Is Rafal An Anti-hero Or An Anti-villain? Probably Both. It Depends On When. Prequel Or Main Series?

Is Rafal an anti-hero or an anti-villain? Probably both. It depends on when. Prequel or main series? And, it changes too often. And, from whose perspective are we looking at this from? His own? The readers’? The side characters’? Rhian’s? Sophie’s? I just keep thinking in circles.

Also, to possibly oversimplify the terms: I think of anti-hero as good intentions/desired outcome, bad deeds/means. And, anti-villains are bad intentions/desired outcome, good deeds along the way.

During TLEA:

Rafal: I just need to put down a few things.

Sophie: You mean like take down notes?

Rafal: No, insurrections.

Sophie: Oh. Well, carry on.

When trying to gain leverage in a situation:

Sophie and Tedros: I've died.

Rhian: At least you got to come back to life in a corporeal form. I was a ghost swan!

Rafal: [smirking] Well, I've died twice.

Rhian: It's not a competition. [He facepalms.]

Why Rafal Is (Likely) the Elder Brother

It makes so much more sense for Rafal to be the elder brother of the pair. I doubt the brothers’ birth order will ever be revealed, because, so far, it’s irrelevant to telling the story as we know it. But, it could add to the story if we knew. I picked up on some possible references to fairy tales. Also, again, I just love parallels. And, not only that, I felt like analysis.

Disclaimer: Since this is informal, I didn’t want to bother to cite sources. Part of what I’ve used represents my own prior knowledge, and was cherry-picked to fit my views. I’m well-aware that I was selective in choosing evidence, so prepare for an evident bias. Though, arguments contrary to my own are welcome!

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1. BEHAVIOR -

Rhian’s characterization is younger, more emotional, “weaker,” dependent, in need of protection, partly because he’s Good and cannot Attack, easily taken advantage of, insecure of himself, vulnerable, and possibly, gullible. He is just too easy to exploit, potentially incapable of being alone, and clingy as well. I headcanon that as a child he had separation anxiety in regards to Rafal because he relies on Rafal so often. His attachment is clearly present. Also, as for being emotional, we know he’s sensitive to physical pain, and his reaction to Hook’s betrayal is that he sobs. In contrast, Rafal shuts down emotionally. Also: Alas, poor Rhian! He believes in thought crime! He deserves better, and he blamed himself for his Evil deeds, which are only partially his fault.

Furthermore, Rafal has classic eldest sibling psychology in his character (if not actual oldest child syndrome).

From Google searches, I've managed to find these traits which apply to him. (Partly paraphrased, didn’t think it mattered if I cited.) Thus, common characteristics of oldest children include:

“Bossy and/or dominating behavior.” (Definitely present in TLEA and Rise.)

“They might want to lead and dominate/Potential for leadership.” (Completely and 100% true. Rafal himself thrives in leadership, even if his victims or students don’t when he’s in power because of all that he subjects them to.)

“High self-esteem.” (Seems obvious enough. His ego.)

“Unhealthy competitive behavior.” (Sounds like how the brothers thought to convert Aladdin to their side and the runaway train at the Snow Ball.)

“Strong-willed and independent.” (He deserts his brother. Need I say more?)

“Tightly-wound.” (I think this crops up with the eventual anxiety that manifests when he is reunited with Rhian, like when he looks into Rhian’s eyes after Rhian tells him off about his Nevers’ ‘SOS’ signs.)

“A sense of responsibility, and ambition.” (Yes, usually.)

“Nevertheless, the stress that comes from feeling ‘dethroned’ by the birth of younger siblings may also result in some less than positive qualities such as jealousy and competitiveness.” (It is not necessarily jealousy in Rafal’s case, but the competitiveness is there. Rhian has it too. And, the competition was probably amplified by the fact that they are so close in age, as that happens in siblings.)

“They’re also typically more confident and assertive.” (True.)

“They might become obsessive.” (Nothing could be more true, haha.)

“The oldest child becomes a protector of the younger ones. It is a good quality until it turns extreme.” (Self-explanatory.)

“If you find your child going overboard trying to make something perfect to the level of obsession, it is unhealthy for them and the younger siblings. Even the younger children may get used to the protection and become dependent, while the oldest ones could lose themselves to their siblings and become obsessive.” (Could be true for the most part. I could imagine Rafal locking Rhian up just to keep him out of trouble.)

“Firstborns are particularly anxious.” (I headcanon that Rafal has some measure of anxiety, even a slight anxiety disorder, in that he leaps too far in his mind, thinking the whole Woods will be thrust into peril if his brother, by some miracle, manages to accomplish converting every last soul to Good’s side. It’s a reasonable worry, but still—it’s largely unrealistic. In his mind, he goes dark and far, fast. To the more remote possibilities, possibly.)

“They might become controlling.” (What better adjective is there to describe him with?)

“Overachieving, determined, opinionated.” (Perhaps, the drive to become School Master. We don’t know if he wanted the position, but he must have? He relishes it after all. He probably has strong opinions, and is more vocal about them than Rhian is about his. Also, he must have held some ideas as to how he’d rule the Schools before taking on the role.)

“The pressure of taking charge of all responsibilities.” (Sounds about right. He fixed almost everything that went tangibly wrong in Rise, set everything right briefly before he went off alone again after the books. And, he potentially can’t trust Rhian to do anything alone ever again. Too bad the results of his effort didn’t last.)

2. FAIRY-TALE CONVENTION -

The eldest brother is typically a wicked elder brother. Sometimes, there’s multiple, abusive, wicked elder brothers, all in line for the throne or an inheritance, before their good, youngest brother, who is usually a virtuous, selfless, pious, saintly, God-fearing (Storian-revering?) youth of a prince.

Less commonly and more present in modern fiction, the youngest brother, since he’s not the heir, will be jealous, and will be evil himself. This could reflect how Rhian gravitates toward, is attracted to, or is lured in by Evil men.

Often, the elder brother(s) is always cruel to the younger. The youngest is always the most pure and good soul, can put up with abuse silently, and is most commonly rescued. He will trust too easily, leaves himself too vulnerable, and is open to deception as a result. Again, this reminds me slightly of the time Rafal turned his skin invisible when he spooked Rhian in that one flashback from Rise. Though, that act wasn’t entirely mean-spirited on Rafal’s part.

Plus, there’s the many versions of the classic Brothers Grimms’ tale where elder brothers go off to seek their fortunes, foolishly disregard or insult a person in need of help, and return home, punished by a curse. Then, the younger, “worthless” brother goes out and succeeds at that which his brothers couldn’t, usually with magical aid of some kind and by means of the kindness of his heart.

Also, that younger siblings as the weakest and most vulnerable up against foes makes high, life-or-death stakes all the more riveting. It’s good storytelling practice.

An aside: And we wonder why Rafal has trust issues—

His brother, his own brother, trusted a man he never wanted to hire, and made him his replacement and substitute in some powerful role.

Oh, I bemoan (and laugh at) Rhian's foolhardy decisions. Sometimes, I like to anticipate chaotic results while reading though. It's fun when everything amps up to a crescendo, to the payoff.

But anyway, his brother trusted two men he shouldn't have trusted, fell in love, etc., but doesn't. Trust. His. Own. Brother. AAHHH. This is so incredibly frustrating, and the crux of Rise’s plot.

So frustrating. He's your idiot, Rafal. So don't kill him (please.)

How can this be? Rhian trusts the wrong people, and when his brother comes back for him, to save him, he doesn’t trust Rafal!

You little ingrate, Rhian! Rafal is re-committed. Even if you can’t parse out his loyalties. Don’t distrust him because he’s Evil. Just because of that, really? What about all the men you went after? At the moment, he’s committed to upholding the Balance. And he’s already under a lot of stress. Please don’t doubt him, Rhian. I mean, look at him. He’s suffered so much. For you. And he’s got anxiety. Look at him. The intensity... anxiety in his eyes. (Referring to the scene after Vulcan's death when Rhian observes all of Rafal's renovations to Evil.) I feel so sorry for him and his impending tragedy. He’s going to try to prevent the unpreventable, the inevitable, the prophecy, for you.

If only you knew, Rhian.

And, Rafal is definitely the world-weary one, and the skeptic, through-and-through. How is he not exhausted?

3. A LOVELY PARALLEL TO SOPHIE AND AGATHA - (You knew this was coming, didn’t you? They are my reference point to Rise. The other set of twins.)

Sophie is older and the Evil twin, and so, Rafal should be too. Their roles are perfectly set as they are, and Rafal and Sophie are so similar.

But honestly, the more visible narrative parallels I thought were the Rhian and Sophie parallels: falling in love too easily, being exploited for power, and being taken advantage of overall.

4. BONUS FAIRY-TALE CONVENTION -

For his poor judgment, Rhian could easily be called “clod,” “simpleton,” “little Simpleton,” “the fool,” “the laughingstock,” “the lucky fool.” Maybe, “the fool that Fortune smiles upon.” (Not really though, considering his run of luck.) Perhaps, “the unlucky fool” then.

Like the typical youngest sons, he could be the lucky one, if the plot gave him the chance to be.

Maybe, he’d be “mute,” or “dumb” by its secondary definition. He could be “the mute” compared to Rafal who does have more of a voice, who discloses his own, harsh opinions. By that, I mean, Rhian is more likely to lie to save face because he seems image-obsessed, and he is more likely to lie to avoid trampling anyone’s feelings, I would think. In my interpretation, Rafal cares not for what anyone thinks. He cares for no one’s opinion, and just is.

This excerpt from the jacket of my annotated version of Peter Pan inspired some thoughts about the brothers:

"In her commentary on these works, Tatar guides us through worlds of incandescent beauty, where the radiance of childhood wonder exists simultaneously with the heartbreaking reality of what we lose when we grow up."

I’d guess that Fall or the whole prequel duology, really, will follow a similar trend in its plot.

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About Rhian and Rafal's relationship: Does Rafal, in his treatment of Rhian, ever infantilize him, or not trust him to handle himself, like an adult would?

And, if they prove to be unlike how Sophie and Agatha were by the end of TLEA in that specific way, then they will fit Agatha's quote from AWWP, I think?: "Real friends let each other grow up." Essentially interpreted as “real friends let each other be happy, even if they’re apart and find love in someone else.”

Is Rafal just as attached to Rhian as Rhian visibly is to Rafal? I think Rafal just doesn’t express it. Is Rafal afraid of some dreadful man sweeping his brother off his feet, and spiriting him away for good? Is Rafal slightly afraid of being alone, considering that Evil is alone by nature of the tales?