Jokerman (Bob Dylan)

NAME/ORIGIN
Character name	Jokerman
Song/Album	"Jokerman"/ Infidels
Act	Bob Dylan
Writer	Bob Dylan
Release Date	1983
ABILITIES
Powers	-Stand/walk on water and clouds (which are made of water, after all) "Standing on the waters" "You can walk on the clouds" "Half-asleep near the stars" -Shed his skin (heightened healing powers?) "Shedding off one more layer of skin" -Make dreams come true in ironic ways "You're a dream-twister" -See visions in fire "You look into the fiery furnace"
Skills	-Dancing "Jokerman, dance to the nightingale tune"
Attributes	-Lacks freedom and truth "Freedom just around the corner/ But with truth so far off..."
Vulnerabilities	avoids daylight and cities
Formidability	His powers are not that impressive, save the emotion-based ones, which are strong
Attractiveness	High -"manipulator of crowds"
Source	N/A
Goals	N/A
POSSESSIONS
Weapons	-police-style weapons "Night-sticks and water cannons, tear gas" -protester-style weapons "Molotov cocktails and rocks"
Amulets	"the idol with an iron head," with glowing eyes
Objects	"padlocks"
Clothing	N/A
Vehicles	"distant ships sailing into the mists"
Dwelling	-Lives in nature, avoids cities and oceans "You're a man of the mountains" "Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space" -Likes either desert places, Biblical places/archaeological sites "You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah" (where he found the idol?) "The Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy... are your only teachers"
Milieu	-Prefers being active at night "Dance... by the light of the Moon" "So swiftly the Sun sets in the sky" "In the smoke of the twilight" "Only a matter of time before night comes stepping in"
BIOGRAPHY
Gender	Male
Age	N/A
Physique	Elegant-looking "Michelangelo indeed could have carved out your features"
Ethnicity	N/A
Origin	N/A
Ancestry	N/A
Profession	Jokerman. That is, a comedy writer (also can dance)
Education	Self-educated, studied the Bible "The Book of  Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers"
SES	Low (speculative)
Relationships	-No spouse or significant other; is single "You rise up and say good-bye to no one" -one sister, who is single "Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister" -volunteers with the unfortunate "Friend to the martyr, friend to the woman of shame"
Pets	-a long snake "You were born with a snake in both of your fists" -a bird "dance to a nightingale tune/ Bird fly high by the light of the Moon" -a horse "on a milk-white steed" -a dog "with a small dog licking your face"
PERSONALITY
Morality	Good. Idealistic.
Intro/extrovert	Keeps to himself, unless addressing a crowd
Intelligence	Above average
Emotions	Guilt, confusion
Sanity	Sane
Enemies	-hunters, eugenicists "The rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame" -organized religion "preacherman seeks the same" -corrupt officials "false-hearted judges" -a prince, dressed in scarlet, who will control the "priest," threaten the "heat" (police), and engage in human trafficking (allowing street orphans to be raised by prostitutes and madams). Nevertheless, the Jokerman will not "show any response."
Narrative Function	Protagonist
Other Notes	Like many humorists, Jokerman is an idealist at heart, following the precepts of the Bible and nature. We see him helping the vulnerable, holding disdain for those who prey on the weak... and avoiding fame, despite his profession, talent, and good looks. We imagine him writing jokes for, say, late-night hosts, but not taking the stage-- and only dancing for his own entertainment, at night, alone. He will avoid roads, walking on water if he can, and even the clouds if he has to, to avoid human contact. He clearly prefers solitude, and the company of animals over people. He knows he has the power to sway crowds, but is reluctant to use it, lest he become the kind of despot he despises. He also knows the limits of his powers-- he can influence crowds, but those with true political and economic power are beyond his ability to bring down. So he has toyed with the idea of becoming a revolutionary, even to the point of collecting weapons. But he won't use them-- someone who loves the downtrodden and animals as much as he does is likely anti-violence. Again, he does not wish to become like the "rifleman" he loathes. Ultimately, he is frustrated by his own morality, to the point of limiting his contact with civilization. He attacks the powerful hypocrites only with mockery, and trying to balance their vast evils with individual kindnesses. For all his "freedom," he can never be free as long as he still cares. (The idol symbolizes his indecision. He can't keep it, as it is a false god. He can't destroy it, as it is a valuable artifact. He can't give it to anyone, because they might come to worship it. He can't hide it, or someone might find it.  Every choice is wrong.)