History Main / TheThreeFacesOfAdam

* Greek Pantheon: [[TheId Poseidon]] (The Hunter), [[TheEgo Zeus]] (The Lord), and [[TheSuperego Hades]] (The Prophet). Oddly, this has little to do with their (admittedly more or less irrelevant) relative ages; Zeus is traditionally the youngest son of Kronos and Rhea, Poseidon the second, and Hades oldest. (Also, Zeus is arguably the oldest in terms of experience, inasmuch as he avoided being swallowed by Kronos after he was born and therefore had experiences growing up.)

** And in a meta sense, the books of [[Literature/BookOfPsalms Psalms]], [[Literature/BookOfProverbs Proverbs]], and [[Literature/BookOfEcclesiastes Ecclesiastes]] represent the life and corresponding outlook of the author (presumably King Solomon) at these three respective stages.[[note]]Solomon is traditionally linked to Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. While most the Psalms are attributed to David--Solomon's father--two are traditionally attributed to Solomon. Modern scholarship is skeptical of all these traditional attributions, but on the other hand the difference in outlooks between the three books is clear.[[/note]]

* The Ur Example of this Trope for Christianity is the Holy Trinity: Father (Lord), Son (Hunter) and Holy Spirit (Prophet).

%%** Additionally, the Night's Watch has Jon Snow as the Hunter, Lord Commander Mormont as the Lord, Maester Aemon as the Prophet. [[spoiler:Until the latter two die and Jon graduates to the Lord, anyway.]] ZCE

* In one of the ''{{Literature/Nightside}}'' novels, a middle-aged family man is hounded by manifestations of his earlier selves: a youthful political activist out to change society (hunter) and a hard-charging professional who glories in his career success (lord). The family man defends his life-choices against their accusations with the wisdom that experience and fatherhood have taught him (prophet).

** Alternatively, you can still have the Warrior as the Hunter, the Smith as the Lord (minds his tasks, monitors and regulates himself/ his workstation in a world that is anything but regular, creates items and tools that will become legacies for the future if others continue on the work -- has apprentices as "children") and the Father as the Prophet (directs the others as to where they should go and what they should do, has an eye to identifying and interpreting or upholding the legacy of the past with an eye to predicting the future, is more cerebral and manipulative than the other two -- in short, "is a maester or septon"). Even the Westerosi, however, mistake the Father for the Lord (heck, a lot of High Lords venerate him and petty lords, captains and commanders will refuse to see themselves as governmental "Smiths"), often enough. However, the number of messed-up father-figures in the story, not to mention the distain most of the nobility have for the relatively humble Smith, and you can get why they misunderstand their own pantheon. The Faith is skewed against seeing the Smith as being a vital dynamo. As Septon Meribald makes clear:-
--->''"Without his labour, what would the Warrior defend? Every town has a smith, and every castle. They make the plows we need to plant our crops, the nails we use to build our ships, iron shoes to save the hooves of our faithful horses, the bright swords of our lords. No one could doubt the value of a smith, and so we name one of the Seven in his honour, but we might as easily have called him the Farmer or the Fisherman, the Carpenter or the Cobbler. What he works at makes no matter. What matters is, he works. The Father rules, the Warrior fights, the Smith labours, and together they perform all that is rightful for a man. Just as the Smith is one aspect of the godhead, the Cobbler is one aspect of the Smith.''

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'': Buzz or [[GenderInvertedTrope tomboy]] Jessie is the Hunter (Buzz is a [[WrongGenreSavvy confused]] hunter who doesn't think he needs to prove anything; Jessie's self-worth was pretty much shattered by being abandoned; ironically she's a FriendToAllLivingThings), and Stinky Pete is the Prophet (physically the oldest and very, ''very'' concerned about his legacy, or lack thereof, which gave him value).

** The Asians: South Korea (young, excitable, child-like Hunter), Japan (skilled fighter, mysterious Lord who's NotSoAboveitAll in the end, who may have some touches of Prophet in more mordern times), and China (Prophet - he's the eldest of the group [[ReallySevenHundredYearsold BY FAR]], tries to "mother/"father" the group but fails).
*** Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau offer a trio of their own: Hong Kong is the youngest and [[TheTrickster a Trickster]] so he can be seen as a Hunter, Macau is softspoken and gets caught in between China and Hong Kong so he mixes Lord and Prophet, and Thailand seems to be a full-blown Phophet since he's the calmest and the only one of this trio who's a full-fledged country.

** The Nordics: Iceland (DeadpanSnarker Hunter), Denmark (BoisterousBruiser Lord), and Norway ({{Tsundere}} Prophet who keeps Denmark in line). Sweden and Finland have traits of the three and thus aren't as easy to "box".

** Other Masters - Waver Velvet, Uryu Ryuunosuke, Matou Kariya (Hunter); Kayneth Archibald (Lord); Emiya Kiritsugu (Prophet)
** Other Servants - Saber, Lancer, Berserker (Hunter); Rider (Lord); Archer, Caster (Prophet)

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'': Buzz or tomboy Jessie is the Hunter (Buzz is a [[WrongGenreSavvy confused]] hunter who doesn't think he needs to prove anything; Jessie's self-worth was pretty much shattered by being abandoned; ironically she's a FriendToAllLivingThings), Woody is the Lord (in all three films he's worried about his status as Andy's favorite and leader of Andy's toys), and Stinky Pete is the Prophet (physically the oldest and very, ''very'' concerned about his legacy, or lack thereof, which gave him value).
** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'': Ken is the Hunter (''constantly'' needing to prove himself in spite of his lot in life as [[CampStraight a male toy designed for girls]]), and Lotso is The Lord/Prophet (eldest toy in the place, [[spoiler:maintains stability through fear and intimidation of newer toys]]).
* The most prominent men in Disney's adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'': 20-year-old Quasimodo who is destined be a part of society and to see the outside world after being locked up in the bell tower for most of his life is the Hunter, war hero Phoebus is the Lord and SternOldJudge Claude Frollo is a mix of the Lord and the Prophet. If you're counting only heroic characters, then the Archdeacon would take over the role as the Prophet and would play the trope more straight.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has multiple examples:
** [[spoiler: The [[TheMcCoy McCoy-Dresden Family]]]] Thomas (Hunter), Harry (Lord), Ebenezar (Prophet).
** The three Knights of the Cross: Sanya (Hunter), Michael (Lord), and Shiro (Prophet).
** The Senior Council has Ebenezar (Hunter), Arthur Langtree (Lord), and Rashid the Gatekeeper (Prophet).
* Paul Atreides of ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' goes through all three phases as his character develops throughout the series.
** Apparently he goes at the rate of at least one face per novel, in terms of books 1-3, of course.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Harry is the Hunter, Dumbledore is the Prophet, and Snape is the Lord. The Ministers of Magic seen in the series are Hunter Fudge, Lord Scrimgour and Prophet Thicknesse.
** An alternative reading could posit Harry as the Hunter, Snape as the Prophet, and ''Voldemort'' as the Lord.
* In ''Literature/TheIliad'' and ''The Odyssey'' there are three sets: Achilles (Hunter), Agamemnon (Lord), and Nestor (Prophet) for the Greeks; Paris (Hunter), Hector (Lord), and Priam (Prophet) for the Trojans; Telemachos (Hunter), Odysseus (Lord), and Laertes (Prophet) in Ithaca.

** Additionally, among the secondary characters Glorfindel and Elrond are described in these terms with Gandalf in the house of Elrond: Glorfindel the Prince on errantry, Elrond as the Lord and Gandalf as the prophet. (Though ironically, Glorfindel is older than Elrond: [[AllThereInTheManual he saved Elrond's father Eärendil in the sack of Gondolin when Eärendil was still a child]].)

* The pantheon of the Faith of the Seven in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has TheHecateSisters, [[GrimReaper The Stranger]], and a variation of The Three Faces Of Adam as the seven faces of God. The Warrior is the Hunter and the Father is the Lord. The Smith shares some traits with the Prophet if you squint-- the concern with leaving a legacy, etc.-- but the emphasis on knowledge and wisdom is attributed to the Crone, leaving the Smith as something of the odd deity out.

-->''"Without his labour, what would the Warrior defend? Every town has a smith, and every castle. They make the plows we need to plant our crops, the nails we use to build our ships, iron shoes to save the hooves of our faithful horses, the bright swords of our lords. No one could doubt the value of a smith, and so we name one of the Seven in his honour, but we might as easily have called him the Farmer or the Fisherman, the Carpenter or the Cobbler. What he works at makes no matter. What matters is, he works. The Father rules, the Warrior fights, the Smith labours, and together they perform all that is rightful for a man. Just as the Smith is one aspect of the godhead, the Cobbler is one aspect of the Smith.''
** Additionally, the Night's Watch has Jon Snow as the Hunter, Lord Commander Mormont as the Lord, Maester Aemon as the Prophet. [[spoiler: Until the latter two die and Jon graduates to the Lord, anyway.]]

* In ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' we're introduced to the innocent and protective, Jonathan Harker as the Prophet, optimistic and bold, [[EccentricMentor Abraham Van Helsing]] appropriately as the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Hunter]], leaving the devious, [[BigBad Count Dracula]] as of course the Lord.

** Tobi/Madara (Lord): The main instigator of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Tobi went through all three faces in his lifetime, beginning as the Hunter, committing great evil as the Lord, then dominating as the Prophet [[spoiler: when he became Jinchuriki and a Sage]]. Ultimately returned as the Lord, after he [[HeelFaceTurn regained faith in the world]]. From which he would aid Team 7, in putting an end to the war.

** Tobi/Madara (Lord): The main instigator of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Tobi went through all three faces in his lifetime, beginning as the Hunter, committing great evil as the Lord, then dominating as the Prophet [[spoiler: when he became Jinchuriki and a Sage]]. Ultimately returned as the Lord, after he [[HeelFaceTurn regained faith in the world]].

*** The Uchiha: Sasuke Uchiha (RevengeBeforeReason Hunter), Itachi Uchiha (KnightTemplarBigBrother Lord) and Tobi/Obito Uchiha & Madara Uchiha (BigBadDuumvirate Prophets).

* In ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' we're introduced to the innocent and protective, Johnathan Harker as the Prophet, optimistic and bold, [[EccentricMentor Abraham Van Helsing]] appropriately as the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Hunter]], leaving the devious, [[BigBad Count Dracula]] as of course the Lord.

* In ''ComicBook/RedRobin'' Tim ends up the Hunter to ComicBook/RasAlGhul's Lord and [[ComicBook/{{Batman}}'s Prophet.
* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': The general formula seems to have this tope built-in into base dynamics with Bruce Wayne as the Lord who protects the status quo of Gotham City, in which both is alter-egos hold well-respected positions, and he has skills and means to achieve it. There is usually a sidekick (one of the Robins, though any of the Batgirls can and has occasionally slot in this role as well) who is usually be portrayed as more hotheaded and reckless, eager to prove their worth and needing Bruce's guidance on caution, thus fitting role of the Hunter. Finally, the formula asks for at least one elderly male figure - usually either Jim Gordon or Alfred Pennyworth, through Lucius Fox can hold this position as well - that may not serve an active role in crimefighting but serves Bruce with advice and wisdom coming from many years of experience, who serves as the Prophet.

** Bruce can also slide from the role of the Lord into the Prophet whenever he takes a backseat on a team book. For example in ''ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders2019'', he visibly steps back and for most of the story gives advice and guidelines to ComicBook/BlackLightning, who takes a more active role as the team leader. The way the two clash, with Bruce clearly trying to pass on Jefferson his wisdom to make him a better leader and Jefferson accusing Bruce of being manipulative and not caring for the team's well-being, echoes motivations of Prophet and Lord, respectively. Duke Thomas, being most inexperienced member of the group and unable to deal with a recent traumatic experience, rounds up the trinity as the Hunter.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Long-time fans would likely point to BrokenBase and the narrative struggle of whenever Spider-Man should be the Hunter or the Lord as a core problem of the character. [[Characters/MarvelComicsPeterParker Peter Parker]] started as the Hunter, being characterized by teenage naivety, a slight dose of egoism tempered by guilt and ambition clashing with his sense of responsibility. As he grew older it became more and more clear it is time for him to transition into the Lord but many times he was held back or regressed due to fear of losing the charm he had as a Hunter. His own creator Creator/SteveDitko allegedly quit because he wasn't allowed to make that change (he would later make [[ComicBook/BlueBeetle Ted Kord]] to show what his idea of Peter as an adult would be and it - wealthy, well-respected industrialist characterized by having his life together in a way Peter never can get his - embodies the Lord quite a bit). The issues only grew bigger as Peter became more and more of a veteran and when he once was an inexperienced kid now he was the first to support new young heroes and becoming a more and more respected pillar of the superhero community. It seems what finally allowed Peter to take the position of the lord for good was the introduction of [[Characters/MarvelComicsMilesMorales Miles Morales]], who with his own teenage struggles and lack of experience took the role of the Hunter. As for the Prophet, there are many who could fit the role occasionally across the years, but the definite one would be one whose wisdom became guiding words of the whole franchise - Uncle Ben himself.

* The most prominent men in Disney's adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'': 20-year-old Quasimodo who is destined be a part of society and to see the outside world after being locked up in the bell tower for most of his life is the Hunter, war hero Phoebus is the Lord and SternOldJudge Claude Frollo is a mix of the Lord and the Prophet. If you're counting only heroic characters, then the Archdeacon would take the role as the Prophet and would play the trope more straight.

** Daniel [=LaRusso=] is the Hunter: A teenage boy and TheProtagonist who had just moved to Los Angeles and is looking to take down his bullies by learning karate.

** Bruce can also slide from the role of the Lord into the Prophet whenever he takes a backseat on a team book. For example in ''ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders2018'', he visibly steps back and for most of the story gives advice and guidelines to ComicBook/BlackLightning, who takes a more active role as the team leader. The way the two clash, with Bruce clearly trying to pass on Jefferson his wisdom to make him a better leader and Jefferson accusing Bruce of being manipulative and not caring for the team's well-being, echoes motivations of Prophet and Lord, respectively. Duke Thomas, being most inexperienced member of the group and unable to deal with a recent traumatic experience, rounds up the trinity as the Hunter.

** Bruce can also slide from the role of the Lord into the Prophet whenever he takes a backseat on a team book. For example in 2018 ''ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders'' he visibly steps back and for most of the story gives advice and guidelines to ComicBook/BlackLightning, who takes a more active role as the team leader. The way the two clash, with Bruce clearly trying to pass on Jefferson his wisdom to make him a better leader and Jefferson accusing Bruce of being manipulative and not caring for the team's well-being, echoes motivations of Prophet and Lord, respectively. Duke Thomas, being most inexperienced member of the group and unable to deal with a recent traumatic experience, rounds up the trinity as the Hunter.

** The turtles' sensei, Master Splinter, represents the Prophet: He is an OldMaster (usually with a DarkAndTroubledPast) who took the turtles in as his [[HappilyAdopted sons]], training them to become ninjas and usually gives them lectures on how to improve themselves.

* ''Series/{{Ahsoka}}'':
** [[TheHero Ezra Bridger]] was the Hunter, who took many risks to stop Thrawn and the empire. However, in doing-so he became trapped in a different galaxy, having to befriend the native Noti people to survive. [[{{Turncoat}} Baylan Skoll]] was the Prophet, despite falling to the Dark Side, he was a wise, dedicated man who taught Shin fluently of his teachings. In the end, Baylan [[WellIntentionedExtremist didn't commit evil for the sake of it]], but rather because it was a rational powergrab. [[TheChessmaster Grand Admiral Thrawn]] was the Lord, cleverly he bided his time, gathered his remaining forces and planned ahead of his plans. Thrawn made sure he won, regardless of the smaller defeats, becoming the [[GreaterScopeVillain leader of the dwindling Imperial Remnant]].

** The titular main characters (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael) represent the Hunters: They are all eager, determined teenagers who are destined to master the art of ninjitsu.

*** Count Dooku (Prophet): The oldest of Sidious's apprentices, an inquisitive free-thinker who even before his fall, thought [[WiseBeyondTheirYears differently to those around him]]. Qui-Gon Jinn was really the only one, Dooku felt understood him, his death pained him deeply.

*** Maul (Hunter): Sidious's [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness former apprentice]] and the youngest between the three. Maul was deluded with [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge power and vengeance]], desperate to prove himself strong again. However in the end, Maul truly had nothing, forever the puppet of Sidious and never truly a puppeteer.
*** Count Dooku (Prophet): The oldest of Sidious's apprentices, an inquisitive free-thinker who even before his fall, thought [[WiseBeyondTheirYears differently to those around him]]. Qui-Gon Jinn was really the only one, Dooku felt understood him, his death painned him deeply.

** Daniel [=LaRusso=] is the Hunter: A teenage boy who had just moved to Los Angeles and is looking to take down his bullies by learning karate.

** Zuko (Hunter), the young exile who seeks to capture the Avatar to prove his worth to his father, Ozai (Lord), the current reigning Fire Lord and resident BigBad, and Iroh (Prophet), the RetiredBadass who accompanied Zuko into exile and wishes to impart wisdom on him.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' we have the Simpson men: The troublemaking [[TheTrickster Bart]] (Hunter) who is often dishonest and mischievous. [[LazyBum Homer]] (Lord) the selfish pig of a father, who nevertheless has his good moments. Finally we have [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Grampa ''Abe'' Simpson]] (Prophet) who was a mostly lousy father like Homer, but has experienced way more in his life.

* The most prominent men in Disney's adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'': 20-year-old Quasimodo who is destined be a part of society and to see the outside world after being locked up in the bell tower for most of his life is the Hunter, war hero Phoebus is the Lord and SternOldJudge Claude Frollo is a mix of the Lord and the Prophet. If you're counting only heroic characters then the Archdeacon would take the role as the Prophet and would play the trope more straight.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Long-time fans would likely point to BrokenBase and the narrative struggle of whenever Spider-Man should be the Hunter or the Lord as a core problem of the character. Peter started as the Hunter, being characterized by teenage naivety, a slight dose of egoism tempered by guilt and ambition clashing with his sense of responsibility. As he grew older it became more and more clear it is time for him to transition into the Lord but many times he was held back or regressed due to fear of losing the charm he had as a Hunter. His own creator Creator/SteveDitko allegedly quit because he wasn't allowed to make that change (he would later make [[ComicBook/BlueBeetle Ted Kord]] to show what his idea of Peter as an adult would be and it - wealthy, well-respected industrialist characterized by having his life together in a way Peter never can get his - embodies the Lord quite a bit). The issues only grew bigger as Peter became more and more of a veteran and when he once was an inexperienced kid now he was the first to support new young heroes and becoming a more and more respected pillar of the superhero community. It seems what finally allowed Peter to take the position of the lord for good was the introduction of ComicBook/MilesMorales, who with his own teenage struggles and lack of experience took the role of the Hunter. As for the Prophet, there are many who could fit the role occasionally across the years, but the definite one would be one whose wisdom became guiding words of the whole franchise - Uncle Ben himself.