— Parallels between Clark Kent, Daenerys Targaryen and Luke Skywalker
Messianic Archetype
In media, the Messianic Archetype is a character whose role in the story (but not necessarily personality) echoes that of Christ. They are portrayed as a savior, whether the thing they are saving is a person, a lot of people or the whole of humanity. They endure a sizable sacrifice as the means of bringing that salvation about for others, a fate they do not deserve up to and including death or a Fate Worse than Death. (via tv.tropes)
Clark, Dany, and Luke are seen as messianic figures.
Clark, seen in the comics as a “Christ-alien,” always sacrificing himself for the greater good, firmly believes in humanity, and is a beacon of hope for all.
“The whole point of Superman, as originally created, was to be the ally of those who had no other allies. It put that magnitude of power, the most powerful guy in the world, in the service of those who had no hope, no chance.” (j. michael straczynski)
Daenerys is seen as a liberator and savior, freeing the oppressed and fighting for the liberation of slaves. Dany is also strongly linked to prophecies revolving around asoiaf, especially Azor Ahai;
“She is Azor Ahai returned... and her triumph over darkness will bring a summer that will never end... death itself will bend its knee” (tyrion vi, adwd)
Luke, though not the Chosen One, is seen as a “galactic Christ” sacrificing himself morally and physically for the greater good, having undergone a spiritual and material journey that culminated in his victory. The title “A New Hope” is strongly linked to him.
“[…] in time, I believe a new hope will emerge.” (obi-wan kenobi, star wars: rebels)
Good is Not Soft
Clark, Dany, and Luke have kindness and goodness as personality traits, however, this does not mean that they are passive, naive or lack firmness.
Clark protects innocents but is not passive in the face of evil; he faces villains who could destroy the world (ex. Darkseid, Brainiac or Zod.) — Clark’s kindness is moral and decisive, balancing compassion and strength. He represents that kindness can and should require courage and discipline.
Dany wants to be on the same level as her people, she wants her kingdom to be beautiful and for her people to smile when they see her pass by, but she also frees slaves, punishes tyrants and believes in justice — Daenerys’s goodness demands decisiveness, courage, and decisive action. Her moral strength manifests itself through leadership and firm justice, not leniency.
Luke is not only compassionate; he chooses the path of goodness even when faced with the dark side, and his moral code demands confronting and defeating those who threaten good (ex. He refuses to kill Vader out of hatred, but still faces and defeats the Emperor.) — Luke shows that kindness is ethical strength, not weakness. He acts with power and decisiveness, maintaining integrity and justice.
Last of His Kind
The three are the last of their kind or lineage.
After the destruction of Krypton, Clark is the only surviving “son” of his species and heir to all its knowledge and cultural legacy. As one of the last Kryptonians, Clark symbolizes the continuity of a lost world, as well as becoming a moral role model for humanity.
Clark Kent is given the title The Last Son of Krypton.
Daenerys is the last of her line, a Targaryen alone in the world, having brought the dragons back to life. Her lineage compels her to carry the glory, power, and responsibilities of House Targaryen, even though she was exiled and orphaned as a child.
“Viserys is dead. I am his heir, the last blood of house targaryen. Whatever was his is mine now.” (daenerys x, agot)
“With Viserys gone, Daenerys was the last, the very last. She was the seed of kings and conquerors, and so too the child inside her. She must not forget.” (daenerys vi, agot)
Daenerys is given the title The Last Dragon and The Last Targaryen.
After the Empire’s massacre of the Jedi Order, Luke is the only remaining Jedi capable of restoring tradition and balance to the Force. He carries not only the Jedi techniques and teachings, but also the moral responsibility to keep the Jedi philosophy alive.
“Luke, when gone am I… the last of the Jedi will you be. Pass on what you have learned.” (yoda, return of the jedi.)
Luke is given the title The Last Jedi.
Hope Bringer
Hope can become anything and take the form of anyone, or in this case, fictional characters. Superman, Daenerys, and Luke are bringers of hope — they are seeds that, throughout their journeys, grow to the point where their hope spreads not only throughout their universes but also culturally.
Superman is pure hope — for the most lost, the most desolate, and the most disbelieving. The world sees him as a beacon of hope— he saves people, animals, and creatures. He fights evil. He believes in second chances and offers his support and kindness to all— he is the ideal superhero, even for his teammates (ex. Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, etc.).
Since 1938, he has been an eternal archetype of hope: in times of depression, war, or crisis, Superman inspires confidence in human potential.
His active waiting demonstrates that strength and morality can coexist, shaping generations.
By bringing the dragons back to life, Daenerys Targaryen becomes something more. Something no member of her family has achieved. She goes beyond the Targaryen surname— she is hope, change, and justice. She is a mother to her people, a just queen, and a legendary leader, but she has also become a feminist symbol.
Daenerys has become a symbol of feminism, showing that women can be strong, complex, and decisive protagonists in narratives of power and politics. Inspires readers to see female leadership as legitimate, powerful, and morally responsible.
She fulfills her role in the narrative but does so by breaking gender stereotypes, combining compassion and firmness, decisive action and empathy, proving that heroism is not exclusive to men.
Luke Skywalker had a relatively ordinary childhood, but he always wanted to do something more, to have a purpose, to help. At 19, he blows up the Death Star, turning the tide and finally giving the galaxy hope that they can and will stand against the tyranny of the Empire. Luke becomes a Public Enemy of the Empire, a threat to them by doing the impossible and carrying the Jedi mantle. But most importantly, it's hope in its most brutal yet simple form— that a single act can cause a spark that can become a fire. It challenges oppressive power structures.
His revolution is moral, not vengeful, and transforms both the galaxy and the cultural perception of what it means to be a hero.
Luke represents the idea that a hero can lead radical change without losing his moral compass, inspiring not only hope but also transformative action. It breaks the pattern of the passive or authoritarian male protagonist: it is a revolutionary force guided by compassion and justice, showing that heroism can be ethical and transformative.
Murder of their character arcs
Because they are characters that break certain narratives and possess countless qualities, unfortunately, Clark, Dany and Luke suffer to this day from misinterpretations of their arcs and personality.
In some comics, Superman becomes evil—a tyrant, a dictator, and a bloodthirsty man. He craves revenge, destroys everything and everyone, and possesses an immense thirst for power, along with a god complex.
Because of this, fans and even non-fans have the idea that Superman is corrupt, that he considers himself a god and sovereign of Earth. Besides comics, there have been films and series based on these stories that have further tarnished his image.
What's wrong is that Clark Kent is not and never was corrupt— not when his purpose was to be a hero, a man fighting against oppression and injustice.
There are still misinterpretations of Superman today, but with his new movie released this year, some people are starting to understand Clark's essence.
Dany in the books is still misunderstood and constantly told that she will go mad in the end — which falls flat as there is no hint that she will go mad, as Dany is seen and described as a good queen while Cersei is the one showing signs of madness and given the title of “mad queen.”
However, the series did not do her justice and completely murdered her character — erasing some of her traits and arcs and replacing them with “signs of madness” which culminated in Daenerys, at the end of the series, burning King's Landing and showing an immense desire for power.
“Dany had no wish to reduce King’s Landing to a blackened ruin full of unquiet ghosts. She had supped enough on tears. I want to make my kingdom beautiful, to fill it with fat men and pretty maids and laughing children. I want my people to smile when they see me ride by.” (daenerys, acok)
Daenerys Targaryen is not mad.
Luke in the original trilogy has a very explicit arc: he is very similar to his father, has immense anger within him and is impatient, but Luke, unlike Anakin, learns to deal with his flaws and work on them.
Some critics see Luke as naive or passive at first, ignoring that his journey includes intense training, complex moral dilemmas, and difficult ethical choices.
However, what killed Luke was what was presented in the Star Wars sequel films: that Luke, upon seeing darkness in his nephew, decides to murder him and then fails and isolates himself. But wasn’t this same Luke Skywalker who, despite having suffered at the hands of his father, forgave him for his actions against him and tried (and succeeded) and didn't give up his belief that there was good in Anakin? Luke had his own darkness inside him but he learned to deal with it and as part of his journey, he believed in second chances, in redemption.
“I know what the empire is capable of. But what else is there?”
“A choice.”
“The Rebellion?”
“No. A choice to be better.” (star wars: battlefront II 2017, the last call - a conversation between del meeko and luke skywalker)
Luke Skywalker has his own demons, but it’s never been part of his journey to abandon his friends or family— he’ ll always be there for them, and for those who are overcome by darkness, he’ll try to guide them back to the light.
Living Legends
Their first appearance to the public of their respective universes generates a buzz, and over time, with their journeys and deeds, they become rumors and myths— unknown figures to a world that whispers their names in disbelief and incredulity.
Superman’s name is recognized worldwide and even beyond Earth — everyone knows the Man of Tomorrow, the Man of Steel.
The protector of humanity, the defender of Metropolis, a founding member of the Justice League, and a member of the Trinity. The name Superman is imbued with respect and admiration.
“It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's Superman.” (it's a bird, it's a plane, no it's superman, 1966)
From Essos to King’s Landing, Daenerys’s name emerges as a myth and legend, while also regulating how far she has come, what she has done, and what she is achieving.
“This dragon queen who wears her name is a true Targaryen. When I sent ships to bring her home, she turned toward Slaver’s bay. In a short span of days she conquered Astapor, made Yunkai bend the knee, and sacked Meereen.” (tyrion ii, adwd)
“She talks of prophecies... A hero reborn in the sea, living dragons hatched from dead stone...”
Daenerys, who brought the dragons to life, who will sit on the Iron Throne and end the darkness, Daenerys, who is closer to a mythical figure than any of her ancestors.
Luke Skywalker who blew up the Death Star, who walked into a room with the Emperor and Darth Vader and came out alive carrying Vader’s dying body with him, who became a Jedi Knight and then Jedi Master and formed his own Jedi Order — who was one of the most proactive figures for the New Republic and a being of fascination and fear to the galaxy upon hearing of his history.
A former farmer who became a Jedi and became a myth. The Jedi of the Galaxy — the most powerful, trained by two skilled Jedi masters and son of the Chosen One. It is Luke whose legacy and story no one can touch.
“Luke Skywalker? I thought he was a myth!”
THE END
Clark, Daenerys, and Luke are not just fictional characters; they are the last of their bloodlines, bearing the weight of destroyed or threatened heritages, and at the same time symbols of hope within their worlds and culturally. Each faces a destiny they did not choose, making immense sacrifices to save people, societies, or even the very morality of their universes.
They all face difficult or destructive legacies, but they transform these burdens into motivation to act with justice. Despite being often misunderstood, they remain living legends, figures who shape narratives and cultures, proving that heroes can exist even in dark times.
But most importantly they remain human.
