I read in a book by Peter Kreeft that there are three dimensions to the human heart considered in the deepest, fullest, most inclusive sense: the human power of the will, the intellect, and our emotions.

All can guide us. All clamor for attention.

I was FASCINATED when he mentioned various literary trios who tend to divide these capacities among themselves, each person embodying one, or more precisely, each person being guided more by one of these powers of the heart than by the other two.

He mentioned:

HARRY POTTER (strong-willed leader), HERMIONE GRANGER (the intellectual), and RON WEASLEY (the feeler/sentimental one)

Kreeft also mentioned:

ARAGORN (strong-willed leader, at least in the books), GANDALF (the prophet/intelletual), and FRODO BAGGINS (guided his by heart, his love for the Shire).

He also mentioned that Jesus’s inner circle of Peter, James, and John fit this model.

I then related this to my own novels, and I realized that in books two and three of my trilogy, the king’s three sons also fit this breakdown.

Valkin, the crown prince, is decidedly headstrong. He’s a natural leader, a C-suite type for sure. If you know anything about temperament, he’s a classic choleric.

Neslan, the second-born, is the bookworm. He’s decidedly intellectual, with a strong moral compass guiding him in his decision-making/advice-giving.

Then there’s Hune, the youngest. Hune loves animals. In book three, he’s the one with the romantic subplot. He dislikes the stuffy palace and enjoys being among the common folk. He feels things more deeply and more empathetically than either of his brothers, I’d say.

I was stunned to see how intuitive this breakdown is to us as human beings. It seems we set up this combination of strengths among teams of people who need to work together even without realizing it.

We understand the need for balance. We understand that all three powers of our heart have their place and are needed.

Pretty cool!