Just for the fun of it, I have decided to do an analysis of the primary characters in this most beloved 1960's era stop-motion Christmas special that I have seen way too many times. I hope you find it interesting...
List of Alignments
Saintly: A character of impeccable morality: kind, caring, and exhibiting no detectable flaws. The line between Saintly and Heroic may be thin; a character might not have been on-screen enough for their flaws to show.
Heroic: A character who makes mistakes and shows minor character flaws, but demonstrates an unwavering understanding of right and wrong. Often the difference between Saintly and Heroic is merely a matter of development. When you spend enough time with a character, sooner or later they will show an imperfection or two.
Well-Intentioned: A character who genuinely means well, but carried out harmful actions due to a lack of empathy or understanding. Though this character might cause problems, they either redeem themselves or show themselves capable of redemption.
Misunderstood: Although a character at this level is likely to do some harm, there is some sort of extenuating circumstance that causes them to act that way. Under the right circumstances, we believe that they can be better.
Deplorable: Though not inherently intent on causing harm to others, someone with this rating shows severe character flaws, and makes no detectable effort to mend their ways.
Villainous: A rotten, hateful individual dedicated to doing harm, either for its own sake or for completely selfish reasons. No one in this particular show earns this rating.
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Sam the Snowman: Saintly
Though Sam's purpose in the story is simply narrating and singing, he is a man (or snowman if you prefer) who understands what it is like to be different. From start to finish, he is unfailingly on Rudolph's side, and that of the other misfits as well.
Rudolph: Heroic
From birth to his triumph at the end, Rudolph's hero's journey is not without its missteps, but they are few and minor. He deserts his family and legacy, but this action is understandable given what happened to him, and that it seems clear that he would never be welcome on Santa's team. When he leaves his friends later in the story, it was with the best intentions: he believed that his nose could get them killed. As he matures, he realizes the need to face his problems. He risks and nearly loses his life in an attempt to protect his family from the snow monster. Afterward, he keeps his word to King Moonracer. And, despite the abuse he suffered at the North Pole, he lets bygones be bygones: when Santa needs his help, he steps up without question or hesitation.
Hermie: Heroic
Hermie is similar in nature to Rudolph in that he feels unwanted at home and flees, albeit understandably, after his efforts to fit in prove ineffective When Rudolph abandons him, he knows that he did it with good intentions and seeks his lost friend out. And, he risked his life trying to save him. And besides, he wants to be a dentist, a person who helps people stay healthy and cures legitimate afflictions. What's not to like?
Yukon Cornelius: Heroic
Cornelius's endless search for gold and silver might be amusing, but it hides a guy who is frankly pretty darn awesome. He takes a pair of runaway misfits under his wing and looks out for them without asking questions or demanding recompense, he searches out Rudolph wih Hermie, and he faces down the snow-monster at the end to the considerable risk of his own life (and then manages to reform the creature). He falls shy of the Saintly threshold because he's a blowhard, a know-it-all, and a bit on the avaricious side.
Clarice: Saintly
Clarice is the only reindeer we see who appears to have no issue whatsoever with Rudolph being different. When everyone else turns on him and it would be easy for her to just slip away or join the ill-natured teasing, Clarice steps up and comforts him, desisting only when forced away by her father. When Rudolph disappears, she goes after him despite having no family ties to him. As reindeer go, she's in a class by herself, and she and Rudolph deserve the happiness they find in each other.
Santa: Well-Intentioned
Let's face it... Santa is a jerk for a lot of the show. He makes it clear early on that a reindeer who isn't "perfect" can't pull his sleigh. Worse, when Rudolph (a child) is being picked on by kid and adult alike at the Reindeer Games, a very un-saintly St. Nick makes no effort to end this and instead castigates his father! He escapes a Deplorable rating only because one, he is genuinely sorry afterward; two, he apologizes; and three, his swift actions with the Misfit Toys show that he is genuinely determined to make things right.
Mrs. Claus: Saintly
Perhaps we're giving her the benefit of the doubt here, but Mrs. C. does not show any flaws in the story. She is nearly always cheerful, even when Santa is not. She proves willing to stand up to her husband when he gets irascible, and is completely supportive with the elves ("What does Papa know? You keep [the song] just the way it is!"). It's actually too bad she wasn't present when Rudolph was getting teased... I have a feeling she would have cleaned house!
Donner: Well-Intentioned
Donner genuinely loves his son and is supportive of him, proving a fine role model in his formative years. However, he is determined to hide Rudolph's nose. While it can be argued that he does this largely for Rudolph's sake (given the abuse Rudolph got when it was discovered, there's some justification here), it's probably in part for his own sake as well. He gets this rating either way. Also... he's a bit of a sexist.
Mrs. Donner: Heroic
She's obviously a good and caring mom, and makes it clear that Rudolph's nose doesn't change her feelings for him one iota... her only definable flaw is that she participates in Donner's continuous efforts to hide said nose.
Boss Elf: Misunderstood
Yes, he's a bit of a loudmouthed drill sergeant. Yes, he's verbally abusive to Hermie and fails to show empathy... but he obviously has a nasty toothache, and given that the North Pole has never had a dentist, he may have had it for some time. With that problem rectified, he might wind up a lot nicer.
Comet: Deplorable
This guy might be one of Santa's reindeer, but that's about all he has going for him. Yes, he is supportive with the youngster who has difficulty taking off... but he openly leads the group in excluding Rudolph from the Reindeer Games, and seems to take a perverse pleasure in it. And, unlike Santa, he never apologizes.
Fireball: Deplorable
This guy is the type of friend that all too many of us have and none of us want to. While he reaches out to Rudolph on his arrival, he quickly and nastily turns on our hero when his... nonconformity is revealed. He returns to his abusiveness even when Rudolph returns later on, showing that maturity has not tempered him the way it has Rudolph. And, he doesn't apologize either.
Abominable: Misunderstood
OK, yes, the Bumble is the chief antagonist, and tries to eat Rudolph like a burrito. But, you only have to look at his teeth (when he has them) to realize that he's obviously a carnivore, and there's not a lot of meat around the North Pole. You can't blame a meat-eating animal for seeking food wherever he can get it.
Moonracer: Well-Intentioned
King Moonracer, lord of the Island of Misfit Toys, clearly had no lack of sympathy for misfits, but it would have been nice if he had given Rudolph and his pals long-term sanctuary... might have saved Rudolph a rough year. However, we will give him the benefit of the doubt and figure that he did this because he understood that non-playthings needed to face their problems.
Misfit Toys: Not Rated
While these characters play an important role in the story, none of them are faced with a moral decision of any kind. Therefore, while we cannot fault them for wrong decisions, we cannot credit them with right ones either.
List of Alignments
Saintly: A character of impeccable morality: kind, caring, and exhibiting no detectable flaws. The line between Saintly and Heroic may be thin; a character might not have been on-screen enough for their flaws to show.
Heroic: A character who makes mistakes and shows minor character flaws, but demonstrates an unwavering understanding of right and wrong. Often the difference between Saintly and Heroic is merely a matter of development. When you spend enough time with a character, sooner or later they will show an imperfection or two.
Well-Intentioned: A character who genuinely means well, but carried out harmful actions due to a lack of empathy or understanding. Though this character might cause problems, they either redeem themselves or show themselves capable of redemption.
Misunderstood: Although a character at this level is likely to do some harm, there is some sort of extenuating circumstance that causes them to act that way. Under the right circumstances, we believe that they can be better.
Deplorable: Though not inherently intent on causing harm to others, someone with this rating shows severe character flaws, and makes no detectable effort to mend their ways.
Villainous: A rotten, hateful individual dedicated to doing harm, either for its own sake or for completely selfish reasons. No one in this particular show earns this rating.
-----------
Sam the Snowman: Saintly
Though Sam's purpose in the story is simply narrating and singing, he is a man (or snowman if you prefer) who understands what it is like to be different. From start to finish, he is unfailingly on Rudolph's side, and that of the other misfits as well.
Rudolph: Heroic
From birth to his triumph at the end, Rudolph's hero's journey is not without its missteps, but they are few and minor. He deserts his family and legacy, but this action is understandable given what happened to him, and that it seems clear that he would never be welcome on Santa's team. When he leaves his friends later in the story, it was with the best intentions: he believed that his nose could get them killed. As he matures, he realizes the need to face his problems. He risks and nearly loses his life in an attempt to protect his family from the snow monster. Afterward, he keeps his word to King Moonracer. And, despite the abuse he suffered at the North Pole, he lets bygones be bygones: when Santa needs his help, he steps up without question or hesitation.
Hermie: Heroic
Hermie is similar in nature to Rudolph in that he feels unwanted at home and flees, albeit understandably, after his efforts to fit in prove ineffective When Rudolph abandons him, he knows that he did it with good intentions and seeks his lost friend out. And, he risked his life trying to save him. And besides, he wants to be a dentist, a person who helps people stay healthy and cures legitimate afflictions. What's not to like?
Yukon Cornelius: Heroic
Cornelius's endless search for gold and silver might be amusing, but it hides a guy who is frankly pretty darn awesome. He takes a pair of runaway misfits under his wing and looks out for them without asking questions or demanding recompense, he searches out Rudolph wih Hermie, and he faces down the snow-monster at the end to the considerable risk of his own life (and then manages to reform the creature). He falls shy of the Saintly threshold because he's a blowhard, a know-it-all, and a bit on the avaricious side.
Clarice: Saintly
Clarice is the only reindeer we see who appears to have no issue whatsoever with Rudolph being different. When everyone else turns on him and it would be easy for her to just slip away or join the ill-natured teasing, Clarice steps up and comforts him, desisting only when forced away by her father. When Rudolph disappears, she goes after him despite having no family ties to him. As reindeer go, she's in a class by herself, and she and Rudolph deserve the happiness they find in each other.
Santa: Well-Intentioned
Let's face it... Santa is a jerk for a lot of the show. He makes it clear early on that a reindeer who isn't "perfect" can't pull his sleigh. Worse, when Rudolph (a child) is being picked on by kid and adult alike at the Reindeer Games, a very un-saintly St. Nick makes no effort to end this and instead castigates his father! He escapes a Deplorable rating only because one, he is genuinely sorry afterward; two, he apologizes; and three, his swift actions with the Misfit Toys show that he is genuinely determined to make things right.
Mrs. Claus: Saintly
Perhaps we're giving her the benefit of the doubt here, but Mrs. C. does not show any flaws in the story. She is nearly always cheerful, even when Santa is not. She proves willing to stand up to her husband when he gets irascible, and is completely supportive with the elves ("What does Papa know? You keep [the song] just the way it is!"). It's actually too bad she wasn't present when Rudolph was getting teased... I have a feeling she would have cleaned house!
Donner: Well-Intentioned
Donner genuinely loves his son and is supportive of him, proving a fine role model in his formative years. However, he is determined to hide Rudolph's nose. While it can be argued that he does this largely for Rudolph's sake (given the abuse Rudolph got when it was discovered, there's some justification here), it's probably in part for his own sake as well. He gets this rating either way. Also... he's a bit of a sexist.
Mrs. Donner: Heroic
She's obviously a good and caring mom, and makes it clear that Rudolph's nose doesn't change her feelings for him one iota... her only definable flaw is that she participates in Donner's continuous efforts to hide said nose.
Boss Elf: Misunderstood
Yes, he's a bit of a loudmouthed drill sergeant. Yes, he's verbally abusive to Hermie and fails to show empathy... but he obviously has a nasty toothache, and given that the North Pole has never had a dentist, he may have had it for some time. With that problem rectified, he might wind up a lot nicer.
Comet: Deplorable
This guy might be one of Santa's reindeer, but that's about all he has going for him. Yes, he is supportive with the youngster who has difficulty taking off... but he openly leads the group in excluding Rudolph from the Reindeer Games, and seems to take a perverse pleasure in it. And, unlike Santa, he never apologizes.
Fireball: Deplorable
This guy is the type of friend that all too many of us have and none of us want to. While he reaches out to Rudolph on his arrival, he quickly and nastily turns on our hero when his... nonconformity is revealed. He returns to his abusiveness even when Rudolph returns later on, showing that maturity has not tempered him the way it has Rudolph. And, he doesn't apologize either.
Abominable: Misunderstood
OK, yes, the Bumble is the chief antagonist, and tries to eat Rudolph like a burrito. But, you only have to look at his teeth (when he has them) to realize that he's obviously a carnivore, and there's not a lot of meat around the North Pole. You can't blame a meat-eating animal for seeking food wherever he can get it.
Moonracer: Well-Intentioned
King Moonracer, lord of the Island of Misfit Toys, clearly had no lack of sympathy for misfits, but it would have been nice if he had given Rudolph and his pals long-term sanctuary... might have saved Rudolph a rough year. However, we will give him the benefit of the doubt and figure that he did this because he understood that non-playthings needed to face their problems.
Misfit Toys: Not Rated
While these characters play an important role in the story, none of them are faced with a moral decision of any kind. Therefore, while we cannot fault them for wrong decisions, we cannot credit them with right ones either.
