Readers tend to idolize the protagonists of the stories. Atticus Finch, Huckleberry Finn, Harry Potter: they are all characters that have a positive tone from the author. In fantasy-related writings, however, it would be more appropriate to call these characters heroes. Especially in high fantasy, the hero ventures on an aptly named “hero's journey.” However, the hero will always discover the “call to adventure” early in the story. At that point, the protagonist realizes that he possesses a unique ability. In high fantasy, that ability generally involves magic. Ursula K. Le Guin's The Wizard of Earthsea is a great example of this notion. The protagonist, Ged, embarks on a journey to quench his thirst for a better understanding of magic. Another example of fantasy would be “The Dummy that Lived” by L. Frank Baum, in which the mischievous acts of a fairy lead to a chain of trouble for the victim. Both Le Guin and Baum use magic in high fantasy literature to symbolize the need for maturity of a protagonist, or the creature casting the spell, and thus promote the importance of responsibility towards those who hold great power. Ged had realized his potential with magic after he saved his village by summoning a thick fog that surrounded the land. This fog blocked the view of the invading Karg barbarians, and news of his heroism would spread throughout Gont. Soon, the news reached the great wizard, Ogion the Silent. He came to the village of Ten Alders of Ged. Ogion claims that the boy will not be “a common man… I have come here to give him his name, if as they say he has not yet made his passage to manhood” (Guin 14). Le Guin summons Ogion to assist Ged for two reasons. For one thing, Ged is still a wizard with... middle of paper... however, he has his limitations. No character should have unlimited power, as the only way they can be seen as human-like is if they have flaws. And those defects come from mistakes. Evidently in The Wizard of Earthsea, Ged was depicted as an individual with little self-control of his magical abilities. As he came of age on his hero's journey, he became a skilled and more intelligent sorcerer. “The Dummy That Lived” also provided a critique of those who abuse their power without understanding the costs of such actions. For high fantasy characters, magic or use of, responsibility is definitely needed. Works Cited Baum, L. Frank. "The dummy that lived." Classic reader. Np, nd Web. 9 December 2009. .Guin, Ursula K. Le. A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Series, Book 1). 1968. Reprint. New York: Spectra, 2004. Print.