie Salter in these three areas; romance, physical strength, and valor in battle; it will become evident that he is a classic modern day novel hero.

Although Salter may not be described as the sexiest man alive, nor is he even in his prime, he does have some unique charms which make him seem handsome and appealing to many women. In the following paragraphs it will become obvious how Wright uses these

qualities to characterize Salter as being a romantic type of hero.

To begin, Salter's wife would frequently become paranoid that she was going to lose him to other females in the stories. Near the beginning of A Q

Strength is another way in which Wright portrays Charlie Salter as a typical novel hero. Strength comes in many shapes and forms. In the earlier novels Salter was somewhat obese, and definitely out of shape. While laying in bed one morning, he said to his wife, "My physique isn't what it once was." (A Question of Murder pg.24). Immediately after saying this Salter made a vow to himself to get back into the physical condition he once had during his early years on the force. Salter is showing a strong demonstration of mental strength by his motivation to lose weight and get back into shape.

uestion of Murder, Charlie and his wife are laying in bed in the morning. Just as Charlie is going to head off into the bathroom to get ready for work Mrs. Salter shoots him one of her usual comments, "You know, all the women in my church group think you are very handsome and that you must make an excellent husband ... I hope you're not seeing that tramp of a witness again today, from what you tell me I think she really likes you." (A Question of Murder, pg. 38). After hearing these flattering things from his wife, Salter reassured his her that he would never cheat on her, and that she was the only woman in his life.

Secondly, Salter's street sense comes into play when solving a different murder case in the novel A Single Death. After a victim had died it appeared as though it was a suicide. "Why would this man have purchased a $2,000 computer if he was going to commit suicide two days later." (A Single Death pg. 179). Said Salter cleverly as he convinced himself that it was a murder, not a suicide. This demonstrates another example of how Salter uses his intelligence to solve a big case, and slay another dragon by restoring public safety.

his new look . Every where he now goes, he will receive a comment on how he has lost so much weight. At church on Sunday a lady asks Mrs. Salter how old her husband is, and than says, "Wow! He looks great for 51!" (Death by Degrees pg. 65) By now Mrs. Salter is used to

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Approximate Word count = 1604
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English