Artemis Fowl and the Anti-Hero Character Archetype

May 13, 2021 by Essay Writer

“The likes of this country does not compare to my father life. He is a man who has saved this country countless times”(Colfer 245). In the novel “Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code” by Eoin Colfer, the protagonist Artemis Fowl has an interesting view on the world and a unique way of doing things. For example, Artemis Fowl goes about saving people in unusual ways. If Artemis wants something done or wants to carry out a plan he will not hesitate to use any means possible. He may be doing a good deed defeating people like Spiro, but this may only be for his own benefit. Artemis will also put his needs above others such as protecting those he cares about before protecting others. In this way, Artemis Fowl is clearly an anti-hero.

One instance in which Artemis Fowl takes on the role of an anti-hero is when he tries to courageously stop Spiro, who is an evil man, but only for his own benefit. After Spiro steals Artemis Fowl’s invention, the C Cube, Artemis starts complaining: “That was my key to making even more money. Butler, we must retrieve the C Cube at all costs. We have to defeat that trickster Jon Spiro, but remember he is a dangerous man” (Colfer 20). Artemis Fowl believes that he must get rid of Jon Spiro for the sake of protecting his own invention. Jon Spiro is actually a very dangerous person, but while Artemis is eliminating this evil, he is doing it for his own benefit and to satisfy his greed, proving that he is an archetypal anti-hero. Another time Artemis Fowl acts like an anti-hero is towards the end of the book when he is stopping Spiro. An accomplice of Artemis gives him a way to take down Spiro but at the cost of Artemis’s fortune. His accomplice had stated, “All it takes is that fortune of yours. We can crumble his entire empire” (Colfer 227). Artemis denied this offer because he does not want to give up his money and will find another way. Artemis has not given up on defeating Spiro, but he does not want to forego his fortune. Though it’s his life’s work, using this money could save many future lives from the hands of Spiro and the C Cube. This proves that Artemis may want to save others but has the flaw of being greedy.

Another time Artemis Fowl acts like an anti-hero is when he tries to save his friends but at the same time stops some other people from being saved. When Butler was injured trying to save Artemis, Artemis decides to call over one of his fairy friends to help save Butler. During the conversation Artemis states “Holly, I need help. Butler… he took a bullet that was meant for me.” Holly then replies “How many times must I remind you Artemis. I have my own people to care for.” Here, Holly, the fairy, has to abandon her job of saving her people in order to help out Artemis. Saving Butler who has saved Artemis’s life multiple times may have been a noble caused but sacrificing other people is not the best way of doing it. Artemis also sacrifices others for the people he cares about towards the end of the book when, in order to save his father, he gave the C Cube to an untrustworthy organization. While striking the deal, Artemis states “Give me back my father and only then will you acquire the C Cube.” His father is telling Artemis not to by stating “Artemis you know what that cube could do to the country. Especially in their hands. It’s not worth it. Please wait for a better opportunity”(Colfer 250). What Artemis’s father is trying to say is that this corporation has done very malicious things in the past and will do it again with the C Cube. In order to save his father, Artemis agrees with the deal of giving them the C Cube, which in turn endangers many people. Though saving his father is important, he hurt many other to do so.

Artemis Fowl is clearly an anti-hero. He wants to defeat Spiro, but only to satisfy his greed. He also wants to save the people he cares about, but not other he doesn’t know. In our society, there are many people who are greedy and do not care for others that they don’t know. Greed should not be what controls anyone’s actions. This way no one would be hurt, which is proven by Artemis in the novel.

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