Tony Soprano: Antihero

The art of storytelling has gone through many revolutions. Authors, readers, entertainers, and audiences have all had a hand in the changes made to this craft, and stories have evolved to hold more in their contexts than once believed. Brea Monette’s essay explores the television realm’s of archetypes, explaining the now fine differences among hero, antihero, and villain. She narrows her focus on Tony Soprano, from the HBO’s hit drama The Sopranos. By proving Tony Soprano has an antihero by today’s definition, she explains how it effects the development of the archetype by the murders of Tony’s beloved friends and family. The impact of The Sopranos on television is tremendous, and Monette explains the impact of Tony Soprano himself has on the many characters and stories that follow him. Television has undoubtedly affected our lives, and the evolution of storytelling by this medium has altered archetypes for years to come.