#image_title
The typical imaginary world has a social hierarchy similar to that of the real world. While the type of hierarchy differs from world to world, one common element it has no matter which type it is is that of the servant. The main purpose of the fantasy servant is to serve those who are above him or her.
Many stories showcase varying aspects of the master-servant relationship. How they interact with each other is a reflection of the society where they dwell in. Some are strictly businesslike where the master simply issues commands and his subordinate has no choice but to follow immediately whereas others are more family-like where they treat him like a beloved member of the family.
A fantastic way to explore the occupation of the fantasy servant is to highlight just who can be one. While this varies among the worlds of the genre, one central element is that the servant is always a member of a social class lower than his employer. Being lower on the social hierarchy means if he has no choice but to obey his employer if he wants to move into a better position in society.
The fundamental premise of the servant is to do what his employer commands. The latter has a wide latitude in which to define what such a command entails. It could be as simple as keeping the household clean or complex such as treating him as a courtier where he has to travel through a dangerous area to reach the recipient.
The fantasy servant matters to the world in that this occupation serves to illustrate to your audience how the society in both your story and the world it takes place in operates. People in positions of power and those with money have servants at their beck and call and they don’t always treat them right. This can lead to them destroying everything the servant was working towards out of callousness or malice.
This is article number twelve in the fantasy occupations series. For more, take a gander at our blog page!
When determining who can be a servant in a fictional world, it is imperative that you’ve already established several major components of it. They range from the type of government that’s currently in power to which period of history it’s in. These components will dramatically impact how servants are regarded, both by your characters and everyone else.
Whether the world takes place in medieval ages or in a futuristic society with technology crucial to everyday life, the servant will always be from a class lower than his employer. Have you ever read or seen a story where the two were from the same social class? Having the master/employer be of a higher class than his servant enables writers and other creators to explore how people from different social classes interact.
The reason for this is because in many worlds, the social hierarchy is rigid. That means, there is little to no mobility from one class to another. The same families remain in power or important positions of authority for a long time whereas those of the lower class are consigned to live with pretty much no money for their entire lives.
Some of them choose to be servants to escape the world they live in, hoping for a taste of a world they’ve always wanted to be a part of. They seek to see how they live and they hope that by living with them, they can pick up tips on how to make life better for them.
Unfortunately, some are forced against their will to be servants. It could be that they had to choose between a lifetime of servitude or exile and some choose the former just so that they can stay close to the people they value in their lives. Some are also blackmailed and some are born within a family who’s long been serving the same one for generations.
Broadly speaking, the single purpose of a servant is to do what he is ordered to do. His master or employer has the power to determine what that means and he can change it at a whim. Servants who remain in their master’s good graces are rewarded with better jobs as opposed to those who draw their ire and are given the worst of the worst as punishment.
A fantasy servant is expected at the bare minimum to keep the household clean. He has to clean the floor, the walls, polish objects, and so on. Having a clean household helps the employer and his family members be more productive and happier.
Another common responsibility of a servant is to prepare the meals. Though he can go to the food store to buy food, he is expected to make food based off of what’s available in the house. He has to do it three times a day and clean up the dishes afterwards. If he’s bad at cooking, he’ll need to get better at it or he’ll be doing something he definitely won’t want to do!
Keeping the clothes dry is the third task a fantasy servant must do. He has to regularly wash them and let them dry. Once they’re dry, he has to fold them and put them away. He also needs to pick up whatever dirty clothes there are and get them cleaned.
In some worlds, the servant also functions as a nanny. He helps the children learn the basics like how to communicate or write, depending on the extent of his knowledge. He also helps teach them the difference between right and wrong, depending on how involved his master is with his children. Furthermore, he has to keep an eye on his young charges whenever they’re out so that they don’t get into mischief or cause trouble with other people.
The purpose of the servant when it comes to the world is to highlight how the society depicted in your story operates. How a servant is treated is driven by how the average person in the world perceives him. It also showcases the difference in social positions and how the people in power view them.
In some worlds, a fantasy servant has little to no power at all, meaning his life is in the hands of his employer. He cannot fight back, lest he lose his job or worst still, his life. In this case, his master is free to treat him however he wants since he has nothing to worry about, resulting in him treating him like trash.
In other worlds especially democratic ones, the servant has equal rights like his employer. There is no master-servant relationship, it’s replaced by that of the employer-employee. He uses it to his advantage to ensure that he doesn’t get unjust treatment and that he is paid what he is owed.
All worlds feature a kind of social hierarchy with power typically resting among the people at the top. They tend to be wealthy, influential people in positions of authority. Due to their positions, they employ servants to tend to the household and their children. Having them enables them to focus on dealing with more important matters that help them retain their place in society.
Unfortunately a great many take advantage of their rank in society to be unkind to their subordinates, knowing that there’s little they can do about it. They do everything in their power to stifle dissent, even threatening to destroy everything they care about. This is why so many simply accept it, believing they are powerless.
There’s a reason why you see at least one fantasy servant in each world. This occupation borrows much from its real world counterpart and is also a superb way to explore the power dynamics of people from different social classes. Many times, the servant winds up being quite useful since the tasks he does frees up his employer to concentrate on the things that require more of his attention.
The average servant is always someone from a lower class. It could be someone from the middle class or lower. As to why, it varies by person. Some want to see what life is like for wealthy people whereas others are blackmailed into being one, having chosen a lifetime of servitude over fleeing to another country.
The job responsibilities of a fantasy servant differs from person to person. Some are tasked with only the basics such as keeping the household pristine and preparing delicious meals for the family. Others have more dangerous ones such as delivering packages to unsavory characters in dark alleys in the middle of the night.
In the grand scheme of things, the servant is an invaluable part of the world. This particular occupation shows your audience how the world in your story really functions. Many creators use the master/employer-servant relationship as a metaphor for the world.
If you haven’t taken the time to think about how bringing the occupation of the fantasy servant can enhance your world, you can start today!
Let me know what you think in the comments below. (Note: this is an account-exclusive feature).
If you don’t have one, you can register here. It only takes a few moments of your time!
Liked this article and want to subscribe? All you have to do is fill out the form below and that’s it!
Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
Subscribing means you receive:
You can always unsubscribe anytime.
CONTENTS Overview Words play a powerful role in fictional worlds just as in the real…
CONTENTS Introduction One thing people love about fantasy is seeing how members of the royal…
CONTENTS The Premise A fictional civilization doesn’t exist simply due to its people. It exists…
CONTENTS Overview One of the best things about making an fictional world is creating places…
CONTENTS Introduction Like in the real world, there is a constant stream of people going…
CONTENTS The Premise Every occupation in an imaginary world brings something to the table. They…
This website uses cookies.