Stranger Things Characters

Representations

Write a paragraph on each of these areas

•Teenagers

The children are the main focal point of Stranger Things. They help in pushing the story forward and shows that because they are kind of rejected from society, they can still be the main protagonist. We know that these are young children because we see them playing Dungeons and Dragons in the first episode however, they then become the heroes of their own story when Will vanishes. This relates back to Dudgeons and Dragons throughout the episode as the boys constantly use references to the game to show their childish minds.

Younger group- Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin and Eleven
Older- Nancy, Steve and Jonathan

•Family life and relationships

In Stranger Things family life and relationships help to show the connections between the characters and how each individual links to the story. Throughout, Stranger Things we find that the parents/adults in Hawkins are very useless however, we begin to learn that Joyce and Hopper are the only adults that are very helpful to the kids in trying to find Will. This relates to Joyce and Hopper breaking the natural stereotype that adults take a step back and don’t want to get involved with childish games. This makes the adults and children have reversed roles.

•Mothers

Mothers in Stranger Things play a very key role within the story. The main mothers are Karen and Joyce are strong figure heads within the family. Joyce is an anxious and a little bit crazy. She however is trying to look after her two children Will and Jonathan. Joyce is helping the kids in finding Will, especially because its her son but she is trying to be a protector even though she is very scared. Karen, however, is oblivious to the deeper side of Will’s disappearance and thinks that the children just play D&D rather than getting messed up in the supernatural. The mums have stepped up in their families and become the father figures in the family.                                                                                                                                                                               

•Absent fathers

Fathers in Stranger Things seem to not make much of appearance. This because in the 80’s women were being much more insignificant than men. This then leads to the women having to step up in the family. Furthermore, the children are left to look after themselves and therefore, the fathers don’t really know where the kids are and what they get up too. Also, with Joyce not having a husband it led to Jonathan having to step up and become the father figure in the family. This then makes the fathers be more insignificant within the story.

•Police

The police force seems to not be involved in a lot of things that happen within the story. However, Hopper is the protagonist of the police force as he puts all the time and effort into helping the children whereas the rest of the police force doesn’t. Not only do the police force not do lots in Hawking’s. Furthermore, they are very lenient and that means a lot of things happen however, Hopper seems to be the one that is orchestrating the police force and is the only one bothering to really help.

•Government

The government is a very dark group of people and they are a complete contradiction to stereotypical government of being helpful and on the publics side. Furthermore, they keep a lot of things hidden from the public and are also the antagonist within the story. We learn that the government are trying to steal back Eleven and do experiments on her, but they are also the reason that the Demogorgon was released due to their unlawful experiments which cause a lot of problems for the town. Hiding in an electrical plant looking for extraterrestrial beings. 

Supernatural

The supernatural is a sort of being that they can never usually see. However, the Demogorgon is the only supernatural being they see but that’s not in episode one. The supernatural is invisible to the main characters but because the supernatural cannot be seen much then it makes the characters more afraid which adds to the horror and mystery aspect of the episode.

·      Small community life

·      Bullied/outsiders/underdog

Stranger Things Characters

Character	Information
Joyce Byers	Major or Minor Character? Major Stereotype?  Mother Characteristics? Overprotective, crazy, scared and a leader Contribution to Narrative?  Helps to find Will, only one who understands the kids along with being the main person who is closest to Will.
Jim Hopper	Major or Minor Character? Major  Stereotype? Police Characteristics? Strong, leader and fearless Contribution to Narrative? Helps the kids quest and not only that he is diverting away from the usually police force and is going above and beyond to help in the disappearance of Will. Leads the kids to finding Will
Mike Wheeler	Major or Minor Character? Major Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics? Scared, leader of the geeks. Contribution to Narrative? Friend of Will and not only that he is one of the main protagonists in the episode.
Dustin Henderson	Major or Minor Character? Major Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics? Tries to be fearless, geeky and also is the smartest of the geeks. Contribution to Narrative? Friend of Will and not only that he is one of the main protagonists in the episode.
Lucas Sinclair	Major or Minor Character? Major Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics The cool one of the group, scared and also is being very cautious when it comes to finding Will Contribution to Narrative? Friend of Will and not only that he is one of the main protagonists in the episode.
Will Byers	Major or Minor Character? Major Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics? Scared and weak Contribution to Narrative? Main character that goes missing. The significant aspect of the story.
Eleven	Major or Minor Character? Major Stereotype? Supernatural Characteristics? Quiet Contribution to Narrative? The newcomer to the group and also has special powers which adds to the mystery aspect of the show
Jonathan Byers	Major or Minor Character? major Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics? Quiet and creepy but caring Contribution to Narrative? Checks on the geeks and makes sure they are looked after and not abused by the popular kids. Also, he has a crush on Nancy but is too shy. The father figure in the Byers household.
Nancy Wheeler	Major or Minor Character? Major Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics? s Clever, tries to be independent, becomes a jerk and also very condesending Contribution to Narrative? Has a crush on Steve, older sister of Mike and tries to be seen as more like an adult. Completely betrays Barb.
Steve Harrington	Major or Minor Character? Minor Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics? Tries to be smart, jerk Contribution to Narrative? Dating Nancy but tends to bring her into the wrong group of people and leads Nancy to betray her only friend
Barbara Holland	Major or Minor Character?  Minor Stereotype? Teenager Characteristics? Smart, caring, logistical Contribution to Narrative? A caring friend to Nancy who is trying to look out for her but ends up being betrayed and gets taken by the supernatural
Benny Hammond	Major or Minor Character? Minor character Stereotype? Adult Characteristics? Caring, brave and confused Contribution to Narrative? Cares for Eleven when she is lost but is killed in cold blood
Mr Clarke	Major or Minor Character? Minor character Stereotype? Adult Characteristics? Kind, smart Contribution to Narrative? The support for the kids to go to and the only adult that the kids really connect to on a child aspect.
Connie Frazier (Social Worker)	Major or Minor Character? Minor Stereotype? Government Characteristics?  Cold blooded and ruthless Contribution to Narrative? Tries to get Eleven along with killing Benny who was an innocent man
The Scientists	Major or Minor Character? minor Stereotype? Government Characteristics? Cold and silent Contribution to Narrative? Trying to contain the supernatural and capture Eleven.
Ted Wheeler	Major or Minor Character? Minor Stereotype? Absent father Characteristics? Stupid, lazy, clueless Contribution to Narrative? Is the missing father figure as he doesn’t look after the kids. Completely oblivious of what’s going on.
Karen Wheeler	Major or Minor Character?  Minor Stereotype? Mother Characteristics? Clueless but caring Contribution to Narrative? Mum of Mike and Nancy and tries to look after them